I recently went to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the Barbican, London. At £14.50, the tickets are rather pricey but, thanks to certain contacts, I managed to get in for £6!
The Barbican (below) is a weird place- it's an oasis in the middle of the City of London. It's surrounded by the financial district and I love it. It's like a metropolis village in its own right and, when I'm a rich and famous writer (which will happen, one day) I am going to keep an apartment there.
Jean Paul Gaultier is a truly inspirational and innovative designer who, like all the great fashion leaders, does things his way. My favourite dress from the exhibition was the can-can "legs" dress, and I also loved Madonna's Blonde Ambition corset (both below).
This was when Madonna was at her best, and before she got too involved with the ridiculous "sex" thing. The Justify My Love single and video and The Blonde Ambition tour were raunchy enough, without the need for her to continue the theme with that stupid Hanky Panky song, the laughable film Body Of Evidence, the predictable In Bed With Madonna or the truly sad Sex book. And whilst I liked the single Erotica, by the time it was released, I think we had all had enough of her.
I liked the wall showing paintings of Jean Paul Gaultier's icons, and also the boudoir section, where various versions of his gorgeous perfume bottles were displayed. I own the bottle with the lace corset (below) and the adore the fragrance. If I'm not mistaken, though, the bottle idea is not original- I believe surrealist fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli did it first.
As a designer, people often ask me who my favourite designer is. Well, that's a hard question to answer. There are lots of designers I admire for different reasons- Anna Sui for her quirkiness, Matthew Willamson for his prints and fluidity and Julien Macdonald for his sexy clothing (although I hear the man himself is a bit of a tit). Also, fashion is cyclical- you might like a certain designer's offering this season, but hate what he does the next.
But the one designer who, for me, stands head and shoulders above the rest is Vivienne Westwood; the Grande Dame of the catwalk. She refuses to conform, always bucks the trend and does thing her way. Which is often the best way. I especially love that she designs for curvy women and adore the Cocotte Dress. This is one version of it.
But the one designer who, for me, stands head and shoulders above the rest is Vivienne Westwood; the Grande Dame of the catwalk. She refuses to conform, always bucks the trend and does thing her way. Which is often the best way. I especially love that she designs for curvy women and adore the Cocotte Dress. This is one version of it.
When I can afford it, I will treat myself to one of these!
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