He’s back. This morning, WWD released an extensive feature announcing that for the first time since his Paris café outburst and departure from Dior, John Galliano has reemerged—in Oscar de la Renta’s studio, of all places. Galliano will work in de la Renta’s studio throughout the next three weeks, in an effort to reimmerse himself in the fashion world. Believed to have been facilitated by Anna Wintour, who is a close friend of de la Renta and was a key player in Galliano’s early-nineties comeback, the partnership is somewhat undefined, but de la Renta, who told WWD that he is a “great admirer of [Galliano's] talent,” asserts that he’ll welcome the designer’s input on his upcoming collection.
The story also features statements from Galliano, who comes out as a recovering alcoholic and apologizes for his anti-Semitic statements. “I have been in recovery for the past two years. Several years prior to my sobriety, I descended into the madness of the disease. I said and did things which hurt others, especially members of the Jewish community. I have expressed my sorrow privately and publicly for the pain which I caused, and I continue to do so. I remain committed to making amends to those I have hurt,” he said.
While this is, as WWD notes, perhaps the biggest fashion comeback since Chanel, it seems a surprising and unexpected move on both designers’ parts. The simplest explanation would be that Galliano is posed to take over for de la Renta, now 80, in the event that he were to retire. However, de la Renta dispels this notion. “Am I retiring? Is John going to replace me? Certainly not. I hope to be around for a long time.” Galliano has not yet revealed what he’ll do after his stint with de la Renta.
—Katharine K. Zarrella
Photo: Victor Boyko/ Getty Images
No comments:
Post a Comment