Gaultier embroiders the rich hippie look

His was a far more refined interpretation of the ethnic trends that have been dominating street fashion. After all, his clients are able to pay tens of thousands of pounds for an outfit tailored to fit their every curve.

In a collection dedicated to the exuberance of traditional Eastern European dress, Gaultier's models strode out in conker-brown velvet pantaloons tucked into fur-edged suede boots, billowing Gypsy blouses and short gilets. This being haute couture, however, where every garment is painstakingly hand-sewn and decorative effects are second-to-none, the blouses were smothered with sparkling bugle beads and re-embroidered with flowers. The gilet - an haute hippie staple - meanwhile came in rich-bitch sable fur.