John Galliano's tenure at Christian Dior spanned from 1996 to 2011, fifteen years of some of the most technically ambitious and visually extreme fashion produced by a major house in the modern era.
The Design Approach
Galliano worked across historical reference with a freedom no other designer of his generation equaled. A single collection could draw from Egyptian antiquity, Edwardian tailoring, and Japanese prints simultaneously and the construction matched the ambition. His bias-cut technique, learned from the archive of Madeleine Vionnet, produced a fluidity in silk and chiffon that was technically very difficult to achieve.
Collectable Pieces
- Bias-cut silk pieces: the defining technique of the Galliano era at Dior.
- Printed pieces: Galliano's prints are specific to their collection and season.
- Tailored pieces: Galliano-era reinterpretations of the Bar Jacket are some of the most collectable pieces from the Dior archive.
- Eveningwear pieces: the most theatrical pieces from the couture collections.
A Note on Condition
Galliano Dior pieces require more careful condition assessment than most vintage luxury. The complexity of construction means that damage is more visible and harder to address. Buy the best condition you can find.