Haute Historian: Go Bold. Versace

“Go big or go home” is a popular motto that gets bandied about, encouraging people to be extravagant and daring during life’s many endeavors. This season, however, there’s a new but seemingly similar adage being used: “go bold.” At least that’s what I’ve been seeing in my inbox over the past several weeks from the plethora of emails I receive from fashion retailers, magazines and blogs. I’m either being told to “go bold” or “be bright” but regardless of the exact wording, the saying is definitely referring to the trend of introducing color, vibrant colors at that, into ones spring and summer wardrobe. From experience, transitioning ones closet from predominately black to one that has splashes of vivid color sounds easy enough, but the actual wearing of said colored garment out is a bit more difficult. Not to worry however, in order to partake in this very accessible fashion trend one needs look no further than Versace for inspiration on how to wear bright colors and go bold.

Gianni Versace hit the fashion scene in the 1970s and founded the Versace label in 1978, which became an almost immediate success and is to this day Italy’s number one fashion house. Now run under the guiding hands of Donatella Versace, Versace’s fame originally came to fruition thanks to her brother Gianni’s skills as a clothing designer. He was able to hone his craft in his mother’s dress-making shop, but what really brought the clothing line recognition was the body-conscious gowns, plunging necklines, rock n’ roll inspired fashion shows, and the use of the most popular and beautiful models of the day. Versace was actually the inspiration in the coining of the term “supermodel” as Gianni paid an exorbitant amount of money to have Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and the other top models of the late 1980s and early 1990s to showcase his garments on the runway.

Versace is known for quite a number of other fashion brilliances as well, including the creation of the chainmail dress and Elizabeth Hurley’s safety pin gown, not to mention the vibrant “jungle” green dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammy awards in 2000. Regardless of what the latest trend is during the varying seasons, Versace seems to stay true to two things; showcase a woman’s physique in a body conscious way and make the garment eye catching, which usually involves the use of color. Maybe it’s the origins of Versace hailing from the Mediterranean where colors seem to be especially appealing, but the use of color in their clothing seems to give confidence to the woman who wears it, by saying go ahead and look, for nothing seems to draw the eye more than an alluring color. Need further encouragement to add a splash of bright to your wardrobe? Just visit Versace.com to see the glowing fashions.

1. Versace Spring 1991 RTW
2. Versace Vintage 1991
3. Jennifer Lopez In Versace 2000
4. Versace  Spring 2003 RTW
5. Versace Spring 2012
 Couture

–Bonnie J Brown

Image Layout: Amy Newling

Haute Historian: Red, White and Blue Jeans

Blue jeans are a wardrobe staple. I’ve been told by boyfriends and my father alike, a single sturdy pair is sufficient for quite a number of years. But what’s the fun in only having one pair? Sure they’re durable, but that quality seems to fade when the number of styles, cuts, colors and brands seems limitless. It’s no wonder denim is a billion dollar industry when, according to PR News, the average American woman owns seven pairs of jeans. While the popular history of blue jeans is predominately American focused, its name and origin actually hails from France. The heavy twill fabric was originally called serge de Nimes, with Nimes being the town where denim was first made. Jeans also has French connections, as Genes is the French name for Genoa, Italy, the first place denim trousers were made. Even one of France’s most popular fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, has been quoted as saying: “I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.” Yet even with its roots originating from France, blue jeans are decidedly American, thanks in great part to Levi Strauss and his 501s.

American men and women have been wearing blue jeans since the late 1800s, but not as casual fashion, instead they were designed for mine workers out west. The weighty material was ideal for manual laborers because it was so durable. Levi Strauss’s modern blue jeans came to be when tailor, Jacob Davis, approached Strauss with the idea of adding rivets to stress points in the denim pants so that they could last even longer. The first pair of Levi’s 501 Jeans was made in 1890 and has since become the best-selling item of clothing. But still, while cowboys and girls wore the denim trousers, blue jeans worn as a fashion statement wouldn’t become popular until the 1950s when bad boy James Dean would wear a pair in Rebel Without a Cause. When teens and American youths began wearing blue jeans it was more of a sign of rebellion and because of that they were often band from being worn in schools, restaurants and theaters. But soon after, blue jeans’ popularity spread to include people other than beatniks and hippies, and now jeans are worn everywhere for just about every occasion.

It may seem that Levis would be old news when it comes to the blue jeans industry since the market is flooded year after year with designer jeans and other new high-end denim companies. Blue jeans are no longer just blue jeans, they’re dyed any number of colors, stressed and shredded to show various portions of the leg and bedazzled with stones and diamonds alike. But Levi’s is still a contender, in more ways than one, as it seems that other jeans companies look to Levi’s for style and branding. The New York Times reported that Levi Strauss has the most trademark infringement cases within the apparel industry, most of which revolve around the double arc gold stitches on the rear pockets. Levis has sued and won a number of cases against other popular denim companies such as Lucky Brand Jeans, Guess and Polo Ralph Lauren. The demand for Levis is so high that they’re knocked off and sold. There are even web sites that help customers spot a real pair from a fake. There are claims that Levi’s 506s are still made the same as they were in the 1800s and as vintage is king, Levi Strauss is smart to not fix a perfect pair of jeans.

1.  Women’s Vintage Levis Jeans
2.  Levi’s 501 Jeans History
3.  Lady’s Levis, The Original Western Blue Jean
4.  Levi’s Curve ID
5.  Levi’s Logo

—Bonnie J Brown

Image Layout: Kristine Horton

Haute Historian: Last Resort

It’s that time of year again. No, not the holiday season, where people are frantically searching for the ultimate gift for everyone on their list, in between attending one holiday party after another, all the while stuffing ones face with an endless array of tasty treats and festive alcoholic beverages. Instead, I mean the time of year that immediately follows the holidays, the resort season. It’s the time when folks, if they’re lucky, get to escape the frigid air and slushy ice encrusted streets for something a bit more tropical and a lot less hectic. Most of us will not be so lucky, but the select few who will be able to take this mid-winter jaunt will feel even more exceptional as they’ll get to wear the latest from this season’s resort fashion collections, these ready-to-wear lines that were designed for just this sort of trip.

Resort wear is definitely a modern idea once reserved for the upper echelon of society (think Vanderbilts, Goodyears, Carnegies, Rockefellers, etc). Those wealthy enough to take a holiday break the weeks immediately following Christmas were going to want to wear something that was more than just the average warm weather gear, i.e. t-shirts and shorts. Instead they needed something that was lightweight, traveled with ease and looked effortlessly fashionable once slipped on. There are many characteristics for resort collections that are incorporated year after year; the materials used are more often than not cotton, poplin, denim and straw (for straw hats and handbags). Resort pieces are also designed to be versatile so an article can be worn to and from the ocean or pool and can also be worn dining out on a yacht. Early trends for such wear followed the nautical theme. White cotton wide-leg pants and sleeveless tops mimicked sailors’ looks and often other items would have looks similar to that of early American sportswear garments. While the traits can still be found in today’s resort collections, lately the styles are changing to follow the trends of the previous or post fashion seasons.

But the times have changed. Travel, even to exotic tropical locations, is much more accessible and so too are the accompanying resort collections. Originally, only high-end department stores catered to this line of clothing. Now, however, many designers create ready-to-wear resort collections and even  popular brands such as Banana Republic and J. Crew include resort lines for their customers. Some, like Tommy Bahama, have made their whole career out of producing resort collections year-round. And why wouldn’t resort wear transition to be something on demand year-round? Tropical vacations, though probably most desirable mid-winter are a great vacations year-round as well. Fuji, anyone?

1. Alice Marble in tennis garb in the French resorts, 1937
2. Grace Kelly in Resort Wear in ‘To Catch a Thief,”1954
3. Chanel Resort 2007
4. Oscar de la Renta Resort 2009
5. Celine Resort 2012

—Bonnie J Brown

Haute Historian: Making It In Antwerp – Dries Van Noten

Rising to stardom is as hard as it sounds. Not only do you need to have the talent, drive and desire to make it there, you also 1. Need for the right people to notice you, 2. Get them to actually like you and 3. Prove yourself capable by getting the general population to like you and your talent enough that they’re willing to give you their money. No easy feat any way you look at it. Even now, with all the reality TV shows and competitions giving little known people opportunities to succeed in their craft, it’s difficult to reach true stardom, although it does make it somewhat easier. So what about those days prior to reality TV? How did people gain popularity among the masses? For fashion designer Dries Van Noten, it was creating a buzz for himself by joining with five fellow Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp alumni and driving cross borders to the 1988 London Fashion Fair to show off his designs.

The Antwerp Six, as they were (and are) referred as, made quite a splash on the 1980s fashion scene and put Antwerp, Belgium on the map as a fashion epicenter with their little trek. However, it wasn’t just the one season that kept Dries Van Noten a familiar name in the fashion world. While the six designers from Belgium went their separate ways after showcasing their fashion in London, Van Noten is the one who still has a measurable amount of success within the fashion industry today.

But staying in the spotlight (in a favorable way) is almost just as hard as rising into it, and Van Noten’s success hasn’t always been constant. His exuberant and provocative designs of the 80s weren’t nearly as popular with the turn of the decade, when designers like Calvin Klein reigned supreme with their minimalist looks. However, fans of Van Noten’s familiar tent dresses, chunky sweaters and floral prints as well as the hand-crafted quality of his work helped him bounce back in the 2000s. Style.com quoted Vogue when it said that his aesthetic is “poetic, ethnic-eclectic.” However, antwerpsix.blogspot.com noted that Van Noten’s biggest “stimulation” comes from watching people from the city streets of his home town of Antwerp. These two ideas seem to contradict each other, but like that of his abilities to layer multiple prints in a pleasing manner, so too can he create wearable clothing with an artistic viewpoint.

Those who’ve found success often lose it when they’re no longer aware of what their public wants. Thankfully, Van Noten has been able to stick with his aesthetics and point of view and still please his fans. His silhouettes have hardly changed in the 30 or so odd years he’s been designing clothing but still seeming to make the new with each season, an ability that has been noted and awarded by his peers. So maybe that’s the real trick to staying popular after all: don’t mess with a good thing when you’ve got it!

Pictured:
Dries Van Noten Spring 2000 RTW
Dries Van Noten Fall 2004 RTW
Dries Van Noten Spring 2006 RTW
Dries Van Noten Spring 2012 RTW

—Bonnie J Brown

Photos: style.com

Haute Historian: Pucker Up Or Kiss Off. Max Factor

It’s a trend that spans generations and touches each nation around the globe. It’s an indicator on how the economy is fairing and enhances a woman’s appearance. The use of cosmetics has been traced back as far as Mesopotamia 5000 B.C. and was used for the very same reasons today; to improve one’s look and offer a hint of sexual appeal.

Prior to modern times, to create a rosy mouth, women would apply crushed semi-precious stones and others used harmful plant and insect extracts, which generated the term ‘kiss of death’. While today’s tube of lipstick color isn’t nearly as harmful, it was only in 2007 that high traces of lead were found in many popular brands. And while advances in the science have garnered improvement in cosmetics, much like any fashion trend, trends in cosmetics have also changed over the years. During the 19th and very early 20th centuries, make-up was only acceptable on actors and actresses. Men wearing make-up were considered effeminate and women were wanton. But, thanks to Maksymilian Faktorowicz, later shortened to Max Factor upon his arrive to Ellis Island, it became acceptable for every day women to wear a bit of color on their faces.

Max Factor began his career making cosmetics for stage actors. He created his fame when he was able to transform stage cosmetics, which often caked and cracked on the skin, into a thinner, lighter ‘grease paint’ that could be used for motion film actors. Factor not only created the products that the actresses wore, he also applied them and was able to make color adjustments that suited each of the stars, helping them look their best. A few of the women Factor worked with during his career were Joan Crawford, Julie Garland, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis, and Claudette Colbert. He even gave Clara Bow her bow lipped look, a look that many flappers would mimic. Factor was mentioned in many film credits and even had a few cameos. For his influences in the film industry, he received an honorary Academy Award as well as a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, Factor had a hand on a number of other innovations, including coining the term ‘make-up’. While the term was used by people in the ‘business’, it was not something said in polite society.

It was when his current clients began asking to use his products off the movie set and were visiting his beauty salon that Factor realized women other than movie stars could also benefit from his make-up collection. He marketed his modern make-up by letting American women know that they could look like a star with Max Factor make-up. And, thanks to his advancements in modern cosmetology, we’re still able to look as good as the movie stars. Or maybe the dab of lipstick and rogue just give us enough confidence and sex appeal to make us think we are. Either is fine with me!

1. Max Factor Ad With Judy Garland
2. Max Factor Ad With Rita Hay
3. Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star for Max Factor
4. Clara Bow

— Bonnie J Brown

Image Layout: Amy Newling

Haute Historian: Check It Out – The Tartan

The Tartan, it’s a must have pattern for any hipster wanting to look…well, hip this season. And while the 90 degree angled criss-cross woven threads of varying colors is a fad among those who want to look effortlessly cool, the tartan is actually a fabric that was once worn exclusively by royalty; although, that’s not exactly its origins.

While the act of weaving dyed woolen threads into varying sized squares, dates back much further than modern times, the Tartan, or plaid as it is regularly referred to today, is most commonly thought of as a Scottish tradition. Prior to the 1800s, each area in Scotland would have a popular tartan and although it is assumed that each clan had its own plaid, certain tartans were popular in certain areas only because of preference and the dyes available to them. It was only later when tartans were adopted into women’s clothing and military uniforms that tartans became something to distinguish oneself as wealthy and affluent. The Victorian Age had many clans, military divisions, families and other groups register their official tartan. Popular tartans during this time, were the ‘Stewart, McDonald, McGregor, McDuff, MacBeth and Prince Charlie’ and could be found on anything from fashions and accessories to home décor, much like they can be found today.

However, none of these plaids will be as recognizable or popular than the Burberry Check. Originally designed for the lining of their ever popular trench coat in the 1920’s, the large navy, red and tan check pattern is used on just about every item Burberry sells and is even more recognizable than their actual logo, the Equestrian Knight. Unlike the other plaids hipsters will be wearing this season, the Burberry Check will be worn by men and women alike to show their wealth and affluence. While the plaid can be found on shirts, it’s much more likely to be seen in the colder months wrapped around men’s and women’s necks or on bags, ties and other accessories. Yet while Burberry Check seems to have a much grander beginning than that of its look-a-likes, Thomas Burberry began his clothing house as one of outdoor wear. Burberry became popular thanks to its technology behind their trench coat which used pretreated threads to keep the rain out. So with such a beginning, maybe hipsters will opt for the more popular plaid, but probably not.

1. Burberry Fall Ready to Wear 2011
2. Burberry Trench, $995
3. Burberry Mega Check Shirt, $350
4. Burberry Check Shirt Dress Fall 2011, $450

— Bonnie J Brown

Haute Historian: Tip Toeing Around Fashion

It’s an accessory that once donned immediately transforms a woman’s physical appearance. Her posture improves. The straightening of her spine inadvertently forces her chest and behind out. She instantly appears taller and thinner and her calve muscles are at their most defined. More than that, her self-confidence and sexual awareness ratchets up a few notches as well.  All thanks to the stiletto heel. Even though they’re agony to wear and force women to walk on their tip-toes, a painful and tricky endeavor, and not to mention that long-term wear can cause serious damage to the bones and tendons of the foot, women can’t seem to give them up. And it’s no wonder why, with all the physical and mental improvements they give, the bit of pain seems almost worth it.

Alternating one’s appearance for the better has long been a part of fashion and so too have high heels. But stilettos, named after the Italian stiletto dagger and recognized by their long thin appearance, are a modern design thanks in great part to the technology of steel which is used as its support. Seen in many fetish drawings pre-1900, women began balancing atop these lofty heels with greater popularity in the 1940’s after French shoe designer Andre Perugia designed a pair for a fellow French artist, singer Mistinguett. While not the originator, Perugia certainly modernized the thin heel. But it was Roger Vivier who designed a collection of stilettos for Christian Dior in 1954 and became the godfather of stiletto heels, or more aptly put: the Manolo Blahnik of his time. His designs were elaborate and intricate and adored by women. While the shoe was supported by the strength of steel, Vivier used delicate materials like pearls and silks to adorn his designs.

The stiletto heel can range in length from two to five inches or longer if a platform is added to the toe. Because walking in the shoe can prove difficult, at least at first, kitten heels (stilettos that are one inch in length) were introduced in the late 1950’s as “trainer heels” for younger girls. And while it would seem that stilettos have been a part of fashion since their modern inception, they lost popularity in during the 1960’s thanks to the emergence of hippie styles. Manolo Blahnik reinvented the stiletto by reintroducing the shoe with his “Needle” design in the 1970s. The rest is history. Every fashionista has at least one pair in her closet and some even look to collect them. With creative wearable works of foot art like Vivier’s, Blahnik’s and Loubouton’s, who wouldn’t want to start a collection?

1. Roger Vivier Kitten Heel Stiletto, 1961

2. Roger Vivier, 1960s

3. Roger Vivier Silk Floating Rose Stilettos for Christan Dior, 1960-63

4.  Stiletto Illustration by Manolo Blahnik, Isabell, 2000 2000

—Bonnie J Brown

Haute Historian: That Touch of Mink

Controversy. When Prince sang about it he definitely wasn’t singing about the use of fur in fashion, although he certainly could have been. For being the oldest material used to clothe the human form, it has garnered the most controversy and all-out drama within the fashion world (not an easy feat) and it’s a to-do sure to continue far into the future. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and their brethren publicly bash, harass and creatively oppose the wearers of fur and fashion designers who use it, although designers rarely seem to take notice of the criticism. Karl Lagerfeld has been known to be a staunch supporter of the fur industry and takes on a somewhat excessive “kill or be killed” mentality. Other designers however, whether in response to fur protestors or not, often seem to go to extremes when incorporating fur and leather into their collections. In 2008, Jean Paul Gaultier had models strutting down the runway garbed in fur pelts, some with teeth, nose and eyes still attached; not exactly what one would consider high-luxury. And yet, although it may be hard to imagine at this space and time considering the wealth needed for such an extravagant purchase, fur as clothing comes from very humble beginnings, very similar to what Gaultier may have been trying to mimic.

The first human to don fur, the caveman, going all the way back to the stone ages (think Fred and Wilma Flintstone) did so to protect himself from the elements and stay warm. Fur was an easy choice for its warmth and durability. However, it didn’t take long for this functional material to become something of fashion and the ultimate status symbol. The Greeks and Romans used horse hair in their helmets to denote high rankings and to a way to stand out from the crowd. Fur was also a sign of affluence and beginning during the Roman era it was a source of income as trading furs became prevalent and helped spread fur’s popularity from the Mediterranean to northern Europe.

Even though a mink coat is the ultimate status symbol today when talking fur, it was beaver felt that jump started fur as fashion in the 17th century. Beaver accessories such as muffs, hats and gloves were the platform that introduced fur fashions. The 1960s introduced a rejuvenation of the fur craze where every woman craved a mink coat, the most luxurious clothing item a woman could own. Of course with the rise in synthetic materials around this time, faux furs were just as popular and had women constantly questioning “is it real or fact?” Many women today may be asking the same question come this fall. As the cooler months hit, the furry trend is set to reemerge once again with luxurious furs dyed in wild shades, so don’t expect the controversies to end any time soon.

1. Jean Paul Gautlier Fall Ready-to-Wear 2008
2. Fred and Wilma Flintstone
3. Karl Lagerfeld Fall 2005 RTW
4. Gucci Fall 2011 RTW
5. 1960s Mink Coats

—Bonnie J Brown

Image Layout: Molly Murphy

Haute Historian: A Winning Duo? Proenza Schouler

Everyone loves an award ceremony, especially when the honorees are big in popular culture. Take the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, even though they only honor their own with the Academy Awards, the world watches a three- plus hour long television production to see who will walk away with an Oscar statuette.  Although on a slightly smaller scale, the same goes for the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA). The CFDA honors those who make exceptional contributions to American fashion and although it’s not aired, the council has a large following of people anticipating and eager to discover who will be named Womenswear Designer of the Year, among others.

The CFDA, a foundation which was created in 1962, is a not-for-profit organization which supports the American fashion industry by offering scholarships and nurturing professional development within fashion and its arts. The fashion awards ceremony recognizes those who are among the best in the industry and while many of the nominees are well known, some are rising stars. This year’s Womenswear nominations include previous winner, Marc Jacobs, who will also be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Alexander Wang, both of whom are big names in American fashion and culture. However, the list also includes lesser known, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler. While the nomination isn’t completely out of left field, as Proenza Schouler has been nominated twice for and won Accessory Designer of the Year in 2009, their nomination this year (whether they win or not) brings their women’s clothing designs to the forefront and puts them in the same category as many other successful designers such as Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karen and many more.

Proenza Schouler, named for the two men’s mothers, was created in 2002 after McCollough and Hernandez met while in school at Parsons. The two collaborated on their senior project which was bought in whole by Barney’s New York. While it doesn’t hurt that both men are vitally handsome, their success, however, comes from the fact that they are truly talented and produce impeccable clothing which women of varying ages long to don.  While often described as youthful, cool and hip, their luxurious designs are excellently tailored and their collections regularly feature structured corsets and fitted pencil skirts. This look may sound severe, but the end result is much more delicate and feminine without losing any of its sexuality.

As many collaborations go, each designer will have their own ideas and points of inspiration, so when it comes to Proenza Schouler it is truly a melting pot of both McCollough’s and Hernandez’s designs, creating something that one person alone could not. The duo often gathers their inspirations when taking a holiday after completing a show and the clothing will reflect the culture they visited while vacationing. The Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection came from what they saw on their Santa Fe trip. The Native American colors and textiles are transformed and made into clothing that shows its point of inspiration. But the inspirations are only that and are eventually adopted and made into something completely unique, a skill that the CFDA will certainly take into account when naming the 2011 Womenswear Designer of the Year on Monday, June 6.

1. Proenza Schouler Fall 2003 RTW

2. Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough

3. Proenza Schouler Spring 2005 RTW

4. Proenza Schouler Spring 2011 RTW

5. Proenza Schouler Fall 2011 RTW

6. Awards given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

—Bonnie J Brown

Haute Historian: John Paul Gaultier. Sailors’ Duds

Ships Ahoy! The nautical trend has officially set sail. Although the wide-leg white pant, the horizontal navy and white striped top (also known as the Breton stripe) and a pair of boat shoes are more-or-less summer staples by now (even in landlocked areas) this season the trend is really making a splash. And while the look and its inspiration have militaristic origins, the trend is no longer just for those who serve in the navy and it hasn’t almost since its inception. Instead, fashion designers have been adopting the look for years and making it their own. Ralph Lauren, a classic American designer, is known for incorporating military themes and red, white and blue color palettes in his collections, but it’s actually French designer Jean Paul Gaultier who has capitalized on the Breton stripe in the modern sense.

The Breton stripe’s inspiration originally comes from the French sailors of Brittany, France, who wore a similarly striped, boat-neck collar knit shirt. It was designed in the 1850s as part of the French sailor’s uniform. The seafaring look has had its moments of trendsetting popularity long before Gaultier’s version came to shore (last pun, I promise!) and it seems as if the French have had a handle on this garment for quite sometime. In the early 1900s many bathing suits had nautical inspired attributes and children were often dressed as miniature sailors, as many moms are still wont to do. Coco Chanel, of course had a version that became popular for women and then later in the 1950s the shirt was once again a common style worn by many a young French man or woman.

It wasn’t until the late 1980s that Gaultier introduced the Breton stripe and his nautical inspired designs to the fashion industry. It came with the launch of his Junior Gaultier label which was geared toward a younger market. The line was very much nautical themed, a theme that would eventually carry over into his couture and ready-to-wear lines as well. The advertisements for his colognes would often feature a tattooed sailor wearing the Breton shirt or no shirt at all. While Gaultier has gone on and expanded his collections and is far from only being known as a nautical themed designer, the Briton stripes still show up intermittently in his collections. He even designed the interiors of a Paris apartment decked out in floor to ceiling marine style. And even though the basic top with navy and white stripes is an instant classic and go to for men and women alike, no longer are we restricted to just that. Today, the Breton stripe has been glamorized and can be found on anything from couture gowns to handkerchiefs.

1. Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2011 Couture
2. Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear
3. Print Cologne Ad For Men
4. Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2006 Ready-to-Wear
5. Coco Chanel Breton Top
6. Paris Apartment Designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, 2010
7. Gaultier in a Paris Apartment Designed by Himself, 2010

—Bonnie J Brown

Image Layout: Molly Murphy