As with many of the people I admire greatly, it is not always their current success that draws me in, but instead, it is their journey that captivates me most. John Galliano is no exception. His early years in Gibraltar and Spain exposed him to a world of Mediterranean color and textures and upon moving to South London he sometimes felt out of sorts. It was London, where he discovered the arts and true kinship.
Upon graduating from St. Martin's School of Arts in 1984, his first collection, Les Incroyables, was bought and sold in entirety in Browns. Based in London he began his own collection, and in 1988, among fledgling financial backing, moved his operations to Paris.
By 1993, with the help of Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley, Galliano developed partnerships that helped him gain strong financial backing and credibility among the social elite. Much like Christian Dior in 1947, Galliano brought life to Paris and had what some describe as a "fashion moment". In 1995, he became the first British designer to head the LVMH fashion house, Givenchy.
Less than two years later, Galliano was appointed as the designer for Christian Dior, and his first haute couture show coincided with the label's 50th anniversary.
Through the years, Galliano has stayed true to his wild child passions, and similar to Christian Dior, never feels the need to apologize for his big dreams. In 2000, he became inspired on his morning jog along the Seine River. The ensuing collection, inspired by the homeless people along the river, created the largest stir. He remarked to WWD about the uproar, "better to be talked about than not."
Galliano loves theater and femininity and feels it is his job to seduce. And seduce he does...Each and every look from the Christian Dior Fall 2009 Haute Couture show takes my breath away.
Vive, John Galliano!
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