Quotes from Jean Paul Gaultier

There are some people who say and do terrible things and they are not even punished for it.

In France, history is paralyzing.

I start each collection thinking how I can refresh my classics.

I'm still astounded by some people's reaction to things I consider quite normal.

The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too conservative, as it's always a question of money. In America, women are powerful and strong, determined. If they want to be an object, they choose to be in control.

I take life as it happens. And I give myself a lot of freedom.

I have loved corsets since I was small. When I was a child, my grandmother took me to an exhibition, and they had a corset on display. I loved the flesh color, the salmon satin, the lace.

I don't know exactly what is my impact, but I can say I am doing fashion my own way.

My clothes have always been expensive. Even though I have had a few lower-priced lines over the years, little by little everything I do tends toward the luxury market.

I love Madonna. She is the only woman I have asked to marry me. She refused, of course.

I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.

Always my collections are made of different influences.

I know what I am able and not able to do. Fashion? OK. Fashion... clothes in theatre, in an opera, in a concert - all that I love. To make a movie myself... no!

I've always felt more at home in the UK than in France.

What is masculine and what is feminine, anyway? Why should men not show that they can be fragile or seductive? I am only happy when there is no discrimination.

When I started in fashion, I had already adopted the sailor-striped sweater as my uniform; that way, I wouldn't have to drive myself crazy trying to figure out what to wear.

The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress.

In America, women are powerful and strong, determined. If they want to be an object, they choose to be in control.

I was fascinated by movies from age 12.

There are many kinds of beauty, and you can find it where you least expect.

Clothes became my attraction and obsession early. I wasn't so interested in dressing myself because I was not my object of desire.

I am very lucky because I am realizing my childhood dreams, and after presenting my shows it's like a party.