Jean Paul Gaultier is a true master of fashion. Not only does he have an eye for what will be the next big thing, he truly appreciates all kinds of beauty. He doesn't live by fashion's 'ideals'. He makes his own.

Gaultier was born in 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France. Like many other great fashion designers, he developed an interest in fashion at a very early age. At the tender age of thirteen, he drew up several outfit designs for his mother and grandmother, and was already inventing his own fashion items at fifteen. However, unlike many fashion designers, Gaultier did not receive formal education or training in design. Instead, he made a bold and life-changing move; he sent several sketches off to couture stylists, such as Pierre Cardin, who was so excited by Gaultier's promise that he hired him as an assistant in 1970. After stints working for French fashion greats such as Jean Patou and Jacques Esterel, he finally released his own ready-to-wear collection in Manila whilst working for Cardin. This collection was intended for buyers in the U.S.A.

Over the years his success has grown along with his notoriety. In 1985 he created 'man-skirts'; kilt-like skirts in different cuts and pattens, ranging from the full-length plain black to the mid-calf pinstripe. Jean Paul Gaultier is also responsible for designing outfits for Madonna's 1990 'Blonde Ambition' world tour, including the infamous conical bra, that served to build on his 'enfant terrible' reputation. Since then he has continued to challenge basic ideals of beauty and gender. His models range from the conventionally slim and pretty to the heavily pierced and tattooed, to older men modelling his menswear, and size 20 women modelling his lingerie collections. He is keen to prove that there is more than one kind of beauty.

Besides designing outfits for pop star Kylie Minogue and controversial rocker Marilyn Manson, Gaultier is also the man behind the wardrobes of many famous films. The list includes the incredible futuristic 'thermal bandage' outfit worn by Milla Jovovich in Luc Besson's 1997 film 'The Fifth Element', for which Gaultier reportedly produced 954 outfits. He also designed the risqué cage-like dress worn by Dame Helen Mirren in Peter Greenaway's 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover'.

Over the years Gaultier has given life to many stunning creations, and his Spring 2011 collection is no exception, demonstrating his playful spin on formal wear. He is also an advocate of natural beauty, encouraging both women and men to embrace their looks as they age, and experiment more with fashion, rather than fall into 'what's comfortable'. He told the 'Times in London' back in March that no matter how old, you should 'dress as you feel, you are beautiful at your age'. So, not only is he an incredibly creative, fearless fashion genius, he's a charmer too. Can one man really have it all?