Andrew and I survived mostly unscathed from the destructive and bizarre derecho that hit the DC region (and beyond) on Friday night. We felt like we won the lottery when our power was restored 20 hours after the storm. And we hit the jackpot again when Comcast got our cable and wifi up and running by Sunday evening.

For a little escapism from the surreal weekend that was—as well as from our current sweltering heat wave—here’s my final post about the Gaultier exhibition in San Francisco where the temperatures stayed in the low 70s with no humidity. (Yes, it feels like a distant dream now.) These are the looks that captured my imagination the most.

As a big fan of knitwear, I liked Jean Paul Gaultier’s version of a cozy sweater:

Women’s Ensemble. Russia collection, haute couture fall/winter 1997-1998. Knit wool dress; tulle underskirt; Mongolian lamb hat.

Detail of dress hem and tulle underskirt.

Pearly Buttons as Pinstripes:

The seaming with buttons was exquisite, like little scalloped rows.

Trail of buttons down the back of stockings.

There was a timeless elegance to this ensemble.

Camo Whammy (reminded me of this previous post):

“Dubar” gown with camouflage motif. Romantic India collection, haute couture spring/summer 2000. Ruffled tulle. Worn by Sarah Jessica Parker at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.

Flight of Fancy:

“La Mariée” wedding gown. The Hussars collection, haute couture fall/winter 2002-2003. Silk faille skirt with metal bodice and shoulder jewelry; headdress and train of silk and feathers.

Same gown worn by model Maggie Rizer. Photographed by Craig McDean for Vogue, October 2002.

“La Mariée” was breathtaking up close. It was the showstopper.

P.S.  I bought the poster version of the Craig McDean photo to hang in our bedroom.

“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” runs through August 19, 2012.

de Young Museum | Golden Gate Park | 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive | San Francisco, CA 94118 | 415.750.3600 | deyoung.famsf.org

Related posts:

I Got to See Gaultier!

Flesh-Toned Fantasies

Can Tacky Be Tasteful?

For a list of other fashion-focused exhibitions happening around the world this year, check out this Fashionista link.