The Lycra cycling shirt that captured the youthful energy of Junior Gaultier’s “Rap’sody in Blue” S/S 1990

In the Summer of 1990, you could have given off those Tour de France vibes without having to climb the Alpe d’Huez, all thanks to Jean Paul!. This cycling jersey from the “Rap’sody in Blue” collection would have looked perfect in the club, as you danced to Adamski’s “Killer”, Snap!’s “The Power” or maybe whilst doing a bit of Voguing, courtesy of Madonna.

As a cyclist, I’m used to wearing tight lycra, but I’d have to pick my moment for wearing this out in public. I love the bold colour block design on this tight t-shirt, which is emblazoned with graphics, not unlike the sponsors’ logos on a professional cycling team’s jersey. I’ve emphasised this by teaming my cycling glasses and cycling shorts for the photo.

Some of the logos on this shirt recur throughout other garments from the Junior Gaultier line, including the “No. 1”, which features as the entire design on a t-shirt that I also own, which is from the “Rhapsody in Blue” collection of S/S 1990.

The circular “JG” logo was used on items from the F/W 1989-90 “Fantomas” collection, where it was made to look like it was on the metal cap of a champagne cork, which is known as a muselet.

The motif with the star in the circle clearly looks like a bicycle cog, and this too has cropped up on other JG articles of clothing, including a belt buckle, which is on my wishlist! The same goes for the “Junior Gaultier Star” image, which I’m pretty sure I’ve seen as a belt buckle.

This look reflects the broader styling seen in the collection, particularly the more overt hip-hop and street influences explored elsewhere.

Below, you’ll see that there was also a long-sleeved dress version of this design.

A renewed interest in Junior Gaultier

When I started this website focusing on the long-expired Junior Gaultier label, I did not expect its relevance to ever return — yet the house’s Spring/Summer 2026 revival suggests otherwise. The new “JUNIOR” collection is the first ready-to-wear collection by Duran Lantink for the house and directly references the original line of 1988–1994, celebrating its youthful energy, experimental spirit and playful approach to fashion.

While the collection divided opinion among long-standing Gaultier followers, certain pieces immediately recalled elements of the Rap’sody in Blue collection, with the revival drawing on familiar motifs and reinterpreting them through a contemporary lens, reinforcing how foundational these early designs remain within the wider Jean Paul Gaultier archive.

The revival even extends to accessories: for £330, you can dry off in style with a beach towel featuring an oversized Junior Gaultier logo, rendered in turquoise typography against a red ground with a contrasting blue border — a direct nod to late 1980s branding.

As the official press release notes, “… the DNA of Gaultier is not preserved — it is reimagined. Marinière stripes, tattoo mesh, trompe-l’oeil illusions — all twisted into a new visual language…”.

One item I’m particularly drawn to is the literal twisting of the original logo into a sculptural metal “Junior” belt buckle, attached to a curved burgundy leather strap that seems to defy physics. This idea of distortion and reinterpretation extends to sportswear elements, where the spirit of the Rap’sody in Blue cycling shirt reappears in the contemporary lycra top and shorts.

The return of cycling shorts — freedom, versatility, and no fixed rules

During the 80s and 90s, people began wearing cycling shorts as fashion, thanks to the influence of a few media icons at the time, including Princess Diana.

We’re used to seeing trends from past decades make their way back into high fashion, so it’s no surprise that bike shorts have seen a clear resurgence in recent seasons. In 2026, they are once again positioned as a versatile wardrobe staple, styled in ways that move easily between casual looks and, when paired with oversized tailoring, more considered outfits.

Me being me — and in the spirit of Junior Gaultier challenging rigid ideas around who clothes were “for” — should cycling shorts really be restricted to one gender?

I remember wearing cycling shorts myself in 1990, paired with a baggy vintage dress shirt, long before this combination felt remotely mainstream. At the time, it didn’t feel particularly radical, just instinctive — but looking back, it aligns closely with the kind of freedom Gaultier was advocating.

The Rap’sody in Blue collection sits within the wider Junior Gaultier collections 1988–1995, which trace the evolution of the line across its lifetime.