Jean Paul Gaultier bids farewell: a look back at his most famous looks

The 67-year-old French designer announced his departure from the runway, so we take a look back at some key looks from his career

British singer Beth Ditto performed at the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2011 ready-to-wear collection in Paris. AFP 

In October 2005, plus size model Crystal Renn walked for the Jean-Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2006 Ready-to-Wear collection in Paris. AFP

Madonna on her Blonde Ambition Tour in Rotterdam, Holland in 1990. She is wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier conical bra corset. Getty

For the 2018 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Jean Paul Gaultier accompanied Madonna on the red carpet, as she wore on of his creations. AFP 

Model Jaquetta Wheeler at the Jean Paul Gaultier Autumn-Winter 2001/2002 haute couture collection. AFP 

An intricate hairstyle mirrored the artfully constructed dress for Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture collection show in Paris. AFP 

Dutch model Anna Cleveland wearing a design for Jean Paul Gaultier 2015-2016 fall/winter Haute Couture collection  in Paris.  AFP

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier onstage with his models for the finale of the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016/2017 collection. REUTERS

For the Fall-Winter 2019/2020 Haute Couture collection Jean-Paul Gaultier presented a quilted lime green cape, tied above the head.  AFP 

Jean Paul Gaultier backstage ahead of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 collection.  AFP 

One of the origonal supermodels, Linda Evangelista on stage for the Jean Paul Gaultier  autumn-winter 2003/04 haute couture collection.   AFP 

For his Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Haute Couture Collection, Jean-Paul Gaultier sent out dresses concocted from feathers. AFP  

For Spring/Summer 2008 Haute Couture, Jean Paul Gaultier revisited his famous conical bra, first shown in 1984.  AFP

Model Lindsey Wixson wore Jean-Paul Gaultier's signature Breton stripes for the Spring-Summer 2011 Haute Couture Collection. AFP

For Fall/Winter 2006-07 Haute Couture collection, Jean Paul Gaultier presented looks that were pieced together like mosaics. AFP 

Playing on his famous obsession with sailor outfits, Jean-Paul Gaultier turned it into haute couture for Spring-Summer 2003.  AFP

Spanish actress Rossy de Palma posing in 2018, ahead of the opening of the Jean Paul Gaultier stage show, "Fashion Freak Show" at the 'Folies Bergere' theatre in Paris.  AFP

Over the weekend news broke that French designer Jean Paul Gaultier was quitting fashion.

In an Instagram post he declared that his upcoming haute couture show in Paris, to take place on Wednesday, January 22, will be his last.

Once called fashion's 'Enfant terrible' for his willingness to break the rules, Gaultier's ability to both cut and sculpt a gown has never been in question. A formidable technician, his sheer, brazen talent for immaculately executed clothes has seen his career last an astonishing 50 years. From dressing Madonna to Beth Ditto, we look back at some of his key moments in his fashion career.