Endeavoring to tear down gender stereotypes and sartorial norms on the catwalk, making underwear outerwear, putting men in skirts and models of all shapes and sizes on the runway, Jean Paul Gaultier has created wildly provocative, transformational designs for day dresses, gowns, tops and other garments that draw on numerous influences and boldly merge haute couture with street sensibility.
An only child raised in the suburbs of Paris, Gaultier didn’t have a formal fashion education. But he loved to sketch and was drawn to clothing, citing the corsets in his maternal grandmother’s closet as having a formative impact on his creative direction. He’s said that some of his earliest fashion work was for his teddy bear, and later he would send his sketches to designers he revered, including Pierre Cardin.
Gaultier began his career in 1970 as an assistant to Cardin, who admired the sketches the 18-year-old had sent for his appraisal. After Gaultier had his first runway show in 1976, featuring unconventional statements like pairing motorcycle jackets with ballerina skirts, it didn’t take long for his star to rise.
Gaultier's playful but exquisitely crafted reimaginings of classic Parisian styles — the striped mariner shirt, the trench coat — soon became recurring themes of his eponymous house, which he founded with his life partner and business associate Francis Menuge in 1982.
“He was absolutely peerless for the longest time in the late ’80s and early ’90s,” fashion editor Tim Blanks told the New York Times. This was the period of Gaultier’s most iconic designs.
In 1984, Gaultier’s “Boy Toy” collection challenged men’s fashion with striped shirts and skirts — and sold around 3,000 of them. He was hailed for spectacle-laden runway shows and superb tailoring. Gaultier began to work with Madonna during the late 1980s, and, at the pop star’s request, he designed the costumes for her 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour. Her pink corset became a cultural touchstone of the era.
Gaultier continued to expand his brand. There were the colorful all-over graphic prints in the sheer stretch-tulle fabric of his Soleil line — which have gained fans in millennials seeking the authentic, easy style of 1990s fashion — and he debuted his first couture collection in 1997. Gaultier created costumes for film and stage and was nominated for a César Award for Best Costume Design for The City of Lost Children (1995) and then a second for Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element (1997).
From 2003 to 2010, Gaultier was the creative director for Hermès. The first international exhibition of his work, “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,” debuted in 2011 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and toured to cities including Stockholm, New York City, Dallas and London. Vintage Gaultier Birkin bags are unsurprisingly sought-after collectibles, and the So Black collection — a line that included the So Black Birkin, which featured black PVD-coated hardware — was among his last works for the brand before his departure.
Gaultier presented his last ready-to-wear collection in 2014 and in 2020 stepped down from his couture line, ending his boundary-pushing, industry-shaping reign with a raucous show of more than 230 outfits formed from fragments of collections from across his 50-year career.
One of fashion’s enfants terribles, Gaultier has never sought out pretty for pretty’s sake. Instead, he has challenged the traditional ideals of beauty. Today, the designer's vintage clothing designs — experimental undergarments cut from lace and suede, leather-trimmed evening dresses and jackets of denim, plastic or striped jersey — are as punk as they are high fashion.
Find vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dresses, skirts, jeans and accessories today on 1stDibs.
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Gothic Rhinestone Spiral Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Gothic Rhinestone Spiral Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 4.13 inches (10.5 cm) Inner circumference: 8.07 inches (20.5 cm) ...
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Gothic Coil Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Gothic Coil Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 2.75 inches (7 cm) Inner circumference: 7.87 inches (20 cm) Feat...
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Abacus Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Abacus Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 2.16 inches (5.5 cm) Wearable Length: 7.28 inches (18.5 cm) Features:...
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Ethnic Glass Cabochons Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Ethnic Glass Cabochons Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 0.86 inch (2.2 cm) Inner Circumference: 8.18 inches (20.8 cm) Features: - 100% Authentic JEAN ...
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Cartoon Explosion Bang Enamel Silver Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Cartoon Explosion Bang Enamel Silver Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 2.56 inches (6.5 cm) Inner Circumference: 6.30 inches (16 cm) opening included F...
$1,250
H 1.5 in W 3.5 in
1960's Vintage Sirokoro Scandinavian Sterling Silver Sculptural Cuff Bracelet
Located in North Miami, FL
This hallmarked unusual RARE vintage Scandinavian modern sculptural thick sterling silver signed cuff bracelet has the markings of Sorokoro MJH 925 Made in Fin. It is fabulous! Very ...
Sterling Silver
French 19th Century Sapphire Cabochon 18 Karat Yellow Gold Snake Bracelet
Located in Poitiers, FR
Bracelet in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark. Flexible, this antique bracelet represents a snake rolled up whose body is a woven mesh. The head is decorated with a blue sapp...
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Modernist Silver Designer Cuff Bracelet
Located in Poitiers, FR
Bracelet in silver. Important and massive, this silver cuff is made up of patterns with geometric and convex lines hinged together. The bracelet is semi rigid and closes with a hinge...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Betony Vernon "Venus Cuff" Bracelet Sterling Silver 925
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The “Venus Cuff” was designed by Betony Vernon in 1997 to fit snuggly onto the wrist. This piece celebrates the feminine and it is an emblematic invitation to express your sensual se...
Sterling Silver
Judith Hendler Vintage !980's Clear and White Lucite Cuff Bracelet
By Judith Hendler
Located in North Miami, FL
The bands of clear, white and then clear again make this very chic chunky vintage lucite cuff bracelet from the 80's so wearable and fun! It is designed by a famous Californian artis...
David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel and Pearl Diamond Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
You'll love wearing this bold and beautiful David Webb hinged cuff bracelet crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum, ends are punctuated with button cultured pearls and diamonds. Wor...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
$12,300 / item
Mattioli Hiroko Cuff in Rose Gold and White Diamonds
By Mattioli
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Hiroko cuff in rose gold and white diamonds Gold Weight gr.: 33.50 Size Large Diamond carats: 1.14 Oval width 3cm or 1,18 inches Products available on request in yellow gold or whi...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Karl Stittgen Organic Pearl and Multi Stone Gold Cuff Bracelet, circa 1970
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural, organic design cuff bracelet by Karl Stittgen circa 1970 featuring diamonds, druzy agate, cabochon rubies, emeralds and sapphires, baroque,...
Agate, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Yel...
Monet Signed 1960's Gold Plated Hinged Cuff Bracelet With Stained Glass Resin
By Monet
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and artistic gold plated hinged signed Monet cuff bracelet is like a studio piece that has stained glass like resin on the front. The soft subtle colors of the interior...
Gold Plate
$1,495
H 3.25 in W 3.5 in D 2.25 in L 3.5 in
Vintage Napier Textural Gold Plated and Green Glass Cuff Bracelet, 1970's
By Napier
Located in North Miami, FL
This showstopper of a vintage signed Napier cuff bracelet with textural raised design of warrior meets Egyptian Revival cuff is definitely a conversation piece. There is a green glas...
Gold Plate
Castlecliff Vintage Gold Plated and Silver Twisted Cuff Bracelet, 1960's Design
By Castlecliff
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning period bracelet looks authentic and real by Castlecliff. It is finely lined with a brushed satin finish on the metals. Has a modern elegance to it. Gold plated and silv...
Gold, Silver
Victorian Pearl Ruby Cuff Bracelet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This pearl and ruby cuff bracelet epitomizes classic refinement. The 14K Gold bracelet resembles the embroidered cuff of a Victorian-era gown, comple...
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
Jean-Paul Gaultier Green Intaglio Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Add some edge to your looks! Circa early 2000s, this green acrylic bracelet is adorned with rhinestones and a lime green intaglio motif. Stamped JPG and opens like a belt closure. Best fit for a size 7-9" wrist. Perfect to layer with your favorite silver or gold vintage bracelets...
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Tribal Ethnic Ring and Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Tribal Ethnic Ring and Bracelet Measurements: BRACELET Height: 2.83 inches (7.2 cm) Width: 2.12 inches (5.4 cm) Wearable Le...
Jean Paul Gaultier Rare Sterling Silver Iconic Corset Cuff Bracelet
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Nice, FR
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER rarest sterling silver cuff bracelet featuring the iconic corset. Very nicely detailed with whalebones, seams, reliefs, lacing and ...
Sterling Silver