Can Galliano be forgiven?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:51:00 +0000

Gosh, it seems like only yesterday John Galliano was swanning around Paris, arguing with restaurant patrons about their "dirty Jew faces" and announcing, "I love Hitler." But it's been almost two full years since the flamboyant British clothing designer had a meltdown of such epic proportions that cost him his job at Dior, and got him publicly slammed by his house's then-muse Natalie Portman, and then found guilty of anti-Semitic behavior in a French court and fined for it. Now, he's returning to fashion with a new temporary residency with Oscar de la Renta – and a blessing from a surprising source.

Galliano has a kept a low profile since his March 2011 fall from grace. For his return engagement, he will be assisting in de la Renta's New York offices over the next few weeks, helping the house prepare for Fashion Week. It's an apprentice-like comedown from his days as a top dog designer, but a major step toward a career reboot. "He has worked long and hard on his recovery," says de la Renta, "and I am happy to give him the opportunity to reimmerse himself in the world of fashion and reacclimate in an environment where he has been so creative."

Salon.com > John Galliano

Can Galliano be forgiven?