Jean-Paul Gaultier

French haute couture fashion designer. In 1970, he came without formal training as a designer to Pierre Cardin. His first individual collection was released in 1976 and his characteristic irreverent style dates from 1981, and he has long been known as the enfant terrible of French fashion. Many of Gaultier's following collections have been based on street wear, focusing on popular culture, whereas others, particularly his Haute Couture collections, are very formal yet at the same time unusual and playful. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash. He's also well known for his exhibit in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art known as Bravehearts — Men in Skirts. Gaultier caused shock by using unconventional models for his exhibitions, like older men and full-figured women, pierced and heavily tattooed models, and by playing with traditional gender roles in the shows. This earned him both criticism and enormous popularity.

At the end of the 1980s, Gaultier suffered some personal losses, including his lover and business partner Francis Menuge, who died of AIDS-related causes.