l. to r. Academy of Art University President Dr. Elisa Stephens, fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, Fashion School Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer, and Director Simon Ungless.
San Francisco — "Fashion is everything" said French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier during a visit to the Academy of Art University. The school's president Dr. Elisa Stephens presented Gaultier with an honorary doctorate and then he took a guided tour of the fashion school, amidst onlooking students. He even offered constructive criticism to some who were working on projects.
Jean Paul Gaultier critiques student Britt Moore's fashion sketch during his visit to the Academy.
Britt Moore, a 22 year-old BFA Fashion Journalism student from Atlanta, Georgia, was lucky enough to receive words of wisdom from Gaultier on her sketch of a student in a black bustier. She giddily recounts the moment he leaned over her shoulder to closely inspect her work:
"About a million things went through my head, I wanted to ask him twenty different things but my mouth couldn't form the words. I was nervous and immediately went to cloud nine. I almost felt like a star struck teen at a rock concert. As I calmed down and actually listened to what he was saying, I thought to myself, 'I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life, the man that designed the wardrobe for "Fifth Element" and has the most beautiful couture collections I've ever seen, thinks I should draw with more exaggeration.' That's what I've been doing, drawing like I mean it."
Above students watch eagerly as Gaultier discusses fashion. Below Gaultier views student projects with class instructor, executive director Gladys Perint Palmer, and president Dr. Elisa Stephens.
Once the creative director for luxury accessories brand Hermès, the world famous fashion designer epitomizes the idea of fashion being all encompassing. His avant garde designs, which have been hailed as having an artistic aesthetic, will be exhibited at the de Young Museum starting March 24th through August 19th, illustrating fashion as art; and his new role as art director for Diet Coke exemplifies how fashion can influence branding.
Check out more images from Gaultier's visit to the Academy:
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Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy
