What I love is the f-you about him [Jean Paul Gaultier]; f-you to rules, f-you to tradition, f-you to doing things in a particular way. Toni Maticevski ~ Australian Fashion Designer
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier is at the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia until February 8, 2015
Above: ASSIN brand viscose garment REscued from landfill. It reminded me of the black and white stripes Gaultier is REnowned for.
Read about the interesting true history of stripes in fashion here
Gosh it’s amazing what can be saved direct from landfill. I liked this ASSIN garment a lot when I spotted it amongst the piles of fast fashion. I was attracted to its unusual cotton fabric label, unique raw edging, and the soft as silk fabric. I had no idea that ASSIN garments are expensive to buy, even on sale!
I [Karen] studied 5 years of French. I have been told that my maternal great-grandfather went to Jesuit boarding school in France. I have also been told by a distant relative that he had an attitude of f-you. I would not be surprised if my Gaultier gauche, rude, cheeky and Beat the Man approach to a frugal lifestyle is partly genetic.
Like fellow western suburbs’ designer Toni Maticevski, RUDE can relate to that f-you attitude that Gaultier oozes. You certainly have to have it to survive the stereotyping that comes with living in the west of Melbourne.
People who live inner west will not have the same level of stigma that comes with living in the outer west. Toni Maticevski grew up in the inner west and has a studio there today. RUDE lives in the outer west and has a studio at home. The differences are that RUDE is a fringe dweller and not a well know couture fashion designer.
Gaultier was REcycling and REusing in the 1980s with his punk creations. As a child, he listened to his grandmother tell stories about life during the war. Women were already recycling then, to cope with the prevailing shortages: men’s suits were altered for women; pants became skirts. By enriching recycled objects, Jean Paul Gaultier made them magnificent. Sumptuous linings turned military garments into formal attire, while evening gowns sprang from camouflage-print fabrics.
Like Gaultier, RUDE’s approach to a creative life is not mainstream and was formed in childhood, watching a sewist mother deconstructing garments for fabric and removing buttons and zips for REuse. RUDE’s Scavenger Style defies a lot of social norms around hygiene, consumption, consumerism, safety and acceptability to name a few.
Community Recycling Network Australia summed up well RUDE’s ‘cheeky’ approach to REcycling in the link below. RUDE is loving that we are REcognised for our contribution to keeping stuff out of landfill.
http://communityrecycling.com.au/uploadedFiles/1413287501761-4847.pdf
Beat the Man and do something subversive!
At Home with Mend It Aussie 
Karen – Have you seen the Jean Paul Gautier exhibition yet? I am thinking of going next week. I love the artiness of his fashion. Sue from Bacchus Marsh
LikeLike
Hi Sue, thank you for your comment. I apologise that it has taken over a week to get back to you. We had our daughter’s wedding in Echuca. I have not been to the JPG exhibition. Did you get to go?
LikeLike
Hi Karen, Not yet! Looking forward to it though. I have used a photo of one of his pieces in two collages so far. Wearable art!
LikeLike
You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve truly read a single thing like that before.
So nice to discover somebody with a few unique thoughts on this subject matter.
Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is
something that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!
LikeLike
Hello there Gina! You have paid me the highest personal compliment by acknowledging my efforts to write with originality. I love writing and to do it differently, is my main priority when blogging! I want to return the compliment and thank you for taking the time to post me such an accolade. Your recognition is inspirational and will continue to forever touch me and my posts. I am truly grateful. And to be thought of as cool is the icing on the cake, as I fast approach my sixth decade!
If you are on Facebook, Rude Record has a page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rude-Record-Personal-Blog/787373754616693 The Facebook page is more for our daily musings, whereas our blog here, is a weekly Friday article on a topic of relevance to our frugal lifestyle and unique way of looking at and/or interpreting the world around us.
Best wishes
Karen aka RUDE GIRL
LikeLike
Hi Karen, Would you still like to learn how to make paper? If so, please let me know. Sue Bacchus Marsh _____
LikeLike
Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m
impressed! Extremely helpful information particularly the ultimate
section 🙂 I care for such info much. I used to be looking for
this certain information for a long time. Thank you and
best of luck.
LikeLike
Thank you Georgia for your comments, and also for letting RUDE know that what we write on our blog is helpful information. Danny and I are very practical people, so we really like to know that our sharing is helping others. That you have been seeking this type of information for a long time, and have found it on RUDE makes us very pleased. We are grateful for your message and will keep on trying to deliver interesting and helpful posts. All the best to you too.
LikeLike
Stripes are my favorite and I love that there is a subversiveness in their history and love all of the point of reference for stripes in fashion and Gaulthier’s pov about them too! I feel a little more affirmed about my outside the box status everytime I wear them! ❤ 😀 The tunic dress is a fantastic find too! An all around great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sweetleigh and thank you so much for dropping by. It was great to get your thoughts on wearing stripes. I too love anything that’s outside the box.
LikeLiked by 1 person