John Galliano Fall 2009

Style says it better than we could:

"John Galliano struck out on his own into the frozen wastes of Russian-Balkan folklore for Fall. A micro-bubble snowstorm was falling on the runway, and a trick of laser lighting created a magical illusion that the models were walking in some fairy-tale tunnel far, far removed from the brutish realities of humankind's current worries. It was theater, escapism—the creation of a parallel fantasy world upon which the concerns of "fashion" barely impinged."


"Oodles of embroidery and workmanship and a ton of research into folk costume had been lavished on the details of the pannier-hipped, full-skirted coats, balloon-sleeved peasant blouses, bodices, headdresses, and pompom-trimmed cross-laced boots. Toward the end, the show moved into more traditional Galliano territory with a sequence of spun-silver bias-cut dresses that had all the delicate romance his fans adore."







It's important to remind yourself that Galliano works almost exclusively in the fashion-for-fashion's-sake realm. You're not going to see these hanging on the racks of your favorite store (even if it is high-end) and you're not going to see these looks on the red carpet. They're wild and impractical and all about showcasing the beautiful with no regard to the practical. He is a master of theatricality and drama and you'll be missing out on the full experience if you don't click the video link at the end. If nothing else, that bitch REALLY knows how to put on a show.

As for the looks, we can respect the folk-inspired looks but we really don't think they're all that pretty. The silver gowns, on the other hand, are breathtaking. And the shoes? Yeah, they're a bit ridiculous, but who cares? None of us are ever going to wear them. From a purely formal perspective, they're fabulous and that's pretty much the final word on the whole collection. Style got a little bitchy at the end of their review, noting that, in the wake of the somber mood dominating the fall collections, "this show had very little to do with anything else that's going on." Well, duh. We'd hate to see John Galliano of all people send a somber, understated collection down the runway.

[Photos: Getty Images/WireImage]