Jean Paul Gaultier

Last Thursday night I visited the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition.

If you're in any way interested in fashion, this is an extraordinary exhibit. All but about 3 outfits on display were close enough that you could see the feathers move when you breathed on them, you could see the fabrics move as they glided around the automated catwalk. Unless you're rich/famous enough to go to an haute couturier for your clothing or you're a top runway model, you will never be this close to these kinds of works of art - not even if your attending a fashion show in the front row.

To hear Jean Paul Gaultier's history and learn how he got into fashion was interesting. But to see clothing from, I believe, all of his collections was such a treat! I took the guided tour (free with admission!) and it was worth the time. The museum guide had obviously done a lot of research on the subject and was able to provide a few funny anecdotes. The tour took about an hour and then I went back through the exhibit and spent another entire hour just losing myself in each piece. Granted, they weren't all to my taste but honestly, there were some clothes there that I would give a limb for. So beautiful, so elegant, just soooo wonderful.

At the end of the guided tour, one of the little old ladies in our group mentioned to the guide (and rest of the group) that she'd actually met Jean Paul Gaultier, nearly 30 years ago, just as he was starting at one of the French designers atelier. She remembered that he (JPG) had a great sense of humour and was one of these people that are really passionate about every aspect of fashion and clothes design, even back then when he was just starting.

Admission to the museum is $15, and considering I spent 2 hours there, I'd say it was well worth the money. Definitely better than going to see a movie.