The Absence Of God

Halos, stained glass, angel wings, nuns' habits, pierced hearts worthy of martyrs, and yes, a few crosses. Religion was hot hot hot at Jean Paul Gaultier Couture SS07, and he pulled most of it off wonderfully. JPG always does variety very well, and this show was no exceptino. Some of it was quite wearable -- the little black frocks, the flowing goddess dresses. Other pieces -- namely the dresses with attached habits and the stained glass-effect gown -- are best saved for the photoshoots. Although the inspiration was rather obvious, and sometimes it wasn't carried out with the best of taste, this show was a nice break from all the main spring themes of flowers, robots, and the Orient. However, I'm slightly confused as to what JPG's actual message about religion was. Is it that people may look saintly, but that image can hide an inner sinner (oooh, rhymes)? Or is it that beauty is goodness, and that's what our salvation is? Or maybe it's that he just wanted to shake things up by making a burlesque star wear a halo and a cross, but he didn't realize it's been done, and that it may look pretty, but there isn't any real meaning behind it? Oh well, the clothes are pretty for the most part.
Special sacrilege gift: If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian...click.
The divine was either sleek, chic, and subversive, or beautiful, frothy, embellished, and worthy of fairy tales.

The evil was either trashy, unflattering, or in the case of that pink dress, just awkward.

Pictures from style.com and elle.com