Chatter: Jean Paul Gaultier

"You know, I'm in the hotel, what is the name of it — the Standard. So, I am in the bedroom where it is an exhibitionist event! I did not know that, so I did exhibition without knowing what I was doing. I did not know people could see. But, nobody was looking. It's quite hilarious, it's excellent."

- Jean Paul Gaultier on missing a vital element of The Standard's design.

In Defense Of Eyeliner

Photo: Getty Images

Don’t let the terrifying specter of an aging Robert Smith ruin eye makeup for you. Eyeliner doesn’t have to be garish. When used wisely, it can emphasize one’s eyes, bringing out the whites and the color of the irises to create a dramatic effect. 

Apply the liner lightly along the inner rim of the lower lid at the very base of the lash. “If you’re concerned about looking too intense, do just a little bit on the outer corner,” says Nathan Rubin, director of training for Beauté Prestige International. “Then smudge it to make it softer.” For cleanup, a wet cotton swab will do the trick. 

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Monsieur black eyeliner should work for most skin tones, though the fairest among us might opt for a shade of brown. But when to pencil? “I wouldn’t have a problem wearing it every day,” says Rubin. “But [most guys] may just want to wear it at night. It’s just got to be discreet.” In short, eyeliner can be good for the gaze.

-- Joshua David Stein

Chatter: Jean Paul Gaultier

"There are no [age] barriers to beauty."

-- Jean Paul Gaultier in reference to former model and 51-year-old mother of two Ines de la Fressange, who walked in his Paris couture show.

Transgender (and not so transgender) models among us

Photo: Getty Images

Inspired by news that the next season of America's Next Top Model will feature a transgender contestant named Isis Tsunami, New York magazine took it upon itself to write up a short history of the "tranny model."

The only problem? While we adore New York magazine, it appears they need a crash course in Gender Studies 101 ASAP. After discussing Teri Toye -- one of the first transgender models to appear in editorials in mainstream fashion magazines, including a spread in Interview wearing Gaultier -- they move onto RuPaul. Granted, Ru did do much to expose middle America to the joys of gender bending campy self-expression as one of the first widely known and publicized bad ass drag queens on the scene, but she isn't trans. Neither is Andre J, the newly appointed bearded first lady of fashion who was featured in our very own Out magazine and was shot by Bruce Weber alongside Carolyn Murphy for French Vogue last November.

Don't get us wrong: obviously there's some major gender mischief at work here, but even in the loosey-goosey fashion world where anything and everything goes, you can't just label everyone whose identification with or tendencies toward the male or the female is flip-flopped, off track, or puzzling as trannies.

Still, we appreciate the article -- however misinformed -- if only for reminding us how far fashion has come, and how far it has to go. And here's to hoping Isis can survive Tyra long enough to turn a few heads and change a few minds.

-- NOAH MICHELSON