Jean Paul Gaultier has always been the fashion world’s rebel with a cause. Ever since he made his debut in 1976, Gaultier has redefined how fashion should look—and feel. Growing up in the suburbs of Paris, he famously skipped formal fashion school, yet somehow found his way to the top, starting as Pierre Cardin’s assistant at just 18. It was no surprise that Gaultier quickly made a name for himself; he wasn’t one to play by the rules. From sailor stripes to skirts for men, he saw the lines of convention and gleefully blurred them.
Gaultier’s creative vision has always been about more than just clothes. He brought the streets into high fashion, turned corsets into outerwear, and put anyone he found inspiring onto the runway—friends, neighbors, even staff. His haute couture debut in 1997 was a playground where his aesthetic exploded: nods to cultures from imperial India to Hasidic Judaism met razor-sharp tailoring and a mix of textures that turned each collection into an event. And in true Gaultier style, each show seemed to have one ultimate goal: celebrate diversity in all its forms, long before it was a buzzword.
When he walked away from ready-to-wear in 2014, many were stunned. But it made sense—couture was the place where Gaultier could have fun without limitations, and he’s always thrived on the thrill of a challenge. Even now, post-retirement from runway shows in 2020, Gaultier remains in the mix, bringing in designers like Chitose Abe and Haider Ackermann to interpret his archive for new generations. And while the runway may have said its final “au revoir,” Gaultier’s legacy—fragrances like Le Mâle that continue to dominate, his unexpected collaborations, his refusal to play it safe—is still rocking the boat, just as it should.
