By Liana Satenstein, Staff Writer
Unlike last year, when a force of femme-pilots in bomber jackets raided the Hermes' runway, John Paul Gaultier designed this year's collection from a more conservative and clean theme, a Wimbledon match.
As usual, Gaultier took creative liberties and put his own spin on the sport, altering many of the aesthetics embedded in tradition. ]The frequent use of draping and sheer fabrics would also not have conformed to traditional tennis dress code—a little too sexy and baring—but was still appropriate enough to abide by the elegance and custom that accompany the sport.
In the beginning, many of the outfits played it safe—simple tiered ivory skirts paired with blazers. As the collection progressed, it was the outfits such as a royal blue button down dress that hit the upper thigh, matched with a Russian blue blazer and a sangria stained sheer tank top paired with a navy cardigan and carnelian bangles, that were apparent winners. Model, Rianne Ten Haken, took home one of the most striking outfits—a burnt crimson floor length skirt, paired with an equally long sheer nude cardigan, an armful of thick red bangles, and a final acknowledgment to tennis: a mahogany visor.
If the collection were designed according to the bindings of the Wimbledon rulebook, Gaultier would have achieved a double fault by accessorizing an evening gown with a tennis racquet. Yet, his innovative collection of subdued crimsons and blues, leather and legs, proves that although we won't see any of the collection at the next Wimbledon, there are no double faults in the court of Gaultier—just the ball.