Another Paris haute couture week ended today, and once again John Galliano delivered a collection of exquisite beauty and refinement. For the Dior label's 60th birthday, he took over the Château de Versailles to present what he called a Bal des Artistes, sidestepping the mainstream fashion pack's sexmoneyclass tropes in favour of historical references from Alma-Tadema to Velasquez.
Even the handful of customers who can afford these dazzling creations couldn't wear them the way Galliano presented them on the catwalk, but that is hardly the point. Like perfect songs, each outfit creates its own world and invites your imagination to fill in the details.
And who but a genius would dare to turn up at work in full panto-toreador gear? Brilliant.
Galliano is clearly not averse to opera - in the past he has shown at the Opéra Garnier and presented a Madama Butterfly-inspired collection to the sounds of Puccini. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he could move on from costuming the likes of Kylie Minogue and design for the operatic stage?
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