Taking over an abandoned swimming pool to stage his latest show, John Galliano’s muse for the upcoming season was one of history’s most notorious characters–Napoleon Bonaparte of France. Inspired by Napoleon, his soldiers and their campaigns in Egypt, Galliano’s spring collection explores modern ways to reinterpret the Oriental motif. Harem shorts and head wraps paid an obvious homage to images found in Lawrence of Arabia, while tulle layered coats and trousers dramatically traveled the road least taken, to uncover the gentle side of darkness. Moved by the paintings of Delacroix, the collection moved past its black and neutral desert based palette to include beautifully restrained hues of orange, yellow and red. While militaristic jackets remained reserved, yet regal with tone on tone embellishing, outerwear was cinched with the collection’s vast array of belts and sashes. This collection like so many before it, is the result of an over the top concept that pulls from a great number of inspirations, yet Galliano manages to show great restraint and the result is a finely tuned collection of pieces that are foreign and exciting to the senses–yet wearable.
YES!!!! He never disappoints me, ever!
YES!!!! He never disappoints me, ever!
YES!!!! He never disappoints me, ever!