Who is John Galliano? Called “one of the greatest design talents of contemporary fashion” by famous fashion critic Eric Wilson, his extraordinary talent made him a visionary and key player in the high fashion world. As the head designer of world-renowned French fashion house Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011, he had everything going from him. Yet his exit from the fashion world was a controversial and embarrassing one. His fall from grace was in 2011, when Galliano was arrested and dismissed from Dior after an anti-Semitic tirade in a Paris cafe and a resulting video. Statements like “I love Hitler,” and “Your mother, your forefathers would all be…gassed.” His shocking statements made him a hated figure by the Jewish world and one whose name joined the ranks of other anti-Semitic celebrities like Mel Gibson.
Yet the fashion world is allowing Mr. Galliano to make a comeback. This past fashion week rumors that he had collaborated with renowned designer Oscar de la Renta were proven true at the well-received show. Gorgeous gowns in bright pinks and purples came down the runway with distinct elements of Galliano’s style weaving and combining with de la Renta’s. It was confirmed that Galliano had been quietly working alongside the designer in his studio, but made no comments and stayed low after the show.
Many were interested in this surprise involvement of design from Galliano and speculated as to whether this would be his return to the fashion world. His involvement sparked definite outrage among Jewish customers and retailors, but others from the Jewish communities have begun to accept his apologies, including Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League. According to the New York Times, the head of American Vogue (Anna Wintour) and of Conde Nast International (Jonathon Newhouse) approached Jewish leaders on Galliano’s behalf and a comeback seemed imminent.
This speculation was proven correct when Lucky Magazine reported that he would be teaching for Parson’s the New School for Design. Allegedly he will be teaching a masters class there and Parson’s confirmed as such stating that “We believe that over the past two years Galliano has demonstrated a serious intent to make amends for his past actions.” Yet Galliano was recently seen wearing an outfit that looked suspiciously like Hassidic garb that made it onto the front page of the New York Post on April 13 with the caption, “SCHMUCK.” His publicist declared that this outfit was not intended to be offensive or “mocking” at all, but instead was simply a fashionable outfit. In truth this does reflect Galliano’s usual personal style aesthetic, but one would think a disgraced designer making a comeback would try for a bit more sensitive. Is Galliano a “schmuck?” Does he deserve the comeback he is so desperately trying to make? That is for you to decide and for us to find out. 
