DIOR

John Galliano reigned Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011, making history as the first British Designer to debut a collection at a French fashion house since WWII (Rodgers, 2022). From analysing his collections at Dior, they evoked a heightened theatrical appeal in outlandish dressing, I believe a reflection of his playful mindset towards fashion.

Compared to his developments for Margiela, his Dior helm integrated a different perspective of romanticism, one which coincided with its founder’s message: to leave a legacy of beauty. There was an amplified glamour and opulence to the origins of Dior, which merged fantastically with the theatrical and feminine components Galliano added. His collections for the house scream ‘colour’ and I discern great notions of cultural dressing like Japanese and Edwardian through design, hair, and makeup.

John Galliano gifted Dior the brand renovation it needed, pushing its groundings of luxury and simplicity, and gracing it with his ingenuity and originality.