Originally posted by Fashion Wire Daily Paris June 28@ 2003
Gaultier: All Made Up and Looking Great
By Godfrey Deeny
It was a heady and rather brilliant mix of pugilism and perfume at the Jean-Paul Gaultier show, the first important show of the Paris season and the launch of the designer's male make-up line.
"Erase your preconceptions," read the invitations to the show and male cosmetic line debut in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts Friday night. The choice of products for men was certainly unprecedented. The line includes matte powder bronzer and brush, face balm, fortifying nail polish, nourishing lip balm for pale skin, "sneaky kiss" lip gloss and, even eyeliner.
Playboy bunnies made up guests, and handsome guys posed in elegant bathrooms and beauticians applied their skills in Art Deco settings at the launch. "It works, ne c'est pas? It smoothes out your face and makes one look good," smiled Gaultier, as he runs his hands across his face post-show.
Tag-lined either Tout Beau or Tout Propre, meaning All Handsome or All Clean, the collection is brilliantly presented in jet black plastic packaging. It represents just the latest bravura project from BPI; the 100 percent-owned affiliate of Japanese cosmetic giant Shiseido.
From creating a scent the color of water -- L'Eau d'Issey for Miyake -- to developing Jean-Paul's revolutionary corseted flacon, BPI have been path breakers for years.
The launch itself was impeccably organized in the college's Renaissance-style gallery and elegant cloisters, as editors and critics enjoyed micro slices of duck with pears, miniature chunks of perfectly cooked sirloin and copious quantities of champagne. Gaultier's spring/summer 2004 men's collection was the latest example of what a great designer he is, as he employed ideas from boxing to make some fabulous clothes.
Models swaggered out in brown and pink ecru leather dressing gowns, the hems cut ragged like contenders on a very chic boxing card. "Yes, it was about boxing, even though I detest it, and about being a waiter and looking good at it," Gaultier said.
Busboys and servants strolled out in a dozen different aprons -- denim, leather, pinstripe and linen -- worn with leather and linen double-breasted vests and high-collar shirts. The look was both highly novel and très chic. Gaultier, however, was keen to make life tough for his staff, as half the catwalkers wore leather high-heels.
Powered on by blasts of obscure songs from Chic, the show ended with an amazing piece of face jewelry where thin chains held on a monocle and woven silver lips. "It helped that the models lips were so full, like Silicon Carne!" the designer laughed.
Sorry, no visuals yet. B)
, I would buy the eye liner, im always happy to see diffrent things happening in men's wear.
sometimes it can be taken too far
