80 costumes – 328 clothes and accessories altogether – were donated by the choreographer Régine Chopinot to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and to the National Centre of Costume and Set Design in Moulins. Jean-Paul Gaultier designed them for her company between 1983 and 1994. The common points between these artists are numerous: daring creations, a disrespect of Parisian snobs and the restraints imposed by the worlds of ballet and fashion. This is what Régine Chopinot says of their very first meeting:“ Within 5 minutes, we had had known each other for 10 years.” Jean-Paul Gaultier satisfies her desires: the tutu is revisited, over grown, masculine and feminine at once, the pink slippers are replaced by liberating flip flops, the tights play with nudity, tattoo, body hair and scars.

In “Le Défilé”, created in 1985, the clothes are ultimately dramatized: caricature, fashion show or ballet. Here, the repertory of the designer is fully explored.