the most wonderful time of the year

Jean Paul Gaultier Sends Bloody Boxer Boys Down the Runway in Paris

The other day we noted that the new fall 2010 men’s collections contained a smattering of death themes. However, perhaps we were a little off, and the pervading theme that will bridge the Milan and Paris collections is actually a thing that may precede death and decay: violence. Dsquared2 sent bloodied models down their runway in Milan, and today in Paris, Jean Paul Gaultier sent dudes down the runway in boxing gloves and knee pads, their faces adorned with little nose casts and bloody scrapes. Gaultier himself strutted the runway made up to look battered and sweaty himself. Somehow the jolliness about everything violent or disturbing he puts on the runway makes it more fun than creepy, as does the fact that he didn’t put greenish-white zombie makeup on his models’ faces, allowing their angry vivaciousness to shine through.

Other trends that seem to be emerging in the pants department: meggings and sweats. Pants in Milan were notably slimmer than past seasons (Versace went wild with leather meggings). Gaultier showed velvet and leather meggings, sweatpants, and a sweat dress suit. Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani also showed sweatpants. So it looks like that trend is sticking around for fall. Perhaps unemployment has led to a rise in lazy dressing worldwide. Or perhaps this points toward a rise in athleticism and awareness of obesity rates. Because fashion collections mean so much for our culture. Or maybe yoga-obsessed designers are just tired of having to change before class and want to be able to practice their “lord of the dance” pose anywhere, anytime, in their leather bottoms if they please.

See Jean Paul Gaultier’s complete fall 2010 men’s collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier Sends Bloody Boxer Boys Down the Runway in Paris