Jean Paul Gaultier: Glamorously Ethnic and Imaginative
By: Mari Davis
Photos by FW

PARIS, Jul 10, 2005/ FW/ --- Friday afternoon at Jean Paul Gaultier’s headquarters at rue St. Martin, Kateryna Yushchenko, wife of Ukrainian reformist leader, Viktor Yushchenko sat front row to witness the French designer’s unveiling of his Slavic culture inspired haute couture collection for Fall 2005.

Ukraine, which is part of the collective group of Poland and Moldavia called the Slavic group defined as several nomadic tribes during the 6th and 11th centuries AD roamed central Europe.

So, it was fitting that the first lady of Ukraine, which by the way was the center of the first Slavic state during the Middle Ages, was in attendance.

In true grandiose style that Jean Paul Gaultier is known, the rich heritage of the Slavic culture was made glamorous and enchanting. From the peasant dresses to the rich fur coats, the grand couturier brought to life the nomads of the treeless plains calls "steppe" of Ukraine.

From the cascading beads placed on fringes to the exquisite embroidery of the flowers of the ‘steppe,’ it was as if Jean Paul Gaultier himself roamed with the Slavic wanderers of a thousand years ago.

Playing with volume, Gaultier sent elaborate gowns with tiered skirts and long-sleeved blouses made up of tiny ruffles. It was a kaleidoscope of colors, a short treatise on ethnic costumes made beautiful by Gaultier’s masterful hands on design and impeccable tailoring techniques.

It is haute couture; it is high fashion, as Gaultier mixed two legends – the fable of the Slavic nations and the marvels of the made-to-measure craft.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier