In the old days, fashion shows, especially haute couture ones, resembled theatrical productions. Stagings full of emotions and stories. This was also the idea behind this year’s show, during which models, creations, music and staging told a story. The Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture 2025 show is a story. Did we believe it?
A fashion story – how Jean Paul Gaultier makes corporate history
Jean Paul Gaultier has been proving for years that fashion is not just about clothes, but above all about storytelling – full of emotion, theatricality and unexpected twists. Since 2020, after the retirement of the master himself, each haute couture collection is created by a different designer. He interprets the fashion house’s style through his own prism. This year, Ludovic de Saint Sernin took the helm, presenting “Le Naufrage,” a tale of shipwrecked people on rough seas, inspired by mermaids, sailors and pirates.
His vision full of lace corsets, sensual draping and theatrical details perfectly captured Gaultier’s spirit. His characteristic narrative lightness and eccentric charm were not lost. Did fashion As a performance is a bold move today? Maybe that’s just what we need. A bit of magic and an escape from everyday life. An immersion into the world of fantasy and dreams, if only for one evening.
Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture 2025 – show or tell?
Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture 2025 is more than a fashion show. It is a drama-filled tale of castaways, passions and the chaos that the sea brings. Ludovic de Saint Sernin, this year’s guest designer, created the spectacle. Each silhouette had its own story. From mermaids in shimmering, streamlined gowns, to sailors in corsets and lacing like ropes on deck, to pirates clad in sensual draping.
The collection balanced theatricality and sophisticated eroticism. It combines Gaultier’s iconic elements, such as iconic corsets and illusionistic constructions, with de Saint Sernin’s signature minimalism and raw sensuality.
The gowns in the collection dazzled with their intricate workmanship and choice of materials – silk, glittering jersey voile was arranged in waves reminiscent of sea currents. Transparent tulle embroidered with 50,000 brass pearls added a luxurious, jewel-like touch. The designs were both sensual and sculptural. They ranged from streamlined, wet-look draping to austere corsets fastened with lacing like sailor ropes. The whole was tied together by a consistent color palette: from sea greens and blues, to sandy beiges, to the deep black of night on the ocean, which meant that the collection, despite its theatricality, remained cohesive and refined down to the smallest detail.
The outfits looked like they had been pulled from the depths of the sea – wet hair, pearl embellishments, fabrics resembling fishing nets or jagged sails. Every detail built a coherent narrative. But did we believe the story? The staging had it all – emotion, nostalgia, a touch of kitsch and plenty of intricate craftsmanship. The question remains: does fashion need so much theatrical panache. Perhaps masterfully tailored creations alone are enough?
It is also legitimate to ask, not if, but when some of the creations from this show from the seas will go straight to the red carpet. For there is great potential in individual models.
Luxury News Editor
Malcolm Lux
source: kendam.com
The company: Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture.
