Jean Paul Gaultier's Monarchy: It's a Butterfly Trend at Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

The Infinite Summer

Nobel Prize-winning French author Albert Camus once said that in the midst of winter he found within himself an invincible summer, and as I look at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection from Paris Fashion Week, I am reminded of Camus’ famous declaration. At the end of its life cycle, when the caterpillar thinks its world is over, it realizes a new, more beautiful life and a new, more beautiful purpose.

In the midst of winter, Gaultier has discovered the fragile, beautiful life of the butterfly. The living flowers with wings clearly occupied Gaultier’s rich imagination as they fluttered down the Paris catwalk.

In vivid, iridescent shades of tempting teal, emerald green, cobalt blue, fuschia and bright melon, the faces on these winged figures sparkled beautifully bright with gem-toned cat eyes and deep red lips, the signature makeup look that is so hot in fashion right now.

The models’ heads were topped with at the very least a butterfly or two–Gaultier’s trademark accessory for spring. The models wore sheer, ethereal dresses with exaggerated shoulders and cinched waists, emphasizing the hourglass butterfly silhouette that also became his trademark for the season.

“I was thinking about colours and fabrics and what they could be and then I kept seeing the shape (of the butterfly) and saw that it could be a body–everything was like a dress,” Gaultier said after the show.

Evocative of a burlesque show with playful French music, it was fitting that burlesque sensation Dita Von Teese, below, Gaultier’s muse-of-the-moment, was the finale.

Dressed in a custom corset designed after the brilliant Blue Morpho Butterfly fashioned from satin, organza and black velvet, Von Teese exuded a retro charm, and was accessorized with a feathered headdress, long leather gloves and gartered stockings.

“She has the exact shape of a butterfly,” Gaultier said. “She’s perfect!”

Crowning Glory

No fashion monarchy is complete without a crown, and in this case, we turn to the designs of artist Caley Johnson. The fabulous headdress above has absolutely seduced me! It’s a manic flurry of turquoise, purple-tipped butterflies that flutter about ornate branches round the head. Sublime.

If you want to experience the butterfly trend minus the haute couture price tag, you could opt for the fabulous Alexis Bittar Pavé Crystal Butterfly Wing Pendant Necklace above, $395, or Pavé Crystal Butterfly Brooch below, $495, at Neiman Marcus.

The Metamorphosis

And an even more cost-effective way to jump on the butterfly bandwagon might include mastering the bold butterfly face as seen in the examples below. They’re excellent looks for a night out dancing or club-hopping.

The tangerine tones of the Monarch Butterfly could not be any more perfect for a variety of skin tones. And you can find feather butterflies at the craft store. Simply adhere them with Duo eyelash glue as seen on our exotic model, above. And check out the monarchy manicure. We love! It even works on shorter nails, appearing avant-garde, yet simultaneously elegant.