Dior by John Galliano

Description

Dior by John Galliano explores fashion through the lens of this legendary designer. During his time as a student at London’s Central Saint Martins, the Gibraltar-born British fashion designer John Galliano worked as a dresser at the National Theatre, where he learned the art of costume and the power of illusion. As a regular in London nightclubs, Galliano met a coterie of artists and colourful personalities, forging strong ties with kindred spirits who would play a decisive role in his career, among whom was Stephen Jones, who would become Dior’s milliner.

Following the success of his brand (founded in 1984), he was appointed Creative Director of ready-to-wear and haute couture at Givenchy in 1995, before joining Dior in 1996 as Artistic Director of the women’s collections. There, he distinguished himself with his extravagant shows that combined eclectic historical and cultural inspirations – a global kaleidoscope of references and unbridled inventiveness, imbued with romanticism and history. The designer’s sensitivity for haute couture know-how and innate sense of the spectacular has garnered him a reputation as a master of the silhouette.

John Galliano has truly reinvented the art – and the very role – of haute couture, redefining its tropes into a new type of contemporary fashion that combines the influences of his travels, whether real or imagined, with the bountiful heritage of Christian Dior.

Dior by John Galliano showcases the exceptional silhouettes he created for Dior’s collections from 1996 to 2011, through his most emblematic models, as photographed by Laziz Hamani, alongside shots by Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, and Paolo Roversi. This singular odyssey is the fifth volume in a new series of books paying tribute to the House’s Artistic Directors.

Curator of the Costume Institute at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Andrew Bolton has been the force behind some of the Met’s most visited exhibitions, including Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011), China: Through the Looking Glass (2015), Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology (2016), and Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination (2018). He has written several books, spoken at various conferences, and contributed to numerous publications. Andrew Bolton has received several awards, including the Vilcek Foundation Prize in Fashion in 2015 and the Lord & Taylor Fashion Oracle award in 2016.

Before joining the Met in 2002, he worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Laziz Hamani’s passion for photography and constant quest for aesthetics and meaning led him to collaborate with prestigious luxury houses as well as with Assouline Editions, for which he has produced over thirty books.

From the most delicate details of haute couture to the purity of minimalist design, Hamani proposes a visual dialogue that allows us to fully grasp the power of beauty through a simplicity that is all his own.

About Assouline:

Founded in Paris in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline, Assouline is the first luxury brand on culture. It began with the desire to create a new, contemporary style of book, using the couple’s experienced eye for visually rich stories and compelling narratives. Guided by their passion for knowledge, culture and travel, the Assoulines have since expanded their vision to 1,700 titles in three main collections, along with special editions and unique library accessories—a grand oeuvre of inspiring creations. Over the last quarter of a century, the brand has established a network of international boutiques in prominent locations worldwide. Assouline has also inaugurated a curated library service, working closely with clients to visualise, design, and develop bespoke, one-of-a-kind libraries.

With a distinguished team of creative talents, which includes the founders’ son Alexandre, the brand continues to reinvent the notion of true luxury. Assouline’s roster of collaborators consists of some of the world’s most respected brands, artists, photographers, writers, and designers. Assouline continues to exude an unparalleled signature style and elegant savoir-faire, which has globally redefined the modern publishing landscape. Learn more