John Galliano 'Blanche Dubois' skirt ensemble, ss 1988

Name: John Galliano 'Blanche Dubois' skirt ensemble, ss 1988
Brand: John Galliano
Price: 16559.08 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

This John Galliano runway ensemble from Spring-Summer 1988 ‘Blanche Dubois’ combines two main themes from the collection: the bow and polonaise skirt. The bodice is made of cotton with rigilene boning and features a large frontal bow, the hero style of the collection. The bow not only serves as a design element but also allows the wearer to rest their arms inside the bow loops, creating a distinctive silhouette. This was worn in the opening look of the show and was also depicted in the backdrop of the runway in an illustrated portrait of Marlene Dietrich. The skirt is comprised of a high-waisted boned mid-section with a corresponding belt, and a draped navy gabardine skirt. Inspired by the robe à la polonaise of 18th century France, the skirt features a ‘Blown Away’ hem which is caught into a band with button holes. This allows for customisable polonaise folds and drapes by buttoning the hem to the underside of the garment at different heights. This unique and customisable element of the garment, along with the movement of the drapes when worn, showcases Galliano’s romantic design sensibility. The exceptional design and construction of this John Galliano ‘Blanche Dubois’ ensemble, combined with its rarity and historical significance, make it a museum-grade piece that belongs in any serious fashion collection. Its impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail, and innovative use of materials and techniques are a testament to the creativity and vision of one of the most influential designers of our time.

Designer:

John Galliano

Brand:

John Galliano

Dimensions:

Marked Size: Blouse: US 8, Skirt: US 10 (NA)

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom

Period:

1980-1989

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Melbourne, AU

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU3625219888342

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Shop All John Galliano

John Galliano

Known for introducing rich theatricality and memorable fashion spectacles to the runway, John Galliano has enjoyed a singular career. The audacious British designer has garnered universal acclaim for genre-breaking collections not only at his eponymous label but also for Givenchy and Christian Dior.

From his embroidered absinthe-green Oscars gown for actress Nicole Kidman to the iconic sleeveless newspaper-print dress that Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw made famous, Galliano’s intricate and multifaceted work is reliably newsworthy, drawing on history as often as it embodies a fresh and forward-looking sensibility, and over the years the designer has helped shape an ever-broadening new legion of enthusiasts for Parisian couture.

Born in Gibraltar but raised in South London by strict Roman Catholic working-class parents, Galliano attended the all-boys Church of England grammar school, where his flamboyance and interest in art attracted the attention of bullies. Eventually, Galliano ended up at the prestigious design and art school Central Saint Martins College (then called Saint Martin’s School of Art), where fellow British designers Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen also trained.

Galliano flourished at Central Saint Martins. While a student, he worked in the costume department at the National Theatre in London. His graduate collection in 1984, dubbed “Les Incroyables” and named for post–French Revolution fashion lovers, was modeled by close friends of his and earned a standing ovation. The line ended up in the storefront windows of London luxury boutique Brown’s on South Molton Street, and Galliano’s first official collection — after he graduated — debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 1989.

In the early 1990s, Galliano’s relationship with his financial backer, Plein Sud’s Faycal Amor, ended, and by 1994, he was broke and sleeping on the floor of a friend’s apartment. Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and then-Vanity Fair editor André Leon Talley stepped in and introduced the budding designer to Portuguese socialite and fashion patron São Schlumberger and others. At Schlumberger’s Hôtel Particulier, Galliano’s shows became the stuff of fashion legend. His collection, a blend of Japanese modernist style as well as nostalgia for Art Deco and 1940s’ tailoring, earned raves in glossy magazines and garnered the attention of Princess Diana, Madonna and other fashion luminaries.

Once the Galliano name was well known among the world’s most stylish set, the chairperson of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, appointed Galliano head designer of French fashion house Givenchy. One year later, in 1996, LVMH moved him to the design team at Dior, where he produced scores of celebrated looks for Dior Haute Couture. Today, Galliano is the creative director of Maison Margiela.

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