Live Simply: MUST SEE: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier is one of the world's most renowned fashion designers whose collections have commanded the runway with eclectic, unconventional and inspiring pieces. This past November, the Dallas Museum of Art was fortunate enough to showcase Gaultier's first U.S. exhibition. The thoughtfully curated, “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” was a must see in Dallas. You have been warned San Franciscans, (where the exhibit is traveling next), this exhibit draws in the masses! But, it is absolutely worth the wait.

The exhibition features more than 130 ensembles from the designer’s haute couture collections, as well as from his prêt-à-porter line, along with their accessories. The exhibit is organized along six different thematic sections, “The Odyssey of Jean Paul Gaultier,” “The Boudoir,” “Skin Deep,” “Punk Cancan,” “Urban Jungle,” and “Metropolis."

The technical detail and craftsmanship of each ensemble was astonishing. Everything from the lighting, to the careful staging and arrangement of each piece, showcased Gaultier's artistic and aesthetic talent. The highlight of the exhibition for me was how interactive everything was-- hello, talking mannequins with moving facial expressions! The Gaultier exhibit provided the viewer with much more than just a showcase of the designer's work, the exhibit was an experience that embodied the eclectic and vibrant sources of information that have marked the designers creative development. "From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" was anything short of a triumph.