I was going to postpone the Monday Hotness because I was “uninspired” by which mean I’ve got a hair appointment with Frédéric Fekkai’s former personal assistant/senior stylist who flies into town once every six weeks and I’m totally nervous and stress-eating those insidiously delicious pygmy carrots because I feel like I’m cheating on my long-suffering stylist with some hot new model, which –okay– I am, but I’ll be thinking about her the whole time.
**DEEP BREATH**
Whew.
Someone about whom I’ve also been thinking a lot is everyone’s favorite Funky Little Fashion Troll, John Galliano. John Galliano is a genius. There are a lot of talented designers out there but only a handful –I’d say McQueen, Gaultier and Lacroix, maaaybe Miuccia– are just out and out geniuses, and Galliano is one of them…maybe the best working today.
AND he loves women –all women– which is why he’s such a perfect fit for Dior. He understands our bodies and celebrates them. He has famously used plus-size women in his runway shows and even someone used to stunt casting can’t help but believe when Galliano says “Every body is beautiful” he means it.
“I don’t love dolls. I love women. I love their bodies.”
“I’m an accomplice to helping women get what they want.”
“The problem is with men. I know I shouldn’t say this, but they’ve shrouded and hidden women to hide their incompetence.”
“Women are women, and hurray for that.”
“Dressing up. People just don’t do it anymore. We have to change that.”
“I don’t care about money. I really don’t care. I just want to do what I do.”
Oh, he is delicious, isn’t he? Just a delightful, delightful little man.
Comment by Style Spy — June 29, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
I agree with you and I don’t even follow high fashion at all and Galliano has even made on my radar which, I think, says something. I love the last quote, I think that pretty much sums it up for me. I can tell he loves what he does.
Comment by Jassy — June 29, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
I think we need to expect a bit more from designers. I don’t think we should be so quick to praise them. It’s nice that he likes women and doesn’t speak negatively about plus sizes (i.e. Lagerfeld), but that doesn’t make him special. He’s not designing for anyone over a size 14. He still falls within the category of “choices I don’t have”.
Comment by Melissa — June 30, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Actually, every couture look he sends down the runway is available in any size, because couture is cut on the body. If it’s not a choice you have it’s because you don’t have the $10,000 for a dress, not because you’re over a size 14.
Comment by Plumcake — June 30, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
And the thing about Galliano is, it looks fantastic on a 16 too, because it IS cut with curves in mind. I adore Galliano and have ever since I saw his first show which used a whack of 16-year-olds, mostly on their first modeling jobs. I spotted this runty little girl back in the line and said “that girl’s astonishing-looking. I wonder if she’ll go on from here” and that was Kate Moss.
Those dresses? Still look good in plus-sizes.
Comment by raincoaster — June 30, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
What Plumcake said.
Most people seem to have “haute couture” confused with “expensive highly-visible manufacturers.” Marc Jacobs, for instance? Not haute couture. Complain if his usual line does not include your size. I’ll help.
Haute couture? Is available in EVERY SIZE. The model/display garment is made/displayed in one size ONLY, but is available in ANY/EVERY SIZE for the person who has the money. If it’s Christian Dior haute couture, you can have it, if you have the pennies saved up.
Comment by La BellaDonna — June 30, 2009 @ 6:04 pm
Ah, thank you for featuring my favorite designer ever. Lovelovelove him. He inspires me to make more fabulous clothing.
Comment by Synnamin — June 30, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
As a designer, yes. As the hotness, no. Two words: Olivier Theyskens. Thank you. That is all.
Comment by slownews — July 1, 2009 @ 10:00 am
He’s a genius! If I ever need a couture gown for some reason and can afford his, then that’s what I’ll do.
Comment by Nariya — July 1, 2009 @ 11:09 am