JOHN GALLIANO: BRAND INTERROGATION JOHN GALLIANO: BRAND INTERROGATION

To admit I haven’t studied John Galliano before this module is shocking, I’m disappointed in myself too! Nonetheless, since delving into his context, I have been enthralled by his work and appreciate the drive it has given me as a creative to encompass storytelling, history, and literature in fashion communication.

Titled as one of fashion’s most controversial and creative talents (BOF, 2022), John Galliano is a master of challenging conventions and steering far away from the status quo both in fashion, and in his personal life! His work embodies a singular style which engages ancient eras, theatrical drama, and immaculate narratives; wholly technical and an incredibly gifted talent, to say the least.

When looking at Galliano’s collections I was mesmerised by the attention to detail and eccentricity. I didn’t perceive his models as “models” as they fully immersed themselves within performance and created an uncanny experience which I’ve failed to see done as immaculately in another house or designer before.

As I am continuing to progress my storytelling approaches throughout this journey, I thoroughly enjoyed dissecting his imagery to reap the semiotics and influences involved in its creation.

Galliano attended Central Saint Martins during the late 1980’s, a period which saw him originate his technicality for romanticism and historical costume and embrace his signature, flamboyant charisma; elements of which he disguised in younger life but have been instilled in him by his mother since birth.

Often made to wear smart, bold outfits, even for the simplest of occasions, Galliano discovered a passion for creative styling, yet was frequently bullied for adopting such frivolity and innocence in his dress sense.

I can perceive distinguishable relatabilities in Galliano and Charles Jeffrey already, in that they were both mocked for being themselves and sought to fashion education as an avenue to profile this. They share a similar passion for fashion illustration and create fantastical narratives which fuse history with the contemporary. I can discern a strong element of influence from John Galliano in Charles Jeffrey’s work, and I want to explore this further through investigating Galliano on a deeper level.