Jean Paul Gaultier has hit back at negative reviews of his Fall 2013 couture show.
The designer's feline-themed show for Paris Fashion Week attracted criticism from a number of outlets at the time, including one scathing review by Style.com's Tim Blanks which has now prompted the designer to write an open letter.
In his assessment, Tim wrote: " 'A millefeuille de mousselines' echoed Yves Saint Laurent's way with color, as a reminder that Gaultier was once considered the one true heir to the throne of French fashion. But that was once upon a time, and that time has, sad to say, well and truly passed."
In his open letter back to Tim, Jean Paul addressed their relationship and his standing within French fashion hierarchy.
He wrote: "Dear Tim, Once upon a time you liked my shows 'but that time has truly passed' and I respect it.
"But the Tim I knew before would never have made the attacks that are more personal than proffesional [sic]. I always had girls in my shows from different social strata, treating someone as down-market is cheap.
"In future, rather than be bored at my shows, you can use that time to do something else, for example brush up on your fashion history so you'll kow that 'mille feuille de mousseline' didn't echo Saint Laurent, it was inspired by a Nina Ricci dress from 1967 in homage to Gerard Pipard who recently passed away.
"If you're nostalgic for the time when I was considered the one true heir to the throne of French fashion please buy a ticket for my exhibition now in Stockholm and soon in Brooklyn and London. Good Visit.
"A former yours in fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier."
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