Jean Paul Gaultier’s recent men’s collection shown in Paris takes classic masculine garments and juxtaposes them with feminine-tinged fashion elements, resulting in a fragmented, yet mystifyingly cohesive, collection of ephemeral looks. From skintight satin leggings, to pleated skirts, to fur jackets, the designer disobeys traditional rules of style (e.g., “black tie”) and reinterprets them for a new generation of buyers ready to embrace a spirit of extreme free expression that was seemingly smothered by the looming economic environment.

Despite the bloodstained models who appear bruised and battered, it appears that victory was achieved through a tripartite convergence of masculinity, femininity, and athleticism. Perhaps the fight theme for Gaultier’s most recent runway exhibition can be decoded as being symbolic for his continuous fight for a shift in fashion from being a fixed mode of tradition and safety, instead to becoming a fluid exploration of reinvention and revision. (photos courtesy of nymag.com)