Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition, Barbican Centre London

 Hi everyone! I was fortunate to be gifted some tickets for the fabulous Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the Barbican Centre in London. Lovely blogger friend Kate of Twisted Skirt and I decided to go last Saturday and we met just before midday for our timed viewing at 12pm. 

Jean Paul Gaultier was born in 1952 in Arcueil, a suburb of Paris. He grew up thinking and creating for his future career as a fashion designer and was suitably inspired by magazines, 60s TV programmes and films from the interwar period. Gaultier is self taught and discovered the tradition and skills of haute couture by working at the fashion houses of Pierre Cardin and Jean Patou between 1970-1974. He set up his own company in 1976 with a womens ready to wear line and adding a mens collection in 1983. In 1997 he opened his own couture house showing 2 collections a year and from 2004-2010, 4 collections a year including two other for Hermes. Gaultier is best known for his love and design staple, the Breton stripe. He is also a master worker of denim, tartan and sequins and not forgetting his expertise and precision in using feathers, which see beautiful and labour intensive haute couture pieces that are just totally magnificent and awe inspiring.

I've picked my favourite photos from the collection and could of easily added more- I took around 80 and these made the final cut! I do so hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the exhibition- I can honestly say he is a true style icon of our times and his clothes are forever inspiring throughout past decades and for decades to come and I would definitely recommend you visiting the exhibition especially if you are a fan of his work, you will not be disappointed. The exhibition also covered his work for Madonna and Kylie Minogue for their world tours-the outfits are just spectacular viewed close up.

The mannequin here has Jean Paul Gaultier's face transposed onto it as did quite a lot of the mannequins throughout the exhibition-it was eerily spectacular!!

How could I not wear my favourite Jean Paul Gaultier baroque embroidered denim jacket and JPG top to see the exhibition??!!

This outfit of biker jacket and tutu skirt is from his first pret a porter collection in 1977- nearly 40 years old but still so inspiring for trends of today

Kate of Twisted Skirt!

Jean Paul Gaultier used to appear in the 90s cult series, Eurotrash and here is his Spitting Image puppet!!

The shop afterwards was amazing, I really could of let loose with the debit card but decided to be good!!

As I said before, my chosen outfit of the day was my 90s Jean Paul Gaultier Baroque denim jacket, Jean Paul Gaultier body con top (originally a tube dress) and my DKNY black crepe loose fit trousers with black leather flat sandals, all thrifted.

I do hope you enjoyed the pictures and a big thanks to Barclaycard for being able to enjoy this memorable and awe inspiring exhibition.

I hope you all have a really good Easter weekend whatever you get up to!!

Outfit Post: Jean Paul Gaultier and Double Denim

Hi everyone! I hope the weekend weather has been kind to you-where I am it's been getting warmer over the weekend and it stayed dry yesterday for the boot sale. It was slim pickings on the bargain front but I did manage to get some All Saints jeans for just £3 which are the perfect darker blue shade for Autumn and Winter. My outfit choice was a mix of double denim and my Jean Paul Gaultier 90s stretchy dress which I wore as a top. This was originally a boot sale find and was only £1 a few years ago:

The Gaultier top is ideal for wearing with blue denim and I wore my yellow neon hoop earrings to go with the yellow in the top. My denim jacket is by Gap and was a charity shop find earlier this year for around £4.99:

I also wore my trusty grey skinny jeans from River Island which are one of my favourite pairs to wear when it's not so hot. Grey jeans for me are an essential in a denim wardrobe, they are a great neutral and work with virtually any other colour for any season too:

I'm currently debating what items I want to invest in for the Autumn/Winter season- a couple more pairs of jeans and some knits definitely feature and of course as soon as I make my thrifty purchases I'll be sure to share them here first!! Look  out for my thrifted All Saints jeans in an upcoming outfit post on LiveToLoveDenim.com

I'm linking this post to the lovely Patti at NotDeadYetStyle for Visible Monday and the gorgeous Claire-Justine oxox for Creative Monday. Wishing you all a great week ahead too. I know there are some of you that are not even thinking of Autumn purchases but for those of you that are, what is on your style radar for the coming new season?

Saturday Evening on the South Bank

It has been lovely weather this weekend and last night hubby and I decided to have a drive to London and take a short walk and people watch along the South Bank from Tower Bridge. We stopped and pitched up on the grass by City Hall on the Thames with some drinks and nibbles, watching the world go by. We then had a stroll and came across the outdoor Art Exhibition, Rites of Life

It really is a stunning and free exhibition, which is worth stopping to look at:

I wore my 90s Jean Paul Gaultier body con tube dress which was originally a maxi but I cut it down for a more wearable and summery outfit.

I also wore my trusty leather biker jacket which I got from the Sue Ryder charity shop and is from Primark-its a favourite and goes with anything!!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and heres to more sunshine for all of us this coming week!!

Birthday Update

Firstly, I'd like to say a massive Thank You to everyone who left a comment wishing me a Happy Birthday, you are all so kind and these wishes just made my birthday all the more special, so THANKS TO YOU ALL!!

My birthday evening was spent in London, as we were going for a meal and then staying at a hotel near Tower Bridge.

This is me just before going out, with champagne in my mug to celebrate, as I forgot to bring glasses with us!!

I'm wearing my body con black and grey dress from Jane Norman with my Jean Paul Gaultier waistcoat over the top and patent peep toe shoes by Clarks. The necklaces were birthday gifts from my mother in law-I did not keep the Kenneth Jay Lane ones from QVC, as they weren't really 'doing it' enough for me-just as well, as I love the ones she bought!!

The back view of my JPG waistcoat!!



Brick Lane was our destination for dinner and its a great place for a night out-including shopping, LOL!! Papadoms was our restaurant of choice after I'd bought myself a dress first!!

Round the corner from the Truman Brewery is a lovely little boutique called Traffic People. I bought a lovely pink silk dress in their sale for only £15-I will do a post on this boutique and also the dress later, as its such a gorgeous place.

After a gorgeous Indian meal, we walked back to the hotel, so I could get changed into flat shoes, which then resulted in a change of outfit too, LOL!!

I'm wearing my new grey Uniqlo tee, Jean Paul Gaultier waistcoat and my Diesel denim skirt. We then had a beautiful walk from Tower Bridge to London Bridge, crossing it and walking back on the South Bank to walk across Tower Bridge. We then stopped off in a pub right by the hotel for a nightcap-or four and then headed back to the hotel.

So all in all, a lovely 40th birthday and this morning after an all you can eat breakfast, we checked out and I went to.................... the boot sale of course, LOL!!

Thrift Inspiration, doing it the JPG way!

The A/W 08 collection from Jean Paul Gaultier showcased his love of print and design, particularly in an artistic way-I love this first look especially.

This 80s/90s jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier is so reminiscent of this years trend. I got this last year from my local Sue Ryder Care charity shop. I adore the designs used-snakes and mythological ladies and creatures, it is a picture in itself.

The best bit was it was only £5!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!