Corsets

Left: Corset / Jean-Paul Gaultier / France, 1990 / Rayon, elastic net, velvet trim, metal boning / Lent by Ed Kosinski
As a child, Jean-Paul Gaultier was fascinated by his grandmother’s pink corsets, which seemed to embody the mystery of femininity. He designed this corset for Madonna, who wore it with a man-tailored pin-stripe suit, thus juxtaposing the sartorial symbols of feminine sexuality and masculine power.

Right: Corset / Jean-Paul Gaultier / France, 1990 / Metallic coated warp knit, elastic, metal / Lent by Ed Kosinski
Madonna was instrumental in transforming the corset from a symbol of oppression into one of female sexual empowerment. In this, she was aided and abetted by French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who created this famous corset for Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour. It was autographed by Madonna for a fan.