Gaultier Paris Couture Show: Tribute or Insult?

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“Is this a lasting treasure or just a moment’s pleasure?”

        ---Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Amy Winehouse

When Jean Paul Gaultier opened his Paris Couture Show on January 25, 2012, the fashion world awaited and expected the perfect creative storm of brilliancy, oddity and complexity to grace the runway.  What was not anticipated was the re-incarnation of the late singer Amy Winehouse and the showcase her controversial life and provocative fashion style.  Although the show did receive equal parts positive reviews and indifference, the only negative exception came from Winehouse’s family.  Still heavily grieving her death, the sting of betrayal by Gaultier coupled with the insult of using the troubled singer’s images to sell and promote fashion has upset and bewildered the family.  The designer, on the other hand, sees no harm in his choice of muse and the dedication of his entire Couture show proved his love for Winehouse. Gaultier told the New York Times,"To me the scandal is that no fashion magazine did an Amy Winehouse cover. She was so exceptional in her style; how she held her body; the way she dressed, mixing pieces from different decades."

Genius marketing or diabolical madman?