For his Spring 2012 Couture show, flamboyant French designer Jean Paul Gaultier used his sartorial talents to pay tribute to another outrageous and talented icon, the late Amy Winehouse. While acoustic versions of Amy’s beloved songs played in the background, models strolled down the runway in bustier dresses, teased beehive hairdos, and mesh skirts, with some of them even holding cigarettes in their hands.
Backstage, Gaultier spoke to reporters and told them, “Amy Winehouse was a true style icon. What she stands for above all, is uniqueness. Both in music and the way she dressed, she mixed a great many influences to create her style.”
Most critics have praised the show, but Amy’s still-grieving family, particularly her father, have spoken out against the collection, calling it insensitive and “in bad taste.”
Even Kelly Osbourne, a friend of Amy’s, chimed in on the collection, tweeting, “Although @JPGaultier was paying homage to my friend & icon to the world, I found it to be lucratively selfish and distasteful. Exploitation=evil.”
We agree that Amy was a fashion icon who deserves to be recognized for her singular style, but maybe JPG could have postponed the show for a later date, after family and friends had had significant time to heal.
Do you think the show was in poor taste?