1989
Zipped-up breasts
1994
Tattooed Stella
in 1997. One of only a handful of designers to do so (alongside Giorgio Armani and the now-defunct Christian Lacroix), it’s quite a feat, especially given that only seven couture houses remain in business. Born in 1952 to a Parisian bookkeeper father and a secretary mother, Gaultier describes a 1993 lonely childhood in which his parents expected Christy’s cup runneth him to behave like a mini adult. When I ask if he over is still that lonely boy, there is a long pause. ‘In some ways, yes. I was an only child in my own little world, dressing up my teddy bear. I transformed him – I put him in a cone bra, with gold hair and eyebrows, a wedding dress…’ Gaultier’s saviour was his beloved grandmother, who became his chief creative ally. He recalls one memorable occasion when she came to his rescue: ‘When I was working in the Philippines for Pierre Cardin, I wanted to come home to go to a couture show. She helped me by letting me pretend that she had died. And then, she did it once 1995 again, to get me out of Inflatable something else.’ couture ‘She died for you?’
‘I am very shy, but that’s when you express yourself the most – inhibitions become exhibitionism’
Gaultier’s glory moments
1996
Tribal charms
1997
JPG on the catwalk – expect the unexpected 2011
Bottoms up
Granny hair
2011
Surprise – it’s a man!
2003
Heavy metal madness
2007
Big is beautiful
2003 JPG Jr
2004
Mysterious mannequins