French designer Jean Paul Gaultier may be no stranger to controversy but his brand’s latest fashion faux pas has made the label the subject of online ridicule.
The high-end brand which is famous for its daring designs and striking fragrance bottles is currently selling a jumper which some fans believe will make them look ‘a right t*t’.
Featuring what appear to be two breasts, the £1,050 ‘Cropped Madone Sweater’ has been made for people ‘with more money than sense’, according to one bemused commenter.
A nod to the Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra that Madonna famously wore on stage during her 1990s heyday, the cream Aran knit jumper is named after the superstar, with Madone being French for Madonna.
The ‘sweater conical bra’, to use the brand’s own words, is cropped and has a turtle neck, and is available in seven sizes from XXS to XXL.
Jean Paul Gaultier’s £1,050 ‘Cropped Madone Sweater’ (pictured) appears to feature a pair of breasts on the front
The new design is a nod to the Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra that Madonna (pictured) famously wore on stage during her 1990s heyday
Yet despite being described by the label as ‘a daring, cropped take on a timeless look’, the pricey jumper – which is part of the new Gaultier TV Collection – appears not to have had the kind of hype usually reserved for high-profile designer launches.
Rather, shoppers have been quick to dismiss the sweater as little more than an unwearable gimmick on social media.
Taking to Facebook, one person wrote: ‘£1,050 to took like a right t*t.’
Another person mocked: ‘This is for the people that have more money than sense.’
A third Facebook user joked: ‘Why “sweater bra” when “nip nop knit crop” was RIGHT THERE??.’
A fourth person simply stated: ‘Got to be bold to wear this.’
Meanwhile, on Instagram, Jean Paul Gaultier fans also shared their views on the jumper.
The ‘sweater conical bra’, to use the brand’s own words, is cropped and has a turtle neck, and is available in seven sizes from XXS to XXL
While the Jean Paul Gaultier brand described the jumper as ‘a daring, cropped take on a timeless look’, both Facebook users and Instagrammers were less impressed
One person commented: ‘Madonna needs this sweater’ and tagged the superstar.
While someone else joked: ‘Indecent?? These are actually two berets!!’
This isn’t the first time that the Jean Paul Gaultier brand has faced a backlash for its avant-garde designs.
Last year, it faced ridicule for selling garments that made wearers look like they were wearing no clothes at all.
Depicting a naked body, Jean Paul Gaultier’s unique range of jumpsuits, dresses and tops left nothing to the imagination.
Part of the ‘Tattoo Collection’, which featured more than 100 designs, the most expensive item was the Body Tattoo Jumpsuit priced at £519.64.
Illustrated with breasts with pierced nipples and female genitals at the front, the back of the design had an outline of a bottom on it.
The garment’s neck, arms, hips and legs were illustrated with body art designs.
One shopper said: ‘Much cheaper to just step out naked.’
Another person commented: ‘I see nothing.’
The ‘Tattoo Collection’ included more than 100 items with the most expensive being the Body Tattoo Jumpsuit (pictured) priced at €600 (£519.64)
The collection also included the Long Body Tattoo Dress for €590 (£510.81) – which had the same pattern as the jumpsuit – and a Short Dress version priced at €450 (£389.60), plus a body suit for €390 (£337.66).
For those who preferred to give the impression that they were baring just half of their body, the crop top version was priced at €320 (£277.05).
In a bid to make them look more realistic regardless of skin tone, all the pieces were available in two shades: ‘light nude’ and ‘dark nude’.
The wacky outfits come in sizes XXS to XXL and the product description reads: Stretchy fit, crew neck. Long sleeves, back metal zip fastening. Materials 78% polyamide, 22% elastane, made in Italy.’
The Tattoo Collection was revealed on October 6, 2023.
It was reportedly ‘inspired by archival Jean Paul Gaultier collections, designed to fit firmly into the present’.
The brand’s website read: ‘We all have memories rooted in Jean Paul Gaultier’s universe.
‘Tattoos, conical bras, piercings… as many iconic gimmicks and body adornments that the Maison is revisiting to offer exclusive reinterpretations and reissues.
‘The Tattoo collection explores its archive of corsets and skin-tight pieces to create a versatile, city-ready wardrobe.’
More modest fans would have been relieved to see that the collection also featured some less X-rated designs.
The ‘Heraldry Tattoo Dress’, for example, made the wearer look like they were tattooed without giving the illusion of nakedness.
The collection also featured a range of jeans and denim jackets.
