Apparently it’s controversial for a fashion designer to pay tribute to a tragic singer, and no one is more surprised at the backlash than Jean Paul Gaultier himself.
Speaking of the Amy Winehouse S/S 2012 couture collection, Jean Paul Gaultier said, “I was surprised when she died that no one in fashion made an homage to her. Her look was fabulous, fantastic – it was unique. Usually, actresses and singers need fashion advice. She naturally had the right makeup, the right earrings – it was truly a style. She didn’t just pick up one part of that look. And I love her voice, I love everything about her.”
Someone who didn’t love everything about Jean Paul Gaultier’s Amy Winehouse-inspired collection was Amy Winehouse’s dad, Mitch, who spoke out against the offering after its debut.
Calling it an “insult” to his daughter, he claimed in January that “the family was upset to see those pictures” and that “they were a total shock.” He continued: “It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best, and glamorises some of the more upsetting times in her life. That’s upsetting for her family.”
Mitch Winehouse also publicly slammed Jean Paul Gaultier’s collection via Twitter, simply saying “We don’t support the Jean Paul Gaultier collection. It’s in bad taste. Mitch.”
Obviously Jean Paul Gaultier feels the opposite. It’s a fine line between a tribute and capitalizing on a tragedy, one might say.
