With no formal fashion education to boast of, Jean Paul Gaultier established himself in the 70s and 80s as the “enfant terrible" of French fashion. His irreverent style left nothing sacred, dancing over the standard guard rails of high-fashion — he played with gender roles, adorning men in skirts decades before others opted to, and allowed plus sized women and older men to grace his runways. His talent was undeniable, though his utilization of such gifts made him a fiercely divisive designer. While often ripped by the French press, he gained the hearts of numerous subversive, forward-thinking icons, including Madonna and Marilyn Manson, both whom he conceptualized tour wardrobes for.

This two sided knit speaks to a notable thematic duality in Gaultier’s visual language: his tendency to reference both the past and future. The ostensible front is a realization of the type of cyber-influenced imagery that Gaultier and others throughout the early ‘90s interpreted as their aesthetic of the far-reaching future. To contrast this, the inside shows Michelangelo’s famous fresco, “The Creation of Adam,” which was painted upon the Sistine Chapel over half a millennium ago. 

Condition: 9/10. No significant flaws. 

Tagged size: 50

Shoulder: 21in

Pit to pit: 25in

Length: 29in

Sleeve: 24in