Has Designed New Collection In 14 Hours

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 2

Has Designed New Collection In 14 Hours

An idealist and a mystic with a love for life and fervent loathing of the artificial or false is the way the French designer, Jean-Claude Gaubert, who arrived in Christchurch last evening, describes himself.

“I don’t work for money and would never lower my standards for it,” said the I 27-year-old designer. Never will I be commercialised because I design the way I feel and I don’t care whether everyone approves or not. “I have a lot to do in my life, and I hate people who sleep all day or are always complaining. Me. I sleep only three or four hours a night, write poetry, collect art, and compose.” Mr Gaubert designs rapidly. If inspiration grips him, a collection like his forthcoming autumn designs in Egyptian mood can be drawn in 14 hours—from nine at night ' to 11 o’clock the next morn-t< ing. I. “Sometimes It does not happen that way. Then I go off'l

jfor a holiday and relax.” he said. i Wearability is one of his trade marks. He designs

skirts two inches above the knee for young girls, midknee for older women. Fat women he cannot abide, and recommends a diet. Nor does he like middle-aged women in skirts four inches above the knee. “My clothes are feminine and are made for women who look like women, not men. Too many designers in Paris are homosexuals. I think a woman should look feminine but not fussy.”

Colours should be pure—blue, yellow, pink, green, gold, purple—anything but black. “My dislike of black goes back to the time when, as a widower, I had to wear it all the time. Now that is over.

Stefany Drobner, who will model some of the collection he has brought to New Zealand. is his fiancee. “She is my dream, like an angel with her long blonde hair and blue eyes. Everything revolves round the family; I am very strict about that," he said, hitting the table with his fist to emphasise his point. “My fiancee and my two children are all important to me.”

War of Words

He is a man who believes in action —in getting out and fighting, even if only with words. At present he is having a verbal war with the designer, Courreges.

“I admire a lot of his work, but he is false. He has so much around him just for show—white walls, beige carpets, just to create an atmosphere. To me this proves he is old-fashioned,” he said. Tradition is another of Mr Gaubert’s hates. His assistants are all young and idealistic, and whenever possible he will advise other young designers.

Before a showing he is nervous, but says he is a man who takes it easy If things go wrong he makes the best of it. This has been the best philosophy for the start of his four-week New Zealand tour. Flights have been delayed, luggage held up, and time to prepare for the first showing last evening was very short. But Mr Gaubert was not complaining yesterday. He was much too busy doing several things at once, and showed no sign of losing his sense of humour or his patience.