“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier from the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” in a riveting exhibit full of emotion, passion, culture, and luxury. Mr. Gaultier, like Cadillac, has become a name synonymous with luxury. Over the span of his career he has dressed some of the most famous people in the world. He has designed for the likes of Nirvanna, Kylie Minogue, Sarah Jessica Parker and the ever fashionable if not a little over top Madonna just to name a few. His designs have been seen on runways, red-carpets, concert stages and movie sets all over the world.

Jean Paul Gaultier, whose early work in the 1970s earned him the nickname “enfant terrible” of fashion, is unquestionably one of the most important fashion designers in recent decades. The very appropriate moniker roughly translates to “a terrifyingly candid child that will say anything to embarrass adults.” He has himself expressed that he draws inspiration from dance, pop-rock, cinema, television, photography, and world cultures.

The exhibition highlights Gaultier’s eclectic and vibrant sources of inspiration through a selection of roughly 140 haute couture dresses and ready-to-wear pieces made between the early 1970s and 2010. Placed throughout the galleries there are 30 animated, talking mannequins made from the likes of Gaultier’s actual models, including one of Gaultier himself, that add life to a visually stunning display of fashion and art.

The Metroplex Cadillac Dealers are a proud sponsor of the exhibit that has been on display since November of last year. Dallas is the first of only two U.S. cities on the international tour. The exhibit closes on February 12th, 2012. If you haven’t had a chance to have a look at this one of a kind exhibit it is a definite must-see.

*The dress pictured above named "Punk Cancan" is on display at the Dallas Museum of Art. It was worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to the MTV Awards in 2000 and took 312 hours to make.

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