PARIS, Oct 3, 2006/ FW/ --- Last month at Barney’s, Jean Paul Gaultier held a bash at Bergdorf Goodman celebrating 30 years of fashion. Today, the French couturier treated his audience of what maybe easily called, ‘The Best of Jean Paul Gaultier’ as he sent on the runway the most distinctive looks of his eponymous house for the past three decades.

The trademark bustier and biker jacket, men in skirts, the camouflage gown, the navy-striped floor-length frock decorated with ostrich feathers that was later on reworked on denim, the Asian, Eastern Europe and African influences looks were all on the runway in a fast moving catwalk presentation that defined the Jean Paul Gaultier DNA.

Through the years, fashion pundits and followers have known and proclaimed Jean Paul Gaultier’s creativity and innovation. Still, seeing all of them on the runway at the same time gives a jolt that leads to a mesmerizing experience.

As each exit passes, goose bumps appear on your skin as you are reminded of the groundbreaking designs that today exist as a template for young and edgy designers.

As the Paris season progresses, references to Gaultier’s detailing and handiwork continuously appear. This alone represents how much the French couturier had given and shared to fashion.

And as he continues to share, evoke and emote on the runway, his audience reacts to him with the same intensity. As memorable as the looks are, the designer is more memorable than his creations.

Running on the catwalk after the show, with a whistle in hand, motioning to the models to walk, with a smile on his face, Gaultier’s exuberance and youthful countenance has stayed with him through the years.

Perhaps, it’s the reason why he has remained on top of his game for the past three decades and will be also during the coming ones.

An artist who continuously reinvents himself, Gaultier has to have the unbridled imagination of a child, where everything is possible. Though in an interview with a trade publication, Gaultier was quoted saying, ‘I cannot be the ‘enfant terrible’ anymore because of my age’ he has remained true to himself and also to his fans as one of the most prolific designers of our times.

With his business expanding and the financial data healthy, Gaultier’s 30-year anniversary is not only a culmination of his accomplishment but also a new beginning as he embarks on a new journey of bringing fashion into the 21st century.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier