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NAUTICAL STRIPES, KILTS AND CONE BRAS, OH MY! JEAN PAUL GAULTIER STORMS THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART T BY CHRISTINA GEYER. PHOTOGRAPHY BRUNO, DANA DRIENSKY, GEORGE FIALA, CARTER ROSE. he string of parties fêting Jean Paul Gaultier and his exhibition "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" at the Dallas Museum of Art could best be likened to the very way Gaultier defined his own design inspiration: "It's a kind of schizophrenia, no?" said JPG during a luncheon in his honor that toasted the exhibit's debut. After a year of anticipation, the opening week descended upon Dallas, bringing with it the legendary Parisian designer and a nonstop whirl of opening parties — each with a wildly different personality — that made for a glamorous case of, yes, schizophrenic fashion. The first of the many events ensued Tuesday evening with an ultra-exclusive "Welcome to Texas" bash for Monsieur Gaultier, held upon L'Enfant Terrible's first day in the state, at the modernist Highland Park Pump House belonging to art collector and DMA patroness Deedie Rose. It was Rose and her circle of top-tier museum supporters (Cindy Rachofsky, Nancy Dedman, Jennifer and John Eagle, Catherine and Will Rose, Sharon Young, and Rose's husband Rusty) who spearheaded the committee to help fund the exhibit's four-month stay in Dallas. And what better way to welcome Gaultier to town than with masses of southern comfort. Martha and Wilson Franklin of the Fort Worth boot-and-saddle company M.L. Leddy's designed a pair of custom cowboy boots for JPG. Naturally, Gaultier debuted his new footwear during the Western-themed Pump House bash, showing off the oil derrick and Eiffel Tower that had been stitched into the back of his black-leather kicks. There was a Frito-pie bar stocked with chili and proper accoutrements, and Casa Dragones tequila flowed freely. Even the Kilgore Rangerettes stepped out and kicked high, performing for Gaultier and his Parisian posse. "You know, they don't have drill teams like that in France," said Suzanne Droese of Gaultier's Rangerette awe. The next day, members of the exhibit host committee made tracks to the DMA, where trees painted with sailor stripes lined St. Paul Street, marking the mid-morning destination. Here, 150 attendees took an intimate walk-through of the exhibit with Gaultier as tour guide before indulging in a Michelin-star-worthy luncheon. Seated around tables with avant-garde Eiffel Tower centerpieces and pink-tulle table skirts was a blend of exhibition luminaries such as the DMA's Olivier Meslay, Kevin Tucker, and its newly appointed director, Maxwell Anderson, plus Nathalie Bondil and ThierryMaxime Loriot, in town from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; out-of-towners including vintage guru Cameron Silver and Gaultier muse Dita Von Teese; and top in-town social types such as luncheon underwriter and Forty Five Ten owner Brian Bolke (who dedicated the afternoon to his late co-owner and friend, Shelly Musselman) plus Elisa and Stephen Summers, Gene Jones, Nancy Carlson, Ola Fojtasek, Jan Showers, and Julie Butler Hawes. As luncheon guests took last bites Jean Paul of their desserts, JPG and Loriot sat down for a lighthearted tête-à-tête. "Jean Paul, will Gaultier you tell us some secrets about the exhibit?" inquired Loriot. "Because we are one small family for lunch, it stays between us." As the luncheon neared its end, Meslay made one final announcement: The evening's private opening soirée for Donor Circle Members was anticipated to fetch nearly 800 guests — a far cry from the initially expected 200 attendees. Was Meslay's guest-list estimate en pointe? Absolutment, oui! In fact, more than 760 from the art and fashion sets turned out, this time donning evening ensembles and their best interpretations of La Parisienne. In the stylish sea of tulle-covered Gaultier dresses, sailor stripes and corsets, it was the multiple gents (Tucker, Meslay, Loriot, Silver and long-time Gaultier model Tanel Bedrossiantz) donning floor-length JPG kilts and capes that stole our attention. Alas, for a handful of guests très importants — Maxwell Anderson Gaultier certainly leading the pack — the night was still young, as they were to end the eve with dinner at the monumental Rachofsky House. Brian Bolke Cameron Silver Dinner chez Rachofsky Thierry-Maxime Loriot Kevin Tucker, Olivier Meslay Melissa Fetter Christina Pacetti Deedie Rose Sailor stripes in spades The DMA déjeuner Jacqueline Anderson Nancy Dedman, Mary Noel & Bill Lamont Faisal Halum Dita Von Teese Katarina Vargas Jessica Harden Hannah Jones Melanie Byrne Tanel Bedrossiantz Van Hayes JPG's kicks by M.L. Leddy's Marguerite Hoffman Tracy Hayes Lela Rose, Jane Jackson Stanton Stephens Lorin Berland Howard Rachofsky Cindy Rachofsky Lael Brodsky, Jenny Kirtland Bella Wynne Brycie Wynne Jay Keller Daniele Berland Nathalie Bondil Jennifer & John Eagle Alden Pinnell Janelle Pinnell Martha & Wilson Franklin JANUARY | PAGE 8 | 2012 Julie McCullough Mike Thompson