John Galliano is returning to the fashion world as a designer at Oscar de la Renta.
Galliano, who famously got the axe from Dior in 2011 after a boozy anti-Semitic rant, told WWD he is “grateful to Oscar beyond words” for the three-week stint, which could extend past fashion week. Anna Wintour, a close personal friend of both designers, reportedly set up the gig.
“I am an alcoholic,” Galliano admitted. “I have been in recovery for the past two years … I remain committed to making amends to those I have hurt.”
He continued, “Several years prior to my sobriety, I descended into the madness of the disease. I said and did things which hurt others, especially members of the Jewish community. I have expressed my sorrow privately and publicly for the pain which I caused and continue to do so.”
De la Renta, meanwhile, is happy to take a chance on a great talent – though the rumored prodding of his personal friend Anna Wintour probably didn’t hurt. Page Six’s Stephanie Smith reported in August’s Threads in Alexa that Galliano took meetings with Wintour and could land at de La Renta.
“John and I have known each other for many years and I am a great admirer of his talent,” de la Renta said. “He has worked long and hard on his recovery 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.”
Indeed, Galliano was at the top of the fashion world before his spectacular fall from grace in 2011 at Paris’ La Perle Café, where he told a non-Jewish woman, “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be f*****g gassed.”
He was subsequently stripped of his Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and ordered to pay 6,000 euros in fines.