Ludovic de Saint-Sernin Takes Jean Paul Gaultier on a Wild Nautical Ride
Ludovic de Saint-Sernin has officially set sail with Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest couture collection, and what a voyage it was. Titled Naufrage—French for “shipwreck”—this collection wasn’t just about Gaultier’s signature sailor stripes. Instead, de Saint-Sernin dived deep into the mythology of the sea, delivering a sensual and surreal take on maritime fashion.
A New Spin on Gaultier’s Nautical Obsession
Instead of leaning into classic sailor aesthetics, de Saint-Sernin went straight to the ship itself. He turned ship wheels into lace-up dresses, played with the shape of a boat’s bow in sculptural pieces, and topped it all off with an insane headpiece inspired by Gaultier’s Spring ’98 show. And then there was the bag—worn by none other than French pop star Aya Nakamura—featuring a goldfish swimming inside. It was a cheeky nod to Absolutely Fabulous, where a Jean Paul Gaultier goldfish bag became a hilarious, iconic moment.
Mermaids, Men, and the Call of the Sea
Taking a risk, de Saint-Sernin introduced couture for men—something rarely explored in high fashion. The collection leaned into the legend of mermaids luring sailors to their doom, playing with the idea that when men and women mix at sea, the sirens get jealous. One of the standout pieces? A dress that looked straight out of The Little Mermaid, shimmering like waves under the moonlight.
After the shipwreck, things got even wilder. Models transformed into ethereal sea creatures, tangled in fabrics that swayed like underwater currents. Some pieces featured fur, reminiscent of the regal ermine-trimmed capes worn by French royalty—except here, the message was clear: once lost at sea, status means nothing.
Wet, Wild, and Completely Mesmerizing
What made Naufrage so unforgettable was how sexy and raw it felt. De Saint-Sernin captured that moment of surrender—the way water clings to the skin, the way movement changes when submerged. Transparency, dripping fabrics, and body-baring silhouettes all reinforced that undeniable allure.
The audience was hooked. This wasn’t just a tribute to Jean Paul Gaultier—it was a love letter to desire, to disaster, to transformation. With Naufrage, de Saint-Sernin showed that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is let yourself be taken by the tide.
