Saddle Up...

As his last collection for the design house, Jean Paul Gaultier went out with a bang for the Hermes SS11 collection.  With a very country and western feel, the collection was adaptable and strong, moving from camel and black hues to pops of colour with orange.  Boleros, jodhpurs tucked into riding boots, whips and high topped hats fluidly moved into leather short suits, magnificently structured waistcoat which crossed with an X on the front over bare skin, thick leather corsets and a trademark Hermes orange leather panelled jersey dress. The collection was very bondage meets horse rider, if you like, but was full of strong structure and defined shaped.  As the show rode out to a close, model Karlie Kross reappeared in a black chiffon waistcoat which floated behind her as she made her way down the catwalk.  Then came Gaultier's muse for the past 30 years, Farida Khelfa, closed the show to mark the significant ending of an era for the designer and the fashion house...