HOW DOES JOHN GALLIANO INFUSE DRAMA AND THEATRE INTO HIS COLLECTIONS?

The New Romantics infused the theatrical costume dress and exaggerated makeup into Galliano’s style which ties the flamboyancy into dramatized notions, as did working as a dresser at Britain’s National Theater. Nevertheless, Galliano has carried this himself and his collections devote a robust passion for imagination and traverse the catwalk into a stage of palpable thrill.

I remember my preliminary research into John Galliano’s collections for Maison Margiela and I was intrigued by the hype over the Fall 2022 Artisanal performance, Cinema Inferno. Now, I may be the typical Gen Z, but fashion films need to have that experiential and wow-appeal for me to watch them completely. However, I sat and watched the full 34 minutes of Cinema Inferno in awe. I had never seen fashion produced in such a theatrical and away-from-the-catwalk approach. I adored how you were instantly gravitated into the storyline, whilst captivated by the voluminous tulles, subdued hues and Western American affluence of the character costuming involved. The synthesis of fashion, drama, storytelling, romanticism, and digitalisation was incredible, and I appreciate the technicality behind making the models metaphorical representatives of societal problems.

Alike Charles Jeffrey, there is an immense depth in John Galliano’s collections and this one, particularly, homed in on a darker narrative of violence and fear. I think it was executed astonishingly. It takes incredible acting and strong storytelling to have someone feel the emotions and apprehension of the characters, and I felt every feeling. I would love to take forward the notion of merging digital and physical mediums as Galliano has succeeded here, as well as evoke emotion from my imagery.