The toast of discerning sites like Style.com and all things Vogue and WWD just went from being dubbed "provocative and brilliant" to. . . plain burnt toast in my eyes. The stench nauseates.
As the Founder and CEO of JBCStyle, the leading fashion and retail recruitment agency with offices flanking both coasts, there is virtually no aspect of fashion I do not touch. I love what I do. I respect the people who work with me. And above all, I pride myself in being fair-minded and open to the opinions of others. I was shocked by John Galliano's display of anti-semitism, but I make a practice - not only in the JBCStyle office, but also at home with my family - of being level-headed and not jumping to conclusions. I could sympathize briefly as industry heavy hitters fumbled and tried to make excuses for such behavior. I waited for a retraction, or an admission, or even the slightest display of remorse on the designer's part for a gross misunderstanding. And waited.
Galliano's recent overtures are too late.
If he was joking, or being merely "provocative" in The Sun's exclusive video, it's a humor and a provocation I neither care to understand, nor have patience to decipher. By comparison, Natalie Portman's immediate and public reaction was a beacon. Grey is lovely on a cashmere sweater, or a pair of slacks; not on morality.
I find fence-sitters unstylish.
The silence that has followed the initial bigotry, in my mind, is far more disgusting. If it were a gross joke, or a terrible misunderstanding, retraction is inexcusably overdue. The lawyers, the pleas, the general gravitas that now follow on the heels of a firing ring insincere. JBCStyle applauds the House of Dior, and at the end of the day we at JBCStyle believe the fashion community is only strengthened when a man so admired is so quickly dethroned as a result of bigotry; it's a testament to the times and to our increasing intolerance of hate, no matter what shape or form it manifests. Galliano's legacy is stained; the blame rests solely with him. We have come too far to permit the lauding of one of the darkest chapters in history. My faith continues to burn bright and I look forward with unmitigated optimism.
Do this as a video and then post for maximum impact.
ReplyDeleteJill C. Levner
Just a non-PC comment:
ReplyDeleteGalliano is a talent. But frankly, he has got to get off the drugs and come down to earth. Of course, his legacy is stained.
Galliano does his outrageous shows & I always wonder how much money the company is losing. Look at the last one we lost.
Who is the man, John Galliano, no, I mean, really...? Does anyone care anymore? How long does a createur go on being someone seperate from his gift....? It's all about the shows, the shows. So anything he does, or says, is excusable to most of the world. I don't think so.
Even talent can't get away with everything. I am sick of PC. We see it in this Whitehouse & Cabinet right now...and it will kill us.
Galliano looks more gaunt and drugged out than ever. Maybe he has had it...Maybe he is cracking. Frankly, Dior doesn't need an advertising arm like a Galiano to sell the product. Are we over the over-hype?