Just The Kylie Bits Of Jean-Paul Gaultier's Exhibit In San Francisco

Kylie belongs in an entire class of her own, and Jean Paul Gaultier was the perfect choice to dress her for Kylie's 2008 "X" Tour. Kylie's lust for haute couture met the man who was best positioned to meet it.

As soon as I walked into the exhibit, THERE IT WAS! THE DRESS! OH. MY. GOD! As first seen in her entrance for "Like A Drug" - the best entrance Kylie has ever made. Here is the video (previously posted) from the Paris concert, one of the earliest shows on her tour:

“Immaculata” gown. Virgins collection, haute couture spring/summer 2007. Crocheted lace dress with cherub appliques in linen. Crocheted lace headdress and mask. Worn by Kylie Minogue in her “Like A Drug” video for the X2008 Tour. I was curious why the huge skull appeared in the Like A Drug" stage show. It is a very Mexican element, and I was surprised to see it at all. This exhibit helps explain the influence to some extent. Jean Paul Gaultier was also working on the Virgins collection at the same time he was preparing the "X" Tour dresses, which included several Virgin Marys, including Our Lady of Guadalupe (which was also shown in the same display). So, the skull fits in as another Mexican element in the creative life of Jean Paul Gaultier at this same time. It would be interesting to know more about the creative process involved here.

”Auréole” gown. Virgins collection, haute couture spring/summer 2007. Pleated tulle and gold lame gown; hammered brass and Plexiglas headdress. Worn by Kylie Minogue in the Pierre et Gilles photograph The Virgin with the Serpents, 2008. Painted photograph. Courtesy Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont, Paris.

“Barbarella” bodysuit. Movie Stars collection haute couture fall/winter 2009-2010. Lamé corset-style bodysuit with cabodian(?)-mounted shoulders and hips and diamond-faceted bra cups. Worn by Kylie Minogue in her X2008 Tour (2008) and by Arielle Danbadie(?) in her Live Glam Video Show concert (2010). American flag costume worn by Kylie Minogue during her For You, For Me (Kylie USA 2009) Tour. Ostrich feathers and leather on tulle coat. Collection of Kylie Minogue, London.

After seeing the exhibit, I purchased the "X" Tour video from the gift shop (which, surprisingly, I didn't already own) and was blown completely away again with how good it was. The European tour was substantially and surprisingly different from the Pacific and East Asian tour that I saw in Auckland, and so the DVD was still so fresh....