Provocateur designer of the fashion world: Who is Jean Paul Gaultier?

He deserved the title of "L'enfant terrible" with his sailor-themed t-shirts, the conical bra and corset he designed for Madonna, his practices that shattered gender codes, his lack of boundaries and his sense of humor that he always maintained.

Jean-Paul Gaultier was born in 1952 in Paris, France, to an accountant father and a secretary mother. Although he had no formal training in fashion design in his youth, his sketches were quite promising by the time he turned eighteen. In 1970, when he was only 18 years old, he impressed Pierre Cardin and started working as his assistant. Shortly after, he left Pierre Cardin and worked with Jaques Esterel. He returned to Pierre Cardin in 1974. Later, he started producing electronic jewelry in partnership with Francis Menuge. From 1976, his own collections became clear. He was producing products influenced by pop culture and street fashion. He created a stir with "men-skirts" in 1985. In 1989, he collaborated with Tony Mansfield for the album "How Do That". He worked with Madonna in the 90s. He made a huge impact with his invention of the "conical bra corset" that Madonna wore on her "Blonde Ambition" tour.

Jean Paul Gaultier (born 24 June 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corsets, marinières, and tin cans. Gaultier founded his eponymous fashion label in 1982, and expanded with a line of fragrances in 1993. He was the creative director for French luxury house Hermès from 2003 to 2010, and retired following his 50th-anniversary haute couture show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2020.

Jean-Paul Gaultier has achieved significant success as a costume designer not only on the catwalks but also in the cinema. He prepared costume designs with philosophical backgrounds in films such as "The Fifth Element", "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover".

He ended the "Gaultier World", which he created during the 50 active years of his career, in 2020. Gaultier, who announced that he had achieved everything he wanted in ready-to-wear and therefore it was time to retire, still continues his haute-couture concept with guest designers.

Some facts about Jean Paul Gaultier

Born in France in 1952, Jean Paul Gaultier became famous as the "naughty and crazy boy" of the fashion world. The designer reflects current and social events in his designs with his playful style and is known for his extraordinary designs.

When he was 18 years old, in 1970, Pierre Cardin was impressed by his talent and hired his as his assistant. The following year he switched to Jacques Esterel. He joined Jean Patou on April 24, 1971 and returned to Pierre Cardin in 1974.

In 1976, he produced the first electronic jewelry with his partner Francis Menuge. He prepared his first collection under his own name in October 1976.

In 1989, Jean Paul Gaultier collaborated with Tony Mansfield on the album “How Do That”.

Jean Paul Gaultier prepared his first collections with influences from popular culture, streetwear and other couture collections.

He became known with "men-skirt" in 1985 and worked with Madonna in the 90s. His collection of 23 pieces for La Perla, the famous Italian underwear brand, was originally designed for Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" album world tour in 1990. Jean Paul Gaultier, who first invented the cone bra, attracted a lot of attention with this invention.

Jean Paul Gaultier was both criticized and gained popularity with his shows full of extraordinary models and heavy tattoos. He has worked with many celebrities and created collections for some movies such as “the fifth element”.

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