Paris Fashion Show: Jean Paul Gaultier Embraces The Plus Size Models Trend

Beth Ditto and Jean Paul Gaultier

Yes it is definitely a trend and the more famous designers adopt it the more popular is going to be. And Jean Paul Gaultier was only the last designer who opted in his last catwalk show for plus size models.
Although the show held during Paris Fashion Week started 50 minutes later than the scheduled hour, once it did, it was clear that is was worth the wait. And Jean Paul Gaultier’s catwalk show actually started with a very confident plus size model, Beth Ditto. Well, maybe she is not actually a model, being in fact a singer, the frontwoman of Gossip band, but she did a great job modeling. However, this is not the first time that Gaultier decides for a plus size model, opting in past shows for Crystal Renn or Marquita Pring.

Maybe plus size women were ignored by fashion until now, but things are definitely about to change now that the woman who described Kate Moss as looking “as boring as hell,” was the main model of Gaultier show. Still this is not the first contact that Beth Ditto had with fashion industry, the singer actually launching her own fashion line for Evans. And having that into account, her appearance on the catwalk someday and mostly now when plus size models are so trendy, was something expected to happen. She was always a usual guest at the Paris, London, New York or Milan fashion shows. And she is quite a plus size model, compared to Crystal Renn for example.

However, Beth Ditto looked as she was extremely confident with her role as she presented the new Gaultier Spring Summer 2011 collection during Paris Fashion Week. And she wasn’t only modeling, Beth also got the chance to sing as she opened the show with a cappella performance.  “If anyone understands what it’s like to be a woman who’s subjected to body politics, it’s a f****** model,” Beth said. And at the end of the show, Beth got to be congratulated by the designer himself, Jean-Paul Gaultier being welcomed by her when his Spring Summer 2011 fashion show was over.

Well, when it comes to the fashion line presented by the famous designer, the clothing pieces included were inspired from rock and romantic looks and went “from XXS to XXL” as the invitation for the event said. Red leather bloomers, red boots, jackets with or red on shoulders were part of the show held in Paris. “What counts is personality, there is not just the one form of stereotyped beauty,” Gaultier told reporters backstage. “The collections’ pleats can be worn by any size, and adapt to different body shapes,” the famous designer added. “You know, we often tug at our underwear, and some women tend to pull their pantyhose up too high. So here I decided to bring them right up above the chest,” Gaultier concluded.

Well, besides Beth Ditto, on Gaultier catwalk show you could also see Karlie Kloss. Still the model to close the show was the one who opened it, Beth wearing fish-net tights and black shorts under a dress of tulle and pale pink flowers.

So, what do you think about such models being seen on the catwalk? It surely is a positive thing that famous brands have started to create clothing pieces in sizes bigger than size zero, as they were made until now, but does this mean that fashion is going to be totally re-branded? Well, curves are going to be celebrated starting with October 28 when Full Figured Fashion Week founded by Gwen DeVoe will make its debut. The fashion shows will be organized until October 30 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and this is in fact a three days event in which designers will be given the chance to present their fashion lines for plus size women, given fashion this way a whole new perspective.11