Vive La France

PARIS, July 1, 2006 – The real story behind the story of men’s fashion week has been the unrelenting heat. The Gaultier headquarters was stifling by noon on Saturday, and the hour delay in start time for the show helped nothing. Backstage afterwards, Jean Paul Gaultier was drenched in sweat, as he busily tried to explain his tribute to sportswear in English. He actually used the words “sports glam”, which he said he’d interpreted in his own way. Jean Paul was rooting for France to win the World Cup later in the evening, but in a nod towards the competition, he said he’d chosen several Brazilian models.

Well, France won, and you’d of had to be deaf not to know it. All Paris was in the street, horns blowing, cheers ringing, celebrating the fact that France had finally won something. By dawn’s early light, the noise finally died out, but by then it was time to start another day.

– Timothy Hagy