Is fashion a religion? As far as Jean Paul Gaultier is concerned the connection is evident, both systems grounded through the belief in and worship of a higher power. Are couturiers considered the deities of luxury fashion? For the provocative French designer’s spring/summer 2007 haute couture collection, he conjured this thesis as a source of creative inspiration. Exercising his genius through the juxtaposition of Catholicism and couture. Gaultier’s religious references manifested themselves by means of stained glass detailing, prominent lace accents, gilded gold dresses, catholic iconography and a labyrinth of vivid hues akin to renaissance-era religious paintings. With each model’s head bearing an ornate halo, the collection’s emphasis on ornamental headdresses communicated their role to be more essential than that of a traditional mannequin and rather one of a goddess. While the relationship between religion and fashion can be a delicate subject to address, Gaultier tackled the near impossible task of achieving a flawless balance between reverence and ingenuity.
References
- 1
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Radiate Monstrance
France, 1870
Cristóbal Balenciaga
Fall/Winter 1963 Haute Couture
Martin Carlin
Cabinet, 1778
Twiggy
Marie Claire, January 1971
Frida Kahlo
Self Portrait with Braid, 1941
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Stained glass window, The Hill House Glasgow, 1902-1904
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Rome, Italy, 1370
Charles André Boulle
Commode, 1710-1732.
Felice Casorati
Still Life with Two Small Birds, 1956
Man Ray
Glass Tears, 1932
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Architectural Elements from Laurelton Hall, Oyster Bay, New York, 1905
Cimabue
La Vierge et l'Enfant en majesté entourés de six anges (Maestà), 1280
Marc Chagall
The Couple of the Eiffel Tower (Bride and Groom of the Eiffel Tower), 1938-1939
Mexican Religious Folk Art
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Guy Bourdin
Rhinestone headdress by Peter Bateman in Vogue UK, 1966
Stained Glass Panel with Queen Kunigunde
Austrian, 1340-50
Stained-Glass Architectural Canopy
Austrian, 1390
Michelangelo
Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512
Twiggy
Vogue, December 1974
References
Radiate Monstrance
France, 1870
1 of 20
Cristóbal Balenciaga
Fall/Winter 1963 Haute Couture
2 of 20
Martin Carlin
Cabinet, 1778
3 of 20
Twiggy
Marie Claire, January 1971
4 of 20
Frida Kahlo
Self Portrait with Braid, 1941
5 of 20
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Stained glass window, The Hill House Glasgow, 1902-1904
6 of 20
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Rome, Italy, 1370
7 of 20
Charles André Boulle
Commode, 1710-1732.
8 of 20
Felice Casorati
Still Life with Two Small Birds, 1956
9 of 20
Man Ray
Glass Tears, 1932
10 of 20
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Architectural Elements from Laurelton Hall, Oyster Bay, New York, 1905
11 of 20
Cimabue
La Vierge et l'Enfant en majesté entourés de six anges (Maestà), 1280
12 of 20
Marc Chagall
The Couple of the Eiffel Tower (Bride and Groom of the Eiffel Tower), 1938-1939
13 of 20
Mexican Religious Folk Art
Our Lady of Guadalupe
14 of 20
Guy Bourdin
Rhinestone headdress by Peter Bateman in Vogue UK, 1966
15 of 20
Stained Glass Panel with Queen Kunigunde
Austrian, 1340-50
17 of 20
Stained-Glass Architectural Canopy
Austrian, 1390
18 of 20
Michelangelo
Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512
19 of 20
