Collector's Rare Jean Paul Gaultier Knit "Sock" Purse
View Similar Items
Collector's Rare Jean Paul Gaultier Knit "Sock" Purse
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4493275473
Jean Paul Gaultier
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, the wildly provocative French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier has created transformational clothing designs 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. His playful but exquisitely crafted reimaginings of classic Parisian styles — the striped mariner shirt, the trench coat — soon became recurring themes of Gaultier’s 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, debuting his first couture collection in 1997 and creating costumes for film and stage. He 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. He 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.
Browse a wide range of Jean Paul Gaultier clothing and accessories today on 1stDibs.
- Hermes Curiosite Kelly Laque Charm Black / Gold Pendant NEWLocated in New York, NYGuaranteed authentic Hermes Curiosite Kelly Laque charm Black with in Gold tone . Shaped like a Kelly Bag, the charm is beautifully detailed! Desig...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wallets and Small Accessories
- Chanel Black Tennis Racket With Leather X Chain CC Cover NEWBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYChanel black tennis racket with leather CC cover Cover has chains in the back to carry the racket ,it has 2 snap closure on the side to slide and hold racket in.Huge box, dust-bag ,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Games
- Comme Des Garçons Hand Painted Melissa Shoes Boots NEW SZ 24By Comme des GarçonsLocated in New York, NYComme Des Garçons Hand Painted Melissa Shoes Boots NEW with box and dust-bag Size 24 JP Material looks like rubber. FINAL SALECategory
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Shoes
- Rare Atelier Versace Black Velvet V Embellished Crop Top MINTBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in New York, NYVery rare Atelier Versace black velvet embellished crop top Shoulders have cushions and they could easily be removed This beautiful top could be ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Crop Tops
- Vintage Comme Des Garcons Black Leather Belt SZ 80 NEW WITH TAGSBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in New York, NYVintage black leather belt with embossed Comme des Garçons logo and triple buckle closure. Must have for every CDG collector. New with tags ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belts
- Proenza Schouler Lace Embroidered Dress Seen At Manus X Machina ExhibitBy Proenza SchoulerLocated in New York, NYProenza Schouler embroidered asymmetrical dress Seen at Met NY Manus X Machina exhibit in off white color. Contrasting embroidered pattern throughout, crew neck featuring asymmetri...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Hermés Birkin 30cm Touch Noir Taurillon Novillo/ Bleu Marine Niloticus Lisse PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBA gorgeous Hermès Touch Birkin 30 cm bag. The exterior of this Birkin "Touch" features noir taurillon novillo and bleu marine niloticus lisse leather with palladium hardware. The ext...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Novelty Bags
- 1940s Brown Velvet MuffLocated in San Francisco, CA1940s Brown Velvet Muff. Ruched detail along top and arm holes. Velvet is in excellent condition with no noticeable pressing on fabric. Opens along top with metal zipper with lucite ...Category
1940s Novelty Bags
- Anne-Marie Black Suede Handbag Shaped Like a Folding FanBy Anne-MarieLocated in Chicago, ILThis sweet figural handbag is shaped like a folding hand fan. It's done in a fine, black suede on a frame of gold plated brass. A zippered opening allo...Category
1950s French Novelty Bags
- Mod Embossed Black Vinyl Telephone Shoulder Bag c 1980sLocated in University City, MOMod avant-garde embossed black vinyl large shoulder bag c 1980s The large scale embossed vinyl attache style bag is designed with a telephone receiver on top that serves as the handl...Category
1980s Unknown Novelty Bags
- New Givenchy Black Leather Pochette BagBy GivenchyLocated in West Hollywood, CANew Givenchy black leather double zip pochette with chain handle. Original dust cover.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Novelty Bags
- Stella McCartney Superstellaheroes Shopper ToteBy Stella McCartneyLocated in West Hollywood, CAStella McCartney Limited Edition 2015 resort "superstellaheroes" tote with bonus heroes charm. Black faux leather with yellow monster design. Handle drop 8". Excellent condition wit...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tote Bags
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
You Saw It at the Met Ball. Here’s What Camp Fashion Is Really About
This year's Costume Institute exhibition is all about embracing the eccentric.
This Comme des Garçons Runway Gown Features the Work of 10 Artists
The standout look, from a collection that left fashion critics breathless, has us mesmerized.