Jean Paul Gaultier knocked the stuffing out of British sartorial traditions and mixed them up with punk and mod references for a witty, lighthearted show. The range of the models’ ages - about three and up as the brand launched its children’s wear - pumped even more levity into the proceedings. But take away the runway hi-jinks, the Afro wigs and one crying child (wardrobe misfunctions can strike even the young), and the substance of the collection was proper tailored clothing in natty pinstripes and subtle plaids. Classic outerwear came updated with sly punk and bondage references: a chesterfield coat with leather lapels or a duffel with chains in lieu of toggles. Trench coats for the whole family were rigged with harnesses, and suit trousers were lashed with bondage straps, which a man might want to remove before arriving at a job interview.
