GAULTIER: 50 YEARS OF TROUBLE

For the month of October, Upstairs Garments will be dropping a mini capsule* to celebrate & commemorate the 50 anniversary of Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway debut.

Gaultier’s fascination with fashion began in his childhood and was heavily influenced by his grandmother and her wardrobe. By his teens, he was sketching imagined collections and taking inspiration from fashion magazines, films and television. Without any classical training in fashion, Gaultier was entirely self-taught.

After sending his drawings to fashion houses, he finally entered the industry in 1970, as an assistant at Pierre Cardin at the young age of 18. Then in October 1976, Gaultier presented his first women’s ready-to-wear collection under his own name in Paris. Six years later, Gaultier registered his eponymous company and Bob’s your uncle.

Over the decades that followed, Gaultier gaultiered and quickly received the nickname “enfant terrible” for his extremely ahead of its time and unconventional design language.

We’ve put together 10 pieces from the Parisian terrible boy’s 90s-2000s (mostly mesh tops okay?), spanning iconic prints & imagery and also an extremely rare piece that was released only in Japan during his licensing deal with Onward Kashiyama.

And now with Duran Lantink at helm, JPG’s legacy will be forever carried forward while he enjoys his retirement. Vive Gaultier!

Tags cut, fits S-M