John Galliano

So it looks like it’s Zanini at Schiaparelli?

April 16, 2013

After much mooting and name shuffling re who would head up the hotly anticipated Schiaparelli re-launch, Marco Zanini appears the man who will fronting the house. I say, ‘appears’ as, as yet, the announcement is unconfirmed and stranger things have happened in fashion. Ruminating on this, at first odd choice, it all suddenly made sense. […]

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Dior re-works simplicity and plays on faux naif Dada & Surrealism

March 1, 2013

I may have to re-evaluate Dior. It’s quite in another veign since Galliano left – not a bad move but decidedly different and relaying the quiet elegance and polished restraint of the new meister at the helm. This A/W’13 show managed to be both modernist mode and charming in extremis, the film-star’s fall-back for good […]

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Oscar de la Renta opens his first London store

January 23, 2013

We know that Mr De La Renta has the New York ladies-who-lunch (sparingly) in his Upper East Side hand, but the man who woos the ultra sophisticated of New York is making his bid in London at 130 Mount Street to be precise, the famous corner site of the former Nicky Clarke salon. No doubt […]

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Raf’s Spring ’13 vision at Dior – But is it Couture?

January 22, 2013

It was one of the most anticipated couture shows of this season and to many it didn’t disappoint but to a few, myself included, it did. This was a show where Raf Simons showed that he undoubtedly had tight vision and an ability to take Dior’s elegance, major inspirations and calling cards (flowers, lightness, a […]

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Coming In From The Cold (and not a moment too soon) – John Galliano

January 18, 2013

They certainly picked a day to announce it. As London does its level best to go to for a snow wipeout, our stalwart fashion newshounds at Vogue were set to warm my soul to the very bone with the news that genius, showman, innovator, artist, creator and one of the greatest designers of the 21st […]

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Vintage Couture Auction at Christie’s – The Stuff of Dreams

November 6, 2012

This is the stuff of my dreams. Truly. I may own a fair few extremely collectible vintage designer pieces (from established designers mentioned here) but I am now quaking with excitement at the prospect that Christie’s, South Kensington is to present the first in a series of carefully curated auctions – VINTAGE COUTURE. Offering the ultimate in […]

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Gaytten takes John Galliano in the Right Direction for S/S’13

October 1, 2012

I can’t really believe I’m going to say what I’m going to say but Bill Gaytten did good. After a number of disastrously off-key seasons at Dior with Gaytten ‘baby-sitting’ the house for the modern couturier that would be Raf, Gaytten has gone back to his roots albeit Galliano’s early house motifs and produced a […]

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Raf Simons Ice Cool Restraint Wins Hearts & Minds at Dior

July 3, 2012

There will be reams of column inches devoted to ‘did he or didn’t he?’ (win over the fash pack) with his first Dior outing but Raf Simons showed not only his pedigree but his taste level and good manners as he cut a sharp trajectory from Dior’s ’50s past to future with a scintillating sythe […]

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Victoria & Albert Museum launch "Ballgowns; British Glamour Since 1950"

May 16, 2012

It seems as if practically every launch, store window or product release is Diamond Jubilee or Olympics themed at present but the advantage to the UK’s special year is that many brands, galleries and museums have used the timing as a focus. None more so than the glorious V&A, renowned for their fashion exhibitions and […]

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Dior Haute Couture show to take place in Shanghai

April 8, 2012

On Saturday 14th April, for the first time, the heralded house of Dior will show its Spring/Summer ’12 couture show at The Bund in Shanghai, showing the allure of the Eastern Yuan and its ultimate necessity for a brand’s survival in a tough global market. Dior, a house defined by its ateliers, craftsmanship, heritage and […]