Born in 1952 in France, Jean Paul Gaultier has managed to make a name for himself in fashion without any formal training . Sending sketches to various couture stylists Gaultier managed to get in the door at Pierre Cardin as an assistant in 1970. Setting up his own label in 1976, Gaultier’s edgier side came to light taking his inspiration more from the London street scene than Parisian couture.

Technically brilliant, Gaultier used his talent to parody the fashion establishment thereby redefining many fashion conventions. In the 1980s he recreated underwear as outerwear with the corset look and attempted to make skirts mainstream for men. His creations for those in the entertainment business were well received making him shine even brighter in popular culture. Interestingly enough his couture collections remained very formal though they were not without touches of his street influence.

Gaultier’s first women’s perfume, Classique, was introduced in 1993. It was meant to be reminiscent of his childhood yet a representation of his current life—fairylike and distant but still modern couture.