With a career spanning more than 40 years, it is perhaps not surprising that the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria took my friend & I more than 2.5 hours to make our way through.
Gaultier is well known for the cone bra popularised by Madonna. The exhibition shows the evolution of this iconic garment, from the newspaper prototype sported by Gaultier’s teddy bear to the real deal straight from Madonna’s closet. His corseting skills made for a beautiful display.
One of the things I loved about this exhibition was seeing dresses that I recognised from various publications over the years. The below dress was instantly recognisable from this recent Australian Vogue cover promoting the exhibition.
Another dress that I was excited to see was this glorious frock, worn down the catwalk by model Crystal Renn in 2006. While her size has varied over the years, Renn wore this as a curvier-than-your-average model & I remember being blown away seeing a woman on the catwalk who, while absolutely stunning, was quite obviously not from the same mould as the norm.
The craftsmanship and detail of the more than 140 outfits on display was easy to see – every stunning detail was out in the open for all to admire. There’s no glass cases here and many of the more intricate designs are accompanied by the hours they took to create.
The exhibit itself is split out into separate rooms, each reflecting a different stage in Gaultier’s career. A curated mix of clothing, photography, film and other media, it’s an engaging display that gives great insight into Gaultier’s professional life. He has worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names and counts Aussies Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett among his favourites.
On display at the National Gallery of Victoria until February 8 2015, The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is a must-see for fashion-lovers. This exhibition shows just how much of an impact Gaultier has had on the fashion industry and popular style.
