Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 1998 Top

This embellished top is from Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fall 1998 collection. Crafted from a delicate silk crepe to a laid-back, boxy sleeveless silhouette, the piece showcases the kind of painstaking detailing that defined Gaultier’s late-1990s work. It is densely embellished with rows of iridescent sequins and spiralling loops of metal wire to form intricate patterns that recall traditional alpine knits. In the couture collection for this season, Vogue noted that Gaultier used decadent embellishment to create "an Icelandic-style sweater, taking it from a cozy staple to something extraordinary".

As both Vogue and The New York Times noted of this period, Gaultier was modernising the traditions of French couture by replicating historic embellishments using contemporary techniques. In this piece, the casual tank top is elevated to near-couture levels, blurring the line between garment and artwork. The top is unlined, and so the silk crepe sits against the skin. At the back of the neck, Gaultiers signature exposed black label is adorned with two rows of black sequins. The top closes with chunky snap closures on a grosgrain band, hidden on the left shoulder.

• Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 1998 • Tank top • Silk crepe • Beadwork and metalwork • Snap closures at shoulder • Made in Italy

Fabric: 100% Silk
Size on Label: No size label
Stretch: No
Care: Dry clean only
Condition: Excellent condition

Shoulders: 33 cm (13 inch)
Bust: 76 cm (30 inch)
Armpit to armpit: 81.5 cm (32 inch)
Bottom hem width: 81.5 cm (32 inch)
Length (shoulder to bottom hem): 45.5 cm (18 inch)