Disgraced designer John Galliano received rave reviews for his latest fashion collection at Paris Fashion Week, despite being absent from the show.
France’s best-selling tabloid, Le Parisien gushed: “La mini-collection Galliano très applaudie” while the Daily Telegraph, Hilary Alexander said the 50-year-old British designer had displayed “his brilliance in absentia… [with an] emotionally staged presentation which recalled the romantic and seductive power of his vision”.
John Galliano’s signature collection was unveiled yesterday in a low-key show in the 16th Arondissement.
No television cameras and only 100 guests were invited.
The New York Times said the show was “typically Galliano, [a] mix of romantic dresses, a loosely draped mint kimono with black lace appliqué, a black vinyl trench and a silk halter dress”
Dior fired Galliano last week amid allegations he made anti-Semitic remarks in a bar.
Galliano, who has been Dior’s creative director for 14 years, is accused of making anti-Semitic remarks after a drinking session in Paris which allegedly ended with the fashion icon attacking and verbally abusing a couple, police said.
Galliano was partying in the upmarket Marais district, had apparently drunk the equivalent of two bottles of wine. According to reports, slaps were exchnaged in the heated incident which led to the designer’s arrest.
In France, making anti-Semitic remarks is punishable by up to six months in prison. However Galliano has not been charged with any offence and was escorted home from the police station.
Galliano has denied making anti-Semitic remarks. However Dior says in a statement that it is suspending Galliano pending an investigation into the incident.
Galliano’s successor at Dior has yet to be named but there has been much speculation that Riccardo Tisci, the Italian at the helm of another LVMH-owned Paris label, Givenchy could land the job.
