PARIS, May 2, 2007/ FW/ --- Currently, fans of Jean Paul Gaultier are ‘getting physical’ with his sportive and highly creative Spring 2007 collection. Come Fall, they will be revisiting the Scottish highlands with the French couturier, wearing tartans and floral prints.

Always exuberant and highly energetic, Jean Paul Gaultier did not pull any stops with his Fall 2007 collection that was inspired by the Scottish highlands. Tartans were the main fare, of course, proposed as vests, trench coats, drop-down waist dresses, blousons in plaid and two-tone empire dresses with plaid on top and solid at the bottom.

Gaultier’s vision of the highlands includes trench coats with dirndl skirts cinched at the waist with a bustier belt instead of the traditional sash. Of course, he also proposed the more conventional trench coat in beige but added purple piping on the edges and belt straps on the shoulders to hold a backpack cum purse.

There is also the singe breasted leather coat, the hemline reaching just above the knee, paired with thigh high leather boots made from the same material. With a hidden placket and slightly sheered at the waist for volume, banded knitted cuffs and necks gave it a very urban feel.

And of course, don’t forget the fur! Used as trims on the cuffs, sleeves and hemlines, it just spelled opulence, though a little bit restrained to conform to the current attitude of moderation.

To Gaultier, the Highlands is not just tartans and plaid. Inspired by wildflowers that grow in Scotland, the French designer created tiny floral prints that were seen in outer coats and blouses.

The icons of the Scots did not miss Gaultier’s eyes either; putting them as appliqués or knitted as part of the design on the sweaters and pullovers, these icons created a very dramatic effect while educating public a piece of Scottish culture.

For evening, beaded mini cocktail dresses were once again treated with the Scottish icons. The most eye-catching though was the black lace gown that recreated a bigger than life Scottish icon in one piece, as the lace was knitted around this design.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier