Jean Paul Gaultier's Final Runway Show Was a Fashion Spectacle

With a little help from Karlie Kloss, Gigi, Bella and others.

January 23, 2020

Yesterday, January 22, at Paris Fashion Week, fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier said goodbye to the runway with a gorgeous final fashion show for his namesake brand. With a wide array of major supermodels wearing his designs, including Karlie Kloss and Gigi and Bella Hadid, the show was an electric way to wrap up the brand's runway history.

The couture show, also Gaultier's 50th anniversary, brought the biggest names in fashion to Paris for what was clearly an entertaining evening. Boy George performed at the open and close of the show, setting the mood for the evening with Amy Winehouse’s "Back to Black" and "Church of the Poison Mind." The designs of the collection were stunning and true to Gaultier's style, featuring fitted pieces, luxurious gowns, exaggerated shoulders, and much more. Did we mention that Gigi was dressed as a couture sailor? It was a sight not to be missed.

According to the New York Times, Gaultier is stepping back from the brand after 50 years. Though he will still have a smaller role, the brand Jean Paul Gaultier will move forward with a new concept, according to an official Instagram post announcing the departure.

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"Jean Paul Gaultier showed his final collection EVER in Paris today and did not disappoint. Truly a pioneer of couture," tweeted one fan. "It's the end of an era for a legend! Jean Paul will always be remembered for his gender fluid, incredible motifs, and unconventional couture looks," another said.

"One final dance for my friend and mentor Jean Paul Gaultier. Words fail me as I try to describe what his support has meant to me for more than half my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jean Paul," model Coco Rocha, who walked in the show, tweeted.

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Over the past 50 years, Gaultier has largely changed the landscape of fashion with his brand, pushing couture to new levels and consistently elevating design each season. Even now in his retirement, his impact on the industry will be long-lasting and influential to decades of new designers to come — and his final show is the perfect proof. Below, check out some of the highlights from the show.