Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk

Dubbed fashion’s enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier launched his first prêt-à-porter collection in 1976 and founded his own couture house in 1997. Emerging as a designer in the 1970s, he developed his own dress codes that reflected the changing world around him. This dynamic, multimedia exhibition will include 140 haute couture and prêt-à-porter designs created between the mid-1970s and 2010, along with numerous sketches, archival documents, fashion photographs, and video clips that spotlight Gaultier’s collaborations with filmmakers, choreographers, and musicians, most notably Madonna. Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalkwill be on view until August 19, 2012. Photography by Oliver Maxwell Kupper. 

Schiaparelli and Prada

An amazing, rare pair of vintage Elsa Schiaparelli sunglasses will be on sale May 2 as part of a vintage jewelry sale timed to the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's opening of Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations explores the striking affinities between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, two Italian designers from different eras. Sunglasses like the ones above were made in 1957 for American Optical bear a resemblance to Prada's Spring 2012 collection which also includes pieces decorated with enamel roses. Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations will be on view starting May 10 at the Met in NYC.

Un-Self Portrait

London based designer Gabriella Marina Gonzalez presents her amazing Autumn/Winter 2012 collection entitled Un-Self Portrait which was designed, hand made and shot by the designer while traveling abroad in the United States. Using material she pick up along the way, the collection includes vintage monkey fur reassembled from a 1920’s coat to form part of the showpiece dress. In the designer’s signature style, shredded silk appliqué was made from discontinued chiffon. Vinyl from a 1950’s table cover manufacturer’s dead stock was used to create metal like tubes and a new take on the GMG harness. Silk rope from home decor was used to create luxury straps on high gloss wooden platform shoes.

Love, Life, & Fashion

Two of the most important people in fashion and design today, Ruben and Isabel Toledo have just released a book which "is a rare look into the mind, life, and journey of one of our generation’s most coveted fashion designers, Isabel Toledo. From the nostalgic and permanent in­fluence of her upbringing in Cuba and the serendipitous love that materialized her vision and fueled her conviction, to the timeless mark she continues to make on the fashion industry....." Ruben who translates Isabel's visions into illustration which then bring her designs to life, first laid eyes on each other since they were thirteen, have been collaborating for over two decades and their romance and love has offered an explosion of creativity. The book, entitled Roots of Style: Weaving Together Life, Love, and Fashion is available now.

The Kings Collection

Very cool London label Fanny & Jessy just released their fashion film, directed by Danny Sangra,  which premiered at the Canon Cinema as a part of London Fashion Week at Somerset House. "Fanny and Jessy is a womenswear brand that has an underlying sense of androgyny that is more sexed-up than feminine. The brand reflects the duo’s intrinsic rural Somerset upbringing united with London’s experimental and confident youth culture."

Exotic Regrets Epilogue

Aoi Kotsuhiroi, famous for using hair, beads, bone and other such extraordinary elements in her accessories, and who uses chapters - like in a book – to release new pieces from a collection,  brings to a close a multiple chapter fashion fantasia entitled Exotic Regrets which Pas Un Autre has been following all along the way. With the  epilogue to Exotic Regrets, we are very curious what will come next from the talented Aoi Kotsuhiroi.

This Is Not a Fashion Film

Fashion film for London based David David's AW 2012/13 collection which premiered at Canon Cinema in Somerset House during London Fashion week. Direction, script and production by Adam and Tree Carr from the East London film/radio/event factory Today is Boring in collaboration with the British Fashion Council.  David Saunders, the designer behind David David was originally an artist and switched to fashion 7 years ago - he was once artist Tracey Emin's assistant. The film tells the tale of two strangers who spend the night together  – the girl awakens first in the dude's apartment – either he has the weirdest roommate ever or she is completely losing her mind....

Tea Time With The Rodnik Band

The Rodnik Band just premiered their A/W 2012 collection at the Mayfair Hotel, arriving in a specially designed 3 wheeler Morgan race car, in London for London Fashion Week and its evident they've knocked it out of the park again with a contrasting punk meets tea time collection that includes some pretty brilliant handbags thrown into the mix. Photograph by Alex Lambrechts