Exclusive: Pat Field Has John Galliano Conspiracy Theories | StyleCaster Exclusive: Pat Field Has John Galliano Conspiracy Theories What's hot 0 by Dee 6 years ago So by now, both the fashion flock and the general public probably just want to forget about John Galliano and his controversial, hateful video that has swept the world. I think all of us could agree that what he said was unequivocally wrong, but it begs the questionhow well do we really know Mr. Galliano? StyleCaster had the chance to catch up with the designer’s long time friend and colleague, Patricia Field , who wanted to weigh in on the matter: “Beauty, intelligence and energy would describe John as I know him. Where in this trilogy could one find hate?I ask you! My second question is: what exactly did he say? And my third is, what is really going on here?” – Patricia Field I think it’s safe to say that Patrica Field, who has known the designer for decades, is just as surprised at Galliano’s rant as we are. Also, she seems to suspect that this incident isn’t the real reason that Dior let him go.

But the thing that we can’t wrap our heads around is this: How could he say such ugly things when his art evokes the complete opposite? In response to this question, Patricia Field chalks it up to the theactrics John is famous for. “We have always known John Galliano and loved him for his theatre. I would interpet this incident as another example of his theatre. If you would see him on stage instead of a club, you’d think its a play, which is exactly what it is,” she said. Designer Patricia Field defends John Galliano’s alleged anti-Semitic remarks as ‘farce’ – EW.com Image Credit: PR PhotosCostume and fashion designer Patricia Field, famous for her work work on Sex and the City and Ugly Betty, has come to the defense of designer John Galliano. Earlier today, French fashion house Christian Dior announced that it cut official ties with Galliano , after he allegedly hurled anti-Semitic epithets at customers of a Paris cafe .

Field blasted a message to friends, media, and blogs, which she also posted to her Facebook page and titled , “IN PRAISE OF JOHN GALLIANO.” The cryptic statement read: “Beauty, intelligence and energy would describe John as I know him. Where in this trilogy could one find hate? I ask you! My second question is…What exactly did he say? And the third is…What is really going on here??” Field followed up the statement with a call to fashion industry bible Women’s Wear Daily, where she gave an interview further defending Galliano . “People in fashion all they do is go and see John Galliano theater every season,” she said. “That’s what he gives them. To me, this was the same except it wasn’t in a theater or in a movie. John lives in theater. It’s theater. It’s farce. But people in fashion don’t recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don’t know him. But it’s okay when it’s Mel Brooks’ The Producers singing ‘Springtime for Hitler.’” Field continued, reiterating that she can’t understand how people don’t see the theater and farce in Galliano’s actions.

“They don’t even see the farce in it. Fashion people who know him have not come forward. They know his theater,” she said. “Believe me — my name is Field — my stepfather was Jewish.” Show Full Article 'Sex and the City' Designer Patricia Field Releases 'In Praise Of John Galliano' Statement | Pret-a-Reporter 'Sex and the City' Designer Patricia Field Releases 'In Praise Of John Galliano' Statement 3:19 PM PST 3/1/2011 by Mark Cina COMMENTS Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images She says she is surprised the fashion community doesn't see that his videotaped behavior - in which he declares, "I love Hitler!" - is a “farce." Patricia Field is defending disgraced Dior designer John Galliano, who was fired after appearing in an anti-Semitic video. Women's Wear Daily reports Field, famous for her work on Sex and the City, sent an email blast to 500 friends, blogs and media. Titled “IN PRAISE OF JOHN GALLIANO,” the message (which also appeared on her Facebook page), read: “Beauty, intelligence and energy would describe John as I know him.

Where in this trilogy could one find hate? I ask you! My second question is…What exactly did he say? And the third is…What is really going on here??” In an interview with WWD, she said she is surprised the fashion community doesn't see that his videotaped behavior - in which he declares, "I love Hitler!" - is a “farce." “People in fashion all they do is go and see John Galliano theater every season," Field said. "That’s what he gives them. To me, this was the same except it wasn’t in a theater or in a movie. John lives in theater. It’s theater. It’s farce. But people in fashion don’t recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don’t know him. But it’s OK when it’s Mel Brooks’ The Producers singing 'Springtime for Hitler.'” John Galliano: Downfall of a Couturier – WWD WWDStyle issue 03/02/2011 PARIS — A fashion giant has fallen. Paris Fashion Week gets under way today under shock.

Christian Dior ousted its star couturier, John Galliano, on Tuesday amidst mounting allegations he uttered anti-Semitic insults and an explosive video depicting him saying, “I love Hitler.” This story first appeared in the March 2, 2011 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today. The dismissal marks one of the most dramatic designer flameouts in recent history, and interrupts a spectacular career, robbing fashion of one of its greatest showmen. It will surely spark debate about whether the 50-year-old British iconoclast will be able to rebound from the taint of anti-Semitism, overcome what appears to be alcohol addiction and rehabilitate his image to resume working in fashion. It could also set in motion a reshuffling of designers at the highest levels of international fashion, as one of the most coveted and high-profile jobs in Paris is suddenly up for grabs. It is understood that Dior — reeling from Galliano’s fall from grace within the space of a week — has yet to turn its attention to the delicate issue of succession and, in a sign of continuity, plans to go ahead with its fall fashion show slated for Friday in a tent erected in the gardens of the Musée Rodin here.

Sources said it has yet to be decided if Sunday’s show for the John Galliano line will go ahead. Meanwhile, Galliano’s Italian licensing partners are said to be reeling in the wake of the crisis and uncertainty about that brand’s future. The final straw for Galliano — the target of two complaints to Paris police of racist and anti-Semitic remarks — was an amateur video depicting the designer, plainly inebriated, hurling expletives and insults, including references to people being “gassed.” Natalie Portman, a face for Christian Dior Parfums, issued a statement Tuesday morning saying she was “shocked and disgusted” by the amateur video, obtained by British tabloid The Sun and circulated around the world. Its genesis and circumstances remain a mystery. “As an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way,” Portman said. “I hope, at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.” She made no mention of Dior.

Hours later, Dior said it had commenced termination procedures in the wake of the “deeply offensive statements and conduct by John Galliano” portrayed in the video. “We unequivocally condemn the statements made by John Galliano, which are in total contradiction to the long-standing core values of Christian Dior,” Sidney Toledano, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, said. He declined to comment further. According to sources, Galliano is expected to issue a statement today. Photos of a pale and shell-shocked Galliano arriving at a police station in the Marais to meet his accusers were splashed all over newspapers around the world on Tuesday, often sharing the front page with stories about mounting pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to step down. Galliano spent Monday afternoon at the station as part of an ongoing police investigation into claims he uttered anti-Semitic and racist remarks in separate altercations at trendy Paris cafe La Perle, last Thursday night and last October.

The designer claims he never uttered any racist or anti-Semitic slurs, furnished witness statements to back his case and subsequently filed a claim of defamation, insult and menace against Géraldine Bloch, 35, and her companion at the cafe, Philippe Virgiti, 41. The couple claimed Galliano’s insults included “dirty Jewish face” and “Asian bastard.” Under French law, the penalty for defamation can be one year in prison, a fine of 45,000 euros, or $61,884 at current exchange, or both. For insult, the sentence may be six months imprisonment and a fine of 22,500 euros, or $30,942, or one of those penalties. A spokeswoman from the prosecutor’s office on Tuesday confirmed the police inquiry into the Galliano case has not yet been wrapped up. “I think there are still some people to hear,” she continued, adding she believes the legal process will be rather quick, without giving a specific timeline. The ouster of a designer who has left an indelible mark on Dior — and on the history of fashion — left designers, editors and retailers stunned and saddened.

Many were puzzled by the incongruity of Galliano’s warmhearted, polite disposition and the vile pronouncements captured on camera. Others deemed his behavior and words scandalous and damaging to the industry. In a posting on the Vogue Italia Web site, editor in chief Franca Sozzani wrote: “I am against and I condemn any kind of racism or any behavior that shows disrespect toward any religion.” But she also lashed out at the people who filmed a plainly inebriated Galliano, whose speech was slurred. “If you are truly fighting with someone, you don’t have time to pick up a mobile phone, turn on the video giggling and mockingly film what he is saying,” Sozzani wrote. “I’m just as disgusted by these people who saw what state John was in and took advantage of the situation by trading on his name and notoriety. While I condemn John’s words, I think they were said in a certain moment when he wasn’t lucid.

I am frightened by how quick these young people were to try to gain notoriety or money while destroying the image of a genius.” Joan Burstein, owner and founder of Browns in London, and a longtime supporter who bought Galliano’s entire graduate collection in 1984, said, “I am deeply saddened by the fact that John Galliano has been dismissed. I hope that I have the opportunity to see him face-to-face, as I have no comment to make until I am told the truth by him.” “All I can say is that he was and is a brilliant designer, and I hope that fashion will have some memories,” said Maria Luisa Poumaillou, fashion director at Printemps. “Everyone is sad, and the only thing I’m certain of is that he did an amazing thing for Dior and he gave so much pleasure. I will miss him a lot.” Alexandra Shulman, editor in chief, British Vogue, said, “I think Galliano made a terrible mistake and such offensive behavior could not be ignored.

It is all the same true that he has a huge talent and has contributed enormously to the resurrection of the house of Dior.” Patricia Field sent an e-mail blast to 500 friends, blogs and media on Tuesday in support of Galliano. In a phone interview, she described the designer’s controversial video as “farce” and said she was bewildered that people in the fashion community have not recognized it as such. “People in fashion, all they do is go and see John Galliano theater every season. That’s what he gives them. To me, this was the same,” she said. “But people in fashion don’t recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don’t know him. But it’s OK when it’s Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers’ singing ‘Springtime for Hitler.’ ” Field said Galliano was “acting out a character.” Franco Penè, chief executive officer of Gibò Co. SpA, which produces the John Galliano men’s and women’s collection, urged that justice should be allowed to take its course.

However, he added, “Neither I nor anyone in the company has ever seen anti-Semitic behavior from Galliano, nor was there any inkling ever of anti-Semitism in his attitude.” Karl Lagerfeld, meanwhile, came out swinging. “I’m furious, if you want to know. I’m furious that it could happen, because the question is no longer even whether he really said it. The image has gone around the world. It’s a horrible image for fashion, because they think that every designer and everything in fashion is like this,” Lagerfeld said. “This is what makes me crazy in that story. “The thing is, we are a business world where, especially today, with the Internet, one has to be more careful than ever, especially if you are a publicly known person. You cannot go in the street and be drunk — there are things you cannot do,” he continued. “I’m furious with him because of the harm he did to LVMH and [chairman and ceo] Bernard Arnault, who is a friend, and who supported him more than he supported any other designer in his group, because Dior is his favorite label.

It’s as if he had his child hurt.” A club kid from South London via Gibraltar, Galliano hit the international fashion radar right out of the starting blocks upon graduation from Central Saint Martins. With his theatrical flair and romantic inspirations of epic proportions, Galliano immediately became one of the darlings of editors and retailers, famous for his bias-cut gowns, innovative tailoring and a cheeky, streetwise edge. Commercial success didn’t come as easily. Based in London early in his career, Galliano struggled throughout the Eighties and early Nineties, with a succession of backers. He had to close his business three times after they withdrew their financing because of slow sales growth. Still, his technical virtuosity and knack for making fashion headlines attracted the attention of Arnault, who tapped him in 1995 to succeed Hubert de Givenchy upon his retirement, moving the British maverick to Dior a year later. “Mr. Arnault is a true visionary to put someone like myself in my position,” Galliano told WWD in an interview in 2007.

“Many houses have copied that since.” At Dior, he succeeded a string of legendary design talents: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan and Gianfranco Ferré. Galliano quickly woke up the brand with his bravado, a broad spectrum of fashion expression and a soaring imagination. He has characterized his shows around 1999 and 2000 as “rupture” moments for Dior, including the so-called “Matrix” couture collection that announced a tough-chic moment, and a hip-hop flavored, Lauryn Hill-inspired show that arrived at the onset of logo mania. He has also sent trailer park babes, bruised boxers and rockabilly types down Dior’s ready-to-wear runway. His signature collections have been no less spectacular, from Bollywood beauties dusted in colored powders to a charming, oddball parade of childlike cardboard floats and clothes deliberately too big for the models. During his early years at Dior, Galliano had a broad creative purview that extended to advertising and the Dior Parfums beauty division.

In a 1997 collaboration with photographer Nick Knight, he had Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bündchen in a sweaty, sexy entanglement with model Rhea Durham, prompting cries of lesbian chic. “That was really, you could say, the beginning of full-throttle forward,” Galliano recalled in the 2007 interview. A few seasons later, Bündchen was sweating again in a Dior campaign, this time also smeared with grease, fixing an old Cadillac. Since 2007’s suit-driven “back-to-basics” collection, Galliano has churned out more ladylike and commercial rtw, and ratcheted up references to Dior icons, like the bar jacket, equestrian looks, English men’s wear fabrics and the color gray. In tandem, Dior diminished the profile of Galliano’s fashion campaigns, funneling investments into more “institutional” communication, notably a multiyear print and cinema campaign backing the perennial Lady Dior bag featuring Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard. Still, the couture image of Dior, masterminded by Galliano, is crucial across the company, including the powerhouse Dior Parfums, part of LVMH.

Galliano’s famous inspiration trips to India, China, Japan, Turkey, Egypt, Middle Europe and within France brought rich rewards to his audience — and created some of the most arresting fashion show imagery the industry has ever seen. The designer’s immersion into the story lines behind his collections — be it the hidden life of Wonder Woman, the soirees of the Marchesa Casati or the paintings of Clovis Trouille — was absolute, which is what made his shows unmissable and memorable. Galliano’s ouster, which comes about a year after the suicide of Lee Alexander McQueen, could usher in an era of toned-down fashion shows, as designers came under pressure during the economic downturn to trim budgets. Dior has been taking a minute-by-minute approach to the fast-evolving crisis to protect its $1.1 billion fashion franchise, and safeguard Arnault’s most treasured fashion property.

Shares in Christian Dior SA, the publicly traded holding company for the Dior fashion house and luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, ended up 0.2 percent in trading Tuesday on the Paris Bourse to close at 104.65 euros, or $144.25, while shares in LVMH rose 0.9 percent to 115.30 euros, or $158.93. “As far as Dior is concerned, I wouldn’t worry too much. It won’t be difficult for them to find new talent — it’s every designer’s dream to create for Dior,” said Luca Solca, a senior analyst with Bernstein Research in Zurich. “And I don’t think Galliano’s comments will damage the brand. It is important for Dior to choose the right creative director — and it will definitely be a breath of fresh air.

This has also been free advertising for the brand.” Widely touted contenders for the Dior couture mantle include Hedi Slimane, who walked away from Dior Homme in 2007; Givenchy’s star couturier, Riccardo Tisci, or red-hot Haider Ackermann. Toledano has been leading an upscaling drive at Dior in recent years, in its products, stores and marketing. The strategy has been gaining traction. Revenues grew 15 percent in 2010 to 826 million euros, or $1.1 billion, while profits vaulted 169.2 percent to 35 million euros, or $46.5 million, as reported. Branding and other experts said Dior is likely to rebound from the crisis, especially at a time when large luxury players have put their brands ahead of their star designers. Sara Rotman, creative director and owner of MODCo Creative, likened Dior without Galliano to Gucci without Tom Ford. She said at first, “I think we all held our breath and thought, Oh my God, how is that going to work?

And there was a season when it was a little bit tentative, and I think that they’ve come back strong.” She characterized Galliano as “one of the few geniuses really left in our field.…But I think that the houses are getting really smart about it and soldiering on. I mean, when we lost McQueen, I thought the same thing — My God how are they going to make it? — but the first collection without him is actually quite strong. So I think the houses have a pretty good sense of who they are, and I think it took an enormous amount of strength of character for [Dior] to ask [John Galliano] to step down.” “As we witnessed with Kate Moss’ past transgressions, brands must quickly remove themselves from the negative publicity,” said Meg Asaro, cultural curator at brand image developer Toniq. “Dior is a strong brand with a long-standing lineage. Therefore, it will easily rise above this speed bump in its path. Look at Martha Stewart, a brand whose identity is that much closer [to the founder] than that of John Galliano and Dior.

Martha Stewart bounced back, and so will Dior — but much quicker.” The John Galliano business, based on a licensing model, has also been on a growth track, but it is more intricately linked to the madcap designer, and is majority controlled by Dior. Immediate fallout included the scuttling of a Galliano fragrance launch event scheduled for Germany next week, according to sources. Public relations experts were divided on whether Galliano could emerge from the crisis to resume what had been a stellar fashion career. “I think Galliano needs to justify what he’s done,” said Max Clifford, a London-based p.r. and damage-control expert. “He needs two or three Jewish friends to come forward and tell the public that he is not remotely anti-Semitic in all the years they have known him. Or he has to say it was meant to be a funny rant, or that he was just trying to annoy to the people sitting next to him.” Asked if a public apology would help, Clifford said not necessarily: “In a perfect p.r. world it would, but then look at Mel Gibson.

He apologized and it did not enhance his career; nor did it destroy it.” Moira Benigson, managing partner at the London-based executive search firm The MBS Group, said an apology should have come sooner. “Had he done so, his experience would have been a walk in the park compared to Tiger Woods, for instance.” As for Galliano’s future, she said: “I don’t know what state of mind he’s in right now, but I am sure that someone will snap him up. This will definitely not cause long-lasting damage. Galliano is so important to the industry, and he has so many friends and supporters who will stand by him.” Ilaria Alber-Glanstaetten, ceo of the London branding consultancy Provenance, said the designer “needs to be extremely repentant, check himself into rehab for addiction and anger management, and lay low for a long time. It’s true that a lot of people do come back from scandals, but there have not been mistakes of this kind before.

Honestly, I don’t know if people can stand by those who make statements of the kind that Galliano made.” Karen Harvey, ceo of Karen Harvey Consulting Group, said Galliano “would need to make major changes on a personal level if he wanted to have a future in the business. I don’t think these things are ever truly forgotten — especially this case.” Biography of John Galliano - BLOUIN ARTINFO, The Premier Global Online Destination for Art and Culture | BLOUIN ARTINFO “Blanche Dubois,” 2008 John Galliano is best known for his ready-to-wear as well as haute-couture collections for the fashion houses of Givenchy and Dior. Despite the financial and personal setbacks, Galliano has managed to rise above them and give the fashion world some famous collections. Early Life John Charles Galliano was born in Gibraltar to Juan Galliano, a plumber and Anita, a flamenco teacher. When Galliano was only six, he moved with his family to England in the pursuit of a better life. The transition was never an easy one since Galliano was raised in a strict Catholic family and his mother always made sure that he was dressed well even for the simplest of errands.

As a shy child, he was often teased by his classmates for his attire. He studied fashion design at the Saint Martin’s School of Art in London and graduated with flying colors. While still in school, he worked at the Britain National Theatre. This probably inspired his graduating collection which was influenced by the French Revolution and named it “Les Incroyables.” This complete collection was bought by Browns, a fashion boutique based in London. This inspired him to start his own label. Career While he had financial backing for establishing his own label and his designs were outlandish yet intricate, he lacked the business acumen that was required to keep the label running. His extravagant lifestyle wreaked havoc on his finances. Initially, he got financial backing from Johan Brun and Katharine Hamnett but that came to an end soon. His ideas and elaborate plans were cut short in 1990 when he went bankrupt. He moved to Paris for work where he came into contact with Faycal Amor, a Paris-based Moroccan designer. This gave Galliano a big break and a chance to show his collection at the Paris Fashion Week.

Before his financial agreement with Amor ended, he designed costumes for her “Let’s Get To It Tour.” Despite the financial instability, he continued with his work and soon came into contact with Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley. They introduced Galliano to the Portuguese fashion patron, Saõ Schlumberger, who was greatly impressed with his work. She introduced him to new financiers and he got the necessary backing that was necessary to give him standing in the Parisian circle. Bernard Arnault, a French business magnate, appointed Galliano as the designer at Givenchy in 1995. He became the first British designer to be at the helm of an haute couture house based in France. His collection for the first couture show consisting of bouffant ball gowns, bowed dresses, and belted suits, was extremely well received. However, his time with the Givenchy fashion house lasted only for two years after which he moved to Dior. Arnault, who owned Givenchy as well as Dior, replaced Gianfranco Ferré, the Italian designer, with Galliano as the designer in chief at Dior with the hopes that his designs would attract a younger clientele.

He did infuse the collection with a fresh vigor and received appreciation for the Haute Couture and ready-to-wear collections. He did admit that these ensembles were much closer to his taste than were the conservative collections of Givenchy. This was a time when he enjoyed unparalleled position among his British peers. Style His designs are often fanciful and eccentric in nature. He has been associated with some of the most bold. Often inspired by classical movies and historical elements, he has created some of the most famous collections such as “Blanche Dubois,” “Princess Lucretia” and “Napoleon and Josephine.” His own style is quirky and over-the-top dramatic inspired by authoritative individuals like Napoleon Bonaparte. His contribution to fashion has not been unnoticed and among others, he is the recipient of “French Legion of Honour,” the highest French honor. Controversy Galliano’s career took a sharp downfall when he was arrested after making anti-Jewish remarks at a café in Paris. While he denied the allegations, “The Sun” posted a video where a drunken Galliano insulted a group of Italian women. These anti-Semitic remarks not only got him fired from the fashion house but he also faced trial where he was ultimately found guilty.

The honor given to him by France was also revoked and this episode garnered a lot of negative publicity. He did make a comeback for the 2013 New York Fashion Week after he accepted an invitation given to him by Oscar de la Renta. While he remained backstage, his collection was much appreciated.

1984 - Saint Martin's School of Art, from which he graduated 1987 - Awarded British Designer of the Year 1989 - First show at Paris Fashion Week 1994 - British Designer of the Year 1995 - British Designer of the Year 1997 - British Designer of the Year 2001 - Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2009 - French Legion of Honour 2012 - French Legion of Honour revoked “John Galliano” by Colin McDowell “Galliano: Fashion’s Enfant Terrible” by David Foy “Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano” by Dana Thomas The Met Presents Wardrobe of French Aristocratic Style Icon Jacqueline de Ribes By Michelle Tay | November 15, 2015 Photographed by Richard Avedon and written about by Truman Capote, both of whom waxed lyrical about her swanlike qualities, Countess Jacqueline de Ribes first landed on the International Best...

Alber Elbaz Falls Out with Lanvin Owner, Resulting in Shocking Departure By Michelle Tay | October 28, 2015 On October 22, news that Raf Simons was stepping down as creative director of Christian Dior shook the fashion world. Today, the second departure in a week — that of Alber Elbaz from Lanvin after... Viva Vintage: The Thrill of Collecting Haute Couture By Michelle Tay | June 2, 2015 Digging into the past is a perennial theme in fashion. To know the future, contemporary fashion designers often delve into the archives to understand how the codes of the house were formed by the... John Galliano Named Creative Director at Maison Martin Margiela By Michelle Tay | October 6, 2014 John Galliano is back. The Gibraltar-born, Paris-based designer was confirmed Monday as the new creative director of Maison Martin Margiela.“Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative...

Givenchy on Givenchy at Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza By Michelle Tay | September 16, 2014 Famous for having designed much of the personal and professional wardrobe of Audrey Hepburn — including of course the iconic little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s — Hubert de Givenchy has... John Galliano May Design Ladies' Costumes for Stephen Fry By Nicholas Remsen | July 15, 2013 As we suggested in our response to Ingrid Sischy's John Galliano article last month, John Galliano could very well be on his way to a self-realized comeback. The troubled designer is reportedly... Dior Fires John Galliano After Bigotry Complaints - The New York Times The New York Times Fashion & Style |Dior Fires John Galliano After Bigotry Complaints Search Continue reading the main story Photo The British fashion designer John Galliano in Paris in July 2010 at the end of the presentation of his Fall-Winter 2010-2011Haute Couture collection for Christian Dior.

Credit Remy De La Mauviniere/Associated Press PARIS — The French fashion house Christian Dior said Tuesday that it would dismiss its chief designer, John Galliano, after the surfacing of a video that showed his anti-Semitic outbursts at a Paris bar. In a brief statement, Sidney Toledano, Dior Couture’s chief executive, said he condemned ‘‘in the strongest terms’’ Mr. Galliano’s words, ‘‘which are in total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the Christian Dior house.’’ Dior, however, was still planning to go ahead with its autumn/winter 2011 ready-to-wear show on Friday as part of Paris fashion week. A spokeswoman for a separate label, John Galliano, said its women’s wear show would also go ahead as scheduled Sunday. Known as the ‘‘bad boy’’ of the fashion world for his flamboyant and provocative style, Mr.

Galliano helped to energize Dior after he joined it in 1996 as creative director, increasing sales and making it a jewel of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury-goods empire run by the French billionaire Bernard Arnault. LVMH also owns the John Galliano line. Olivier Labesse, a spokesman for LVMH, did not return calls seeking comment on the designer’s role there. The departure of one of its most important designers has left the fashion world buzzing with questions. Dior, which was founded in 1945, is one of the few labels still specializing in haute couture. Advertisement Continue reading the main story In its statement, Dior said it had ‘‘immediately suspended relations’’ with Mr. Galliano and ‘‘initiated dismissal procedures.’’ It cited the ‘‘particularly odious comments’’ contained in the video posted Monday. The video was posted on the Web site of the British tabloid newspaper The Sun. It appeared to show Mr.

Galliano taunting patrons at a Paris bar, declaring in a slurred voice that ‘‘I love Hitler’’ and that ‘‘people like you would be dead,’’ and ‘‘your mothers, your forefathers’’ would all be ‘‘gassed.’’ It was unclear when the video was recorded or who recorded it. Then, late Monday, the actress Natalie Portman strongly condemned Mr. Galliano, saying in a statement that she was ‘‘deeply shocked and disgusted by the video.’’ She added, ‘‘as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.’’ Ms. Portman recently signed an endorsement deal with Dior for its Miss Dior Chérie perfume. There had been speculation that she would choose a Galliano design for the Academy Awards ceremony Sunday. Instead, Ms. Portman wore a gown from the fashion house Rodarte. It was not yet known whether her contract with Dior would be affected or how far any intervention by Ms. Portman might have forced the hand of LVMH.

Before the video was released, Mr Galliano had already been questioned by the police, last Thursday, after an incident at the bar, La Perle, in the trendy Marais district of Paris. He has been accused by two other clients — Geraldine Bloch, 35, and Philippe Virgitti, 41 — of making an anti-Semitic slur. French law makes it a crime to incite racial hatred; the statute has been used in the past to punish anti-Semitic remarks. The French advocacy group SOS Racisme said that it would support legal proceedings if the accusations were confirmed. ‘‘Mr. Galliano has added to the ignominy of his words with the cowardice of a denial,’’ it said in a statement. Mr. Galliano’s lawyer, Stéphane Zerbib, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. He has denied that Mr. Galliano made any anti-Semitic comments in the incident last week and has submitted testimonials of support from employees and witnesses at the bar as part of defamation complaints filed against Ms. Bloch and Mr. Virgitti. Mr Galliano and his partner, Alexis Roche, could not be reached for comment.

A police spokeswoman also declined to comment Tuesday, except to say that witnesses, including Mr. Galliano, had been questioned Monday in a police station in the third arrondissement of Paris, where the bar is located, and subsequently released. She referred all questions to the Paris prosecutor, who did not return calls seeking comment. According to French media reports, the police questioned the owner of La Perle, the bar’s security staff and other clients. Photo The fashion designer John Galliano, right, arrived with his lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, at a police station in Paris on Monday to face accusations that he made illegal anti-Semitic slurs. Credit Michel Euler/Associated Press One person who witnessed last week’s incident at the bar — Lyes Meftahi, 38, a Parisian, who runs an audiovisual company — said that Mr Galliano was certainly drunk, speaking slowly and slurring his words. But he said that the designer was keeping to himself and was ‘‘provoked’’ by a woman, who had called Mr. Galliano ‘‘ugly.’’ Mr. Meftahi heard no anti-Semitic slurs and said that Mr. Galliano himself was threatened with violence at one stage during the altercation.

Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Meftahi said Mr. Galliano was a frequent visitor to the bar, which is near where he lives. He used to turn up in his sport utility vehicle and was accompanied by his driver, who kept a watchful eye over his client. The bar is often frequented by stars, who seem to like the fact that they can drink there discreetly. Mr. Galliano was suspended by Dior on Friday. The fashion house cited its ‘‘unequivocal zero-tolerance policy regarding anti-Semitism and racism.’’ There was a sense of shock inside LVMH at the extent of Mr. Galliano’s personal problems. The Dior chief, Mr. Toledano, is himself Jewish. The company had initially planned to keep the designer suspended pending an inquiry, but moved to act swiftly after diffusion of the video. Dior was not yet commenting on succession issues. Regardless of any legal action, Mr. Galliano will struggle to bounce back strongly in the fickle and high-octane world of fashion, in which there is no shortage of talented individuals who have been left by the wayside.

‘‘The trouble with fashion is that it’s a hard job and in the end it makes you crazy,’’ said Donald Potard, who runs the fashion consulting firm Agent de Luxe and is a former chief executive of the label Jean Paul Gaultier. ‘‘There’s so much pressure to create and create all the time. You must be strong or this job will destroy you.’’ ‘‘John’s now going to have to cross the desert, and when he returns, he might find that he has few friends,’’ he added. ‘‘It’s a cold, cruel world.’’ Several people who have interacted with the designer recently said that his behavior had become erratic and that he had been drinking heavily. Before that, Mr. Galliano’s long-term collaborator and confidant Steven Robinson had died at age 38 in Paris in 2007 after a heart attack. Advertisement Continue reading the main story ‘‘It’s a violent end to the story,’’ said Gaspard Yurkievich, a Paris-based designer.

‘‘It’s very sad — a human tragedy — it’s ghastly!’’ Observers said that LVMH might have felt compelled to act after a racist outburst on French television last year from Jean-Paul Guerlain, a descendant of the founder of the eponymous perfume house, owned by LVMH. Mr. Guerlain was a famous ‘‘nose’’ and had retired from the company some years earlier but remained a consultant. Some days after the outburst LVMH released a statement condemning ‘‘all forms of racism.’’ It was perceived by many in the industry to have reacted too slowly. Back in 2009 the outlook for many fashion houses looked weak. Indeed, two fashion firms — Christian Lacroix of Paris, which had been to be part of LVMH, and Escada of Germany — had filed for bankruptcy. But now LVMH appears to be in good health after successfully navigating the financial crisis and benefiting from demand from the newly affluent, especially in Asia.

The company, which also owns brands like Dom Pérignon Champagne, Hublot watches and Louis Vuitton, said this month that sales in 2010 rose 19 percent to €20.3 billion, or $28 billion. Net income surged 73 percent to €3 billion and the group increased its dividend. Mr. Arnault has also taken a 20 percent stake last year in the rival French fashion house Hermès International, which has led to even greater fears of dominance by the group over the fashion industry. Laurent Laughlin contributed reporting from Paris. A version of this article appears in print on March 2, 2011, in The International Herald Tribune. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe

Question: In what field is John Galliano famous?
Answer: Fashion