John Galliano goes on trial today in Paris on charges of racism and anti-Semitism as a result of his verbal tirade in a café in the Marais district last February. Reports say that the former Christian Dior designer is expected to blame his behavior on drug and alcohol addiction.
Before this dramatic turn of events and damaging scandal, he was a celebrated designer famous for his envelope-pushing ideas.
Below is a sequence of events that chronicles his rise to fame and his embarrassing fall from grace.
1984: John Galliano graduates from Central Saint Martins and his graduation collection entitled Les Incroyables was bought in its entirety by British boutique Browns. He also starts his eponymous label around this time.
July 1995: At the urging of Anna Wintour, LVMH hires Galliano to head the creative direction of Givenchy. This was monumental as it was the first time a British designer was given the reins of a French couture house.
October 1996: Galliano is appointed as the chief designer of Christian Dior, taking over from Gianfranco Ferre. His first ever creation for the house, a peacock blue silk dress with lace detailing, is worn by Princess Diana at the Christian Dior exhibit at the Met in New York.
1999: The Dior Saddlebag is released and becomes an instant fashion worldwide hit.
November 2001: Galliano receives the “Commander of British Empire” award from Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to fashion. He trades in his usual flamboyant personal style for a traditional morning suit for the ceremony, albeit sans shirt.
2007: A double celebration for the French house: It marked the 60thanniversary of Dior and Galliano’s 10th year as its creative director. Galliano presents one of his most breathtaking haute couture shows ever.
2009: He receives France’s Legion d’Honneur awarded to him by French president Nicolas Sarkozy. He joins the esteemed company of Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld and Valentino.
February 24, 2011: News of Galliano’s arrest circulate following the complaints of a woman and her companion of racist invectives hurled at them by the designer at café in the Marais district. The designer allegedly called the man and woman names including, “Dirty Jewish face, you should be dead” and “******* Asian bastard, I will kill you”.
February 28, 2011: The French house suspends Galliano from his post. The timing couldn’t have come at a worse time as the fall/winter 2011-2012 collections loom.
The “I love Hitler” video of Galliano surfaces, as well as another complainant.
March 1, 2011: In a quick and decisive move following the release of the “I love Hitler” video, Dior fires Galliano. Natalie Portman, who had just won the Oscar and was the face of Dior fragrance, severs her ties with Galliano. She releases this statement: “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”
March 2, 2011: Galliano issues his apology and releases this statement: “I only have myself to blame and I know that I must face up to my own failures and that I must work hard to gain people’s understanding and compassion… Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense.”
March 4, 2011: The Dior show goes on as planned. Dior big boss Sidney Toledano appears on the catwalk before the show to give a heartfelt speech. After the last look, the houses petites mains, seamstresses and embroiderers, take a bow.
Galliano checks into rehab.
April 15, 2011: Galliano is fired from his own label, John Galliano, which is majority-owned by LVMH.
June 22, 2011: Galliano goes on trial. If found guilty of racism and anti-Semitism, he could be sentenced to six months in jail and fined 22,500 euros. It is expected that the designer will blame his behavior to drug and alcohol addiction.