Spring 2011 Runway: Jean Paul Gaultier
posted by: brianka in Boots, Fashion Week, Flats, General, High heels, JP Gaultier shoes, Platforms, Pumps, Spring 2011 Shoes on October 10th, 2010
It’s Jean Paul Gaultier….where do I begin? How about these traffic-stopping, patent-red, spatted knee-boots?
Who knew sexing up your granny boots was as simple as adding a front-laced spat to a perfect pair of red-patent pumps? Retro details are rarely so devilishly modern.
Oh, and adding florals generally results in a sweetly romantic shoe. Not so with Gaultier…..add a patent-flower ankle corsage to a thick, bondage-strap pump (One side only please, we want to keep things a little unexpected.)….Et Voilà: A floral shoe for the gal who is not afraid of being the center of attention and asserting her right to the spotlight.
Other shoes of note included this same, thick-strapped pump in various colors - worn without the flower accessory; I particularly liked how one pair was styled over skinny jeans. I’m also getting a happy feelings from the simple, color-blocked pumps. They are not necessarily breaking new ground with the left-right color scheme, but the patent is rich and the vibrant contrast is appealing. It doesn’t hurt that it also conjures images in the back of my mind of Harley Quin, one of my favorite Batman characters…but back to Gaultier. There were also some so-so patent t-straps and a wealth of Doc Martens with the heels cut out (a là Alexander Wang). Not my favorite look, but as you can get Docs relatively cheaply compared to a Gaultier shoe, this look could be a do-it-yourself project for those so-inclined.
The actual fashions were so diverse that it would be difficult for me to try to encapsulate them other than to give this visceral impression of Joan Jett meets Ziggy Stardust with a touch of burlesque/boudoir thrown in for good measure. It was reminiscent of what I experienced happening with fashion in the 80′s without actually feeling like I had stepped back into that decade.
Oh, and Gaultier included 3-D glasses with his invites; perhaps a not-so-subtle clue that this is about having fun with and falling in love with a personal fashion not decided by trends or runways (as well as a nice tongue-in-cheek jab at the current trendiness of 3D films)? It is a runway that struck me as satire; aimed at subverting the idea of runway trends and fads while obviously benefiting from the runway paradigm. Yes, you could pay a small fortune to buy these specific pieces, but Gaultier seems to understand that this is not required. You don’t have to buy into his or anybody else’s idea of trends and what is fashionable. Find one or two fantastic pieces that you love & wear them in whatever way and combination feels right to you, trends be damned. You make your own fashion, runway or no – one that can change with mood and personal whim.
4 Comments
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October 11, 2010 at 3:03 pm, Stylista said:
On the runway, these shoes are very nice and very Gaultier. But for retail, I think the ankle straps take it a bit too far, and the Doc Martens are just plain ugly.
October 11, 2010 at 5:55 am, edoardo said:
I don't liek these hsoes…are a bit "cheap" …i htinkt hat Gauiltier should put more attention in his creation, because of his lost of Hermès house he has only his lines …
October 10, 2010 at 9:26 am, bootstrapperboy said:
Wow, I had to do a double take for a minute to check that I was on the same site, well done with the facelift, looks good. Re. JPG, I've always liked his work, and his quirky sense of experimentation. Love the red patent pumps with the flowers although I’m not a fan of the open back DM’s. Overall, I like!!!!
Ps. The grey font in this text box is a little difficult to read when typing!
October 10, 2010 at 9:19 am, r5bales said:
OK, now my faith in wonderful shoes has been restored. Love the red flower pumo.