"Travelers all are we," I once wrote in a song. After all, we are forever transporting ourselves from one place, or situation, or disposition to another, hoping to find that which we are searching for.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
THE FASHION WORLD OF JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER: FROM SIDEWALK TO CATWALK
Every time I find myself in San Francisco, I drop by the De Young museum at the Golden Gate Park for a quick burst of inspiration—and this year, as always, my visit did not disappoint. The exhibit of Jean-Paul Gaultier was as whimsical and irreverent as the French fashion designer, fondly nicknamed the enfant terrible.
Corsets, man-skirts, cone-bras, headdresses, and other pieces of clothing that know no gender filled the museum’s halls. These were accompanied by Gaultier’s sketches, a moving catwalk, photographs of celebrities donning his creations, feature films showcasing his decadent designs, and tons of anecdotes about his illustrious career pinned to the museum walls (Who knew that in 1974, Gaultier looked after Pierre Cardin’s store in the Philippines, where he designed clothes for Imelda Marcos?). Most amusing, however, were the mannequins with faces projected onto their heads. The projections allowed them to wink, roll their eyes, and smirk, while cleverly hidden speakers made the figures to whisper, announce and sing, all to complete the attitude that matched Gaultier’s clever creations.
THE FASHION WORLD OF JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER: FROM SIDEWALK TO CATWALK runs at the De Young Museum until August 19, 2012.
