Marcher Sur La Mer ... Jean Paul Gaultier Spring Couture 2008

The sea and its mythical denizens - the fish-tailed people called mermen - have long conjured a stream of fantasies in our mind, with traditional folk tales told by sailors and fishermen from the ancient Greek times and handed from one generation to another.

Taking cue from the beautiful yet imaginative myths of mermaid and sailing sailors, which turns out to be a perfect partnership, world-renowned Parisian couturier and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier presented to you a tremendous collection of aquatic life-inspired couture pieces for his spring 2008 couture collection, staged to the fashionable Parisian and international jetset crowds in Paris last January.

Gaultier's couture fashion show was kick started with an Asian model walking on the runway stage wearing a black sequined-drench dress with plunging neckline and sheer tulle treatments on the rear of the dress as well as shoulders perfectly sync with the wearer's body plus a pair of sheer elbow-length gloves, sporting wet and shiny curly long tresses akin to the classic Greco-Roman mermaid portrayal in ancient portraits.

Following suit were sailor-esque ensembles of wide-legged pants, smart tailored jackets and skirts in iconic sailor stripes. Gaultier gave the usually somber and plain sailor pants with a touch of glamor by swathing the pant with tons of sequin detailing, making it a perfect pant to wear at night for formal function should you want to dismiss the archetypal evening formal dressing tradition of flouncy, flamboyant gowns or evening dresses.

A dash of Victorian meets The Little Mermaid styling was apparent on the next few ensembles with up-and-coming supermodel Chanel Iman wearing an exquisite ensemble of white jacket with pleated front detailing and high pleated collars with smart tailored trousers while model Magdalina Frackowiak immaculately dressed in also white ensemble of jacket and skirt with fish scale detailing in various size.

The fashionable journey continues as Gaultier took his audiences to the exotic Far East with oriental-inspired apparels and lots of silk printed umbrellas in stunning Asian prints. There's single breasted jacket suit in bold stripes accentuated with Asian motifs, sleeveless printed jumpsuit with floral pattern against blue milieu, mini dress with elongated sleeves in sheer printed chiffon and wide-necked top with marvelous brocade gown.

Mermaid continues to grace the runway with beautiful multi-tiered tasseled dress in black with mermaid silhouette that appears to be like a waving set of fish scales adorning the wearer's svelte body worn by model Patricia Schmid, accessorized with a sheer umbrella complete with tassel trimming. Sheer dominates the runway with ultra-sheer dress with fluid full skirt in skin tone and floral embroidery detail on bust.

Gaultier also included a flapper dress richly adorned with embellished t-shape motifs. As the show came to its end, more and more eccentric but practical pieces surfaced such as printed plunging neckline dress with ruffled hemmed sleeves and feather-trimmed hem on the skirt. Supermodel Coco Rocha ended the presentation as a mermaid bride in metallic gold skirt and cone bra with meticulously-done coral crutches.

Jean Paul Gaultier's spring/summer 2008 ready-to-wear collection is available now at all Jean Paul Gaultier JPG stores around the world. A JPG store is slated to open at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur soon so do watch out for it!

*Photos by Imaxtree/New York Magazine

Jean Paul Gaultier JPG - #01/03, Paragon Shopping Center, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859; First Floor, Couture Wing, Pavilion KL, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.