The collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla has reached a new creative chapter: an exclusive ‘Collection Créateur’ that brings seductive beachwear couture to the world of La Perla designer lingerie. After all, it’s a small fashion step to get from the boudoir to the beach.
The new beachwear collection opts for an extremely theatrical style. Elastics resemble grosgrain, a representative element in haute couture construction, which when alternated with horizontal strips of nude-color tulle on Lycra creates a "trompe l’oeil” effect. The colors – white, blue, black, turquoise – enhance the tailoring of these designs. A small selection of swimsuits are inspired from bondage style.
A dangerously sexy design outlines the body with strings, criss-crosses and little studs, which becomes ‘couture’ thanks to draping that shapes the Lycra. Alongside the eternal black are flaming shades of orange and the energetic khaki green.
The designer’s lingerie collection for La Perla – in black, nude and fuchsia – plays with a whole mix of fabrics. Very fine netting, produced with Calais looms – almost like hand-cut lace – is then gathered to create ruffles as fine as foam.
The star of this collection is laser-perforated leather matched with lace on a netting background. These materials merge to create a bustier with lace-up back closure, the balconnet bra, the whimsical shorts, and the soft leather figure-hugging dress.
The collection was presented to the international press on July 7 in Paris during Haute Couture week, and will be available in January 2012 at La Perla.