Old-style Hollywood glamour reborn at Gaultier

Published: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:58 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

PARIS — Spotlights lit up the catwalk this week at Jean Paul Gaultier's haute couture show, steeped in old-fashioned Hollywood glamour and paying tribute to screen sirens like Jane Russell and Ava Gardner.

Gaultier sent out glamazon variations on his signature pieces — trench coats, second-skin dresses with sheer paneling and menswear suits.

A model in a sharp-shouldered pantsuit in black wool was channeling Katherine Hepburn between takes. A gold sequin-covered hourglass halterdress was screaming Jane Russell's name.

Actor Mickey Rourke said it was a treat to see the kind of Hollywood glamour that "went out the door 30 years ago."

"They're making a different kind of movie now, unfortunately," said Rourke, an '80s superstar who made his comeback with "The Wrestler."

Gaultier, the one-time enfant terrible of French fashion, gave some of the looks his signature humorous twist.

Reams of film were wrapped around one model's shoulders like a shawl. A bodysuit looked like the offspring of a trenchcoat and a swimsuit.

Story continues below

And the bride — the look that traditionally closes the wildly expensive made-to-measure couture shows — was just plain bizarre. In a mini dress made from what looked like plastic bags filled with gold sequins, she wore a veil draped over a cone on top of her head. Black and white close-ups of '50s-era movie stars were projected onto the veil.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Jacques Brinon, Associated Press

A model wears a creation by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for his Haute Couture Fall Winter 2009-2010 fashion collection, presented Wednesday July 8, 2009 in Paris.

previousnext

Latest comments

That's what's wrong with this country. I'm sorry the woman got hurt but...

I find it very interesting to compare this article and the comments on it...

I find it very interesting to compare this article and the comments on it...

Religion in politics is tiresome

you are grasping, can't you just live and let live. Or do we all need to...

Wherever they go, they should go with Max on the side line. After his tirade...

Like most “Bubble Boys in Blue”, you think only bad fans and...

I lived and taught university in Korea for 8 years. During that time I...

Max Hall issues apology

Max Hall... you have one more game left in your career unless you head to...

Agency will hand out 3,700 turkeys

It's nice to see Utah's ACORN office doing something nice for families this...

Religion in politics is tiresome

Lets just assume for the sake of discussion that you believe in the...

Advertisements