Will Ludovic de Saint Sernin be the next Gaultier Couture guest designer?

If there is one thing we can infer from the past guest designers of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, it is that they all tend to be young and full of innovative ideas, much like the enfant terrible of fashion during his rise to prominence. Examples include Simone Rocha,Nicolas di Felice, Haider Ackermann, names that have helped bolster the prestige of the role. According to WWD, French gossip suggests that the 33-year-old designer, known in the industry for his gender-fluid approach and dark tones, is set to become the guest creative director for Gaultier’s haute couture project. Ludovic de Saint Sernin was in the spotlight for leading Ann Demeulemeester for a single season, during which he gained red carpet fame thanks to the now-famous “feather” top, featuring a white or black feather covering just the model’s nipples. 

Hunter Schafer in Ann Demeulemeester

Ann Demeulemeester SS23

SS23

SS23

FW24

Reportedly, Saint Sernin and Gaultier are close to finalizing the collaboration, although Puig’s fashion house declined to comment on the rumors. Ludovic de Saint Sernin was born in Brussels and raised in Paris, where he studied fashion at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré. He launched his eponymous brand in 2017 after working in the ateliers of Balmain and Dior, while the announcement of his new position at Ann Demeulemeester came at the end of 2022. 

SS85

SS85

Jean Paul Gaultier’s past collections and his passion for collaborating with designers who, like him, challenge style conventions make the announcement of Saint Sernin as the next guest designer entirely plausible. In the past, Gaultier has pushed the boundaries of gender wardrobes in his collections, showcasing gender-fluid looks and models, as seen in the SS85 “Et Dieu Créa l’Homme”. Since 2020, the French brand has welcomed creative directors for a single season, following the founder’s retirement. The first seven designers to take over the brand since then have been Chitose Abe, Glenn Martens, Olivier Rousteing, Haider Ackermann, Julien Dossena, Simone Rocha, and Nicolas di Felice. Each artistic residency has provided the industry with unique moments during Couture Week, recalling Gaultier’s heritage and reinterpreting it in a modern way. If the rumors about the upcoming Haute Couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier prove true, the show will be scheduled for the next Couture Week, from January 27 to 30.