WHY ARE THE SUBJECTS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY SENTIMENTAL TO JOHN GALLIANO AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED HIS WORK?

Alike Charles Jeffrey, John Galliano was raised in a working-class environment, hiding his identity away from the rest of the world, especially his father. As mentioned, his upbringing involved a lot of bullying because of his fashion choices, and I firmly believe this is why he encounters such fluidity and gender bending defiance in his designs today- so he can provide for the child he wanted to be.

I also think this is why Charles Jeffrey sources much approval and significant influence within Galliano’s work as they have a considerably similar background and share the same passion for community as well as elements like music, history, storytelling, and immeasurable creativity. The 80’s was an era Galliano felt at home and free in the scene of the New Romantics – “while at the clubs Galliano, like his contemporaries, would dress up to make a statement and this exhibitionist streak remained a typical characteristic of the designer” (Neel, 2011). The 80’s was a period of challenging conventions, like the punks, but in a brighter light.

Galliano translated this time of non-conformist approach into the trajectory of Maison Margiela where the website now holds an ‘all gender’ category for women and men respectively, presented as one collection (Lim, 2021). Such collections like the SS19 Menswear also displayed the blurring of lines between gender as he dressed male models in skinny latex pants, tulle wrapped around the chest, delicate bustiers and corsets, feathers, and satin suits, with a nod towards Eastern influence. I n an interview with Garage Magazine, John Galliano iterates “it’s a freedom of expression, of sorts, of one’s gender and sexuality. Its liberating and its light” (Galliano, 2019). Here, Galliano isn’t trying to make boys into girls and girls into boys, he solely wants to devise clothing which can allows the body to be free, to show a tenderness in dressing without a forceful sexuality streak.

As a generation seeking inclusivity and daringness from brands, Generation Alpha will approve of John Galliano’s bravery to deconstruct the playing field and awakening a real world where not everyone is defined to the one gender or sexuality orientation.