His trademark irreverence garnered him the moniker 'l'enfant terrible' in the fashion industry, and now the work of Jean Paul Gaultier will be celebrated at an international exhibition in Melbourne this week. The French couturier, synonymous with his avant-garde styles, will be in the city himself to open the showcase entitled 'From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,' on October 17.
The National Gallery of Victoria will feature over 140 intricate designs from mind of the groundbreaking fashion master, as well as a plethora of photographs and sketches of original work. Of particular interest to those that have followed Gaultier's ouevre will be the inclusion of his first dress design, created in 1971. From that initial iconic piece, a spark was ignited, and a dazzling array of ideas sprung into reality over the next four decades, the finest of which will be on display in Melbourne.
Jean Paul Gaultier made his name with his offbeat, quirky ideas, but there is nothing irreverent about East Coast Car Rentals – we just offer good, old fashioned customer service combined with a fleet of modern cars ready to hire. Why not grab one and take a ride around the sights of Melbourne before attending this fashion extravaganza?
Opening on the 17 October, the exhibition will run right through until February next year, giving plenty of time to check out the diversity of Gaultier's work. 'From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk' has already drawn over 1 million visitors from its previous incarnations in London, Stockholm and San Francisco, but the Melbourne edition promises something different – there will be a special section dedicated to pieces created for Gaultier's famous Antipodean clients. Garments specifically designed for stars such as Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett will take pride of place at the exhibition, with Gaultier himself saying "Preparing this exhibition I have realised how strong my ties to Australia are – Nicole Kidman was my first couture client; I have dressed Cate Blanchett on numerous occasions … The people are what make this country great and you Australians certainly excel!"