Jean Paul Gaultier’s Punk-Haute CanCan Couture Sure to Inspire Youth Culture Designers, but Roots Embedded In Underground Street

From Jean Paul Gaultier’s S/S 2012 haute couture show in Paris.

Photos by Getty Images.

The highly anticipated runway show of Jean Paul Gaultier on January 26, 2011 during the Paris haute couture shows illustrated just how much influence youth culture, particularly punk rock, still has on high-end design. Gaultier has always been an inspiration for youth fashion designers, because he often takes his inspiration from what young people are into to begin with.

In the case of his show for S/S 2012, at his showroom which was once the headquarters for the French Communist party, he displayed his on-going fascination with UK punk, mixed with French can-can style, creating a newborn fashion aesthetic: punk cancan haute couture.

Punk Cancan Haute Couture.

Models in Mohawks, with a mix of stripes, patterns, silk tulle petticoats with black silk trenches, corsets, neon colors, studded biker jackets, and an epic spiked ball accessory topped the collection.

Each outfit (announced by number by Catherine Deneuvre) had corresponding themed names such as The Clash, Belle Epoque, Moulin Rouge, and Anarchy in the UK.

CanCan Punk Haute.

In many ways, this collection appears to be a continuation of his October, 2010 show whereby he presented a rock ‘n roll aesthetic featuring very Joan Jett type of looks (circa an updated Kristen Stewart “The Runaway’s” version).

One can only hope that like last year, he’ll opt for another masstige collaboration with Target or the like, brining punk cancan haute to the streets -where it all actually began.

Badass spiked ball accessory. Very cool.