The World of JPG

Jean Paul Gaultier has become one of the fashion world's most respected designers - his work ranging from the iconic Cone Bra for Madonna, the complete set of costumes for the cult sci-fi favourite, The Fifth Element, his landmark "Virgins" collection in 2007 and dressing the wacky but wonderful pop artist, Lady Gaga. To celebrate these and the many other distinguishable works, the Brooklyn Museum has launched a retrospective exhibition for the designer. 

The exhibition makes homage to the masterful couturier skills the designer holds, managing to bring back trends from eras past - the '20s Flapper dress, nautical stripes, silk corsets and bustiers, and the always glamorous sequin detail. His design aesthetic iconically reinterprets the hyper sexuality, rebelliousness, historical and over-addiction to glamour and extravagance that various factions of society holds into the fashion scene of the times.

 "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From The Sidewalk to The Catwalk", boasts the best and most iconic Haute Couture and Ready to Wear pieces from his body of work - approximately 140, if you want figures. The exhibition is now open to the public, running until February 23, 2014. 

For more information on the exhibition, FOLLOW THIS LINK

Images courtesy of Racked and Brooklyn Museum
Video courtesy of the official Jean Paul Gaultier Youtube channel

Paper Fashion Puppets

The famous "paper doll" dresses worn by Lady Gaga and Italian stylist, Giovanna Battaglia, from avant-garde Japanese fashion label, Comme Des Garcons, have been shot in a demure fashion editorial that encapsulates the meaning behind the dress. To me, the dress symbolized both a return to a woman's childhood and the notion that fashion follows a "cookie-cutter sameness", as said by Bill Cunningham. The dress is evermore significant because it is designed by Junya Watanabe and Rei Kawakubo, who are both powerhouse designers in the avant-garde forces of fashion. Sophie Delaporte has done a wonderful job in backing up the unique beauty of the dress and how the boxy shape changes when a woman moves in the slightest, whilst keeping her signature ethereal style flowing throughout the photographs.

Images courtesy of Trendland

Vogue's 120th Anniversary

Lady Gaga bares her face for the biggest September issue of Vogue

September is the most eventful month for Fashion in the calendar, with the change of seasons comes the New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks - giving a chance for establishing and prolific designers to showcase their Spring/Summer collections to fashion media worldwide. Along with the shows, fashion publications are expected to market the new season, with Oyster releasing their 100th issue and Vogue Hommes Japan's most anticipated issue set for release later in the month. But, there is no better opportunity for Vogue to release their largest ever issue during their 120th year in the industry. In celebration of the anniversary, designers and their muses have been featured in a breathtaking editorial in the issue.

Raf Simons, one of the fashion industry's most prolific designers in the current times, for Christian Dior

Givenchy's rebellious Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci, and his beautiful muse Rooney Mara

Florence Welch in her ever ethereal beauty

One of my favourite designers at the moment, Christopher Kane with models wearing his designs

It's official - you are not cool unless you are in this photo with Alexander Wang. His muses include notorious rappers Azealia Banks and A$AP Rocky, who are gracing his side in this photograph.

All images courtesy of Vogue

Fame

Image courtesy of thehollywoodgossip, 2012

There has been much anticipation and hype around Lady Gaga's first perfume, as it is the first ever Black eau du parfum, which sprays clear. It has been escalating rapidly over the last fortnight, with the preview of the perfume's promotional photographs, the release of the largest-ever Vogue September Issue with the songstress on the cover and the revelation of her new album title "ARTPOP", due for release in 2013.

The commercial trailer for the fragrance, 'Fame", was uploaded yesterday onto Youtube, and may I say I can definitely feel the High Fashion Goth atmosphere throughout the trailer. The director, Steven Klein, has captured the very essence of High Fashion Goth in a matter of 30 seconds, and the styling by Brandon Maxwell should be highly commended, as he stayed true to the vibe of the mysterious scent. I have no doubt that Gareth Pugh, aka the Dark Prince of Fashion, had an influence on the video, as the fashion films for his collections are much the same - sound, visuals and styling. I haven't seen a High Fashion Goth film for a perfume ever before, and thus Lady Gaga has once brought innovation to the fashion and cosmetic industry again. 

On a final note, I can see a lot of Mugler, Giorgio Armani and Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton in the film, or is that just what I see because she always wears these illustrious labels? And if this is only a trailer, I can only imagine how good the full video will be!

"Fame" is due for release in late 2012.