Jean Paul Gaultier‘s renaissance has birthed a rather sensual Y/Project collaboration, an upcoming collection co-designed by Haider Ackermann, and plenty of referential looks from the “Iconic Print” series. It all comes at a time when fashion is still having its ’90s and Y2K moment, and now Jean Paul Gaultier looks to capitalize on this with the release of the “Cyber Collection.”
As the story goes, Jean Paul Gaultier and his team were making costumes for the cult film The Fifth Element, coinciding with the debut of two ’90s runways — Spring/Summer 1996’s “Cyberbaba” and Fall/Winter 1996’s “Les Amazones.” It was here that JPG not only developed a love for cyberpunk glamor, but really honed in on it following Fall 1995’s “Cyber” collection that started to explore high-camp leather and latex, Club Kid couture, and in the later collections, “The Dots,” which brings us to today.
In honor of this seminal era and body of work, Jean Paul Gaultier has re-released and re-imagined “The Dots” in the new “Cyber Collection” range, designed for all. Like the pieces that came in the ’90s and informed much of the aughts, these ready-to-wear garments are skin-tight and otherworldly, seeing the mesh construction stick to oneself.
While much available is designed traditionally for a feminine silhouette, there are plenty more masculine designs, too. For example, a printed mesh top sports black and white dots (itself an exclusive) and works with warping the shapes to give definition to the torso. Here, it’s paired with the felted “Iconic” kilt, but it could also be layered with pieces like the Black Cyber Sailor Shirt which, while still tight to the body, is less revealing than some of the other offerings in the collection.
For something truly versatile, JPG offers a black merino wool sweater with black lurex ribbed detailing for a full-chest covering that still feels a part of the “Cyber Collection.” Accessories including a branded cyber scarf will only add a vibrant ’90s pop to this look, while sweaters and hoodies sporting gel-like JPG branding in a cyber font make another case for more understated nuances.
Take a look at the full range of men’s-leaning garments above, and shop the “Cyber Collection” on the Jean Paul Gaultier website now.
In other news, Carhartt WIP and mastermind JAPAN are back together again.
