Always a showman and never one-upped, John Galliano presented another breathtaking namesake collection that literally had some guests tearing up. Each outfit in the show was one-of-a-kind, representing an artwork by painters like Jean Cocteau, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Chaim Soutine and Marc Chagall–all of whom were cajoled by the aspiring French actress Mari Lani to paint her portrait. Did I mention that the looks were complemented by tulle-swathed hats and floral bonnets made by the milliner Stephen Jones? If ever fashion was fantasy theater, this was it. The colors were saturated and gorgeous, and the meld of tailored jacketed over wide-legged trousers alongside white silk kimonos and turquoise floral dresses emphasized the exoticism of the era. As for the evening gowns, they were in true Galliano grandeur. Bias cut trimmed in feathers, white scalloped in navy silk and gold-embroidered peasant-style, these were simply red carpet dazzlers.
