The best dressed men by Gaultier

Ed Harris11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Gallery: Men In Skirts

Who better than Jean-Paul Gaultier to be the centrepiece of Men In Skirts, a new exhibition opening at the Victoria & Albert museum tomorrow?

After all, it was the flamboyant designer who once declared: "Putting a skirt on a man is not a travesty. Putting a bra on him is." Frock coats, kilts, sarongs, dhotis and kaftans will all be on display in the exhibition which asks what it is about men in skirts that provokes such a strong reaction.

The Victoria & Albert Museum looks at how contemporary designers have re-invented the skirt for men and the many forms the male skirt can take.

This typically extravagant creation by Gaultier, above, is one of the highlights and is not a garment for the faint-hearted. At the front is a black satin and taffeta ballgown with a black bodice. But, in a sort of beltandbraces touch, it includes trousers too. Some 60 skirts and outfits will be featured, with many of the contemporary pieces inspired by historical garments held in the museum's permanent collection.

As well as Gaultier other designers' work on show includes Paul Smith, Dries Van Noten and Yohji Yamamoto. Conservative skirted suits by Carlo Pignatelli will be shown alongside daring kilts by Vivienne Westwood. The display will include skirts worn by celebrities and the gay community as well as followers of punk and grunge.

Highlights include a pair of Westwood's punk bondage trousers with apron and men's dresses inspired by Courtney Love's baby doll dress worn by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. The display includes photographs of men who wear skirts on a regular basis from celebrities to men in the street, and runs until 12 May.

Men In Skirts is on at the Victoria and Albert Museum until 12 May. Admission is free.

East tempts West with silk and satin

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