Everyone should have a second chance': Oscar de la Renta on why he invited John Galliano to work in his studio before New York Fashion Week
Oscar de la Renta has spoken about why
he decided to invite John Galliano to work with him in the run-up to
New York Fashion Week.
In an interview to mark the 50th anniversary of his moving to New York to make it as a fashion designer, Mr de la Renta, 80, insists that Mr Galliano is one of the most talented men he has ever met.
'I like him very much,' he told New York Magazine of the former Dior designer, who was fired in 2011 after making anti-Semitic comments to patrons in a Paris bar. 'The years I was doing Balmain in Paris, I went many times with Anna [Wintour] to his shows.'
He reveals that it was Ms Wintour
herself who suggested that they work together - and that the U.S. Vogue
editor-in-chief is very different in person from her reputation.
'It is so strange to me what people who don’t know Anna think of her,' he said. 'She is so wrongly guessed. She is the most wonderful person, so smart, and so funny, and an unbelievably loyal friend.
'So when Anna asked me if I would have John in
my studio, I said yes. I also believe that everyone should have a
second chance, especially someone as talented as John. And he has worked
so hard on his recovery.'
The designer could not shed any light on whether Mr Galliano's position in the studio would extend beyond New York Fashion Week.
'I would love for him to stay. Will he? I cannot tell you that today. Because we haven’t gone that far in really discussing it,' he said.
There is certainly no lack of enthusiasm from Mr Galliano, who told the magazine, 'I love it here'.
And indeed, Mr de la Renta acknowledges that while they are both very different, they both love what they do and are learning from each other.
The interview also saw the designer discuss a number of controversies that saw him make headlines over the past couple of years.
He admitted that he 'really feels bad about' his criticism of Michelle Obama for wearing a cardigan to Buckingham Palace and would still like to dress her - but stands by the opinion that the First Lady should have worn a young American designer, rather than Alexander McQueen, to a 2011 state dinner to promote American-Chinese trade.
'Unfortunately, I talk too much. Always. I never try to b******t people,' he said. 'I remember I went on and on praising Mrs Obama, but then I didn’t want to sound like a bag of saccharine.'
Most
recently, Mr de la Renta sparked an industry debate when he hit back at
New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn for branding him a 'hot dog'.
He responded by buying a full-page ad in WWD where he printed an open
letter calling her 'a three-day-old hamburger'.
He admits he 'had a ball writing that letter' and had nothing but praise for Ms Horyn who he has since invited to lunch.
'I think that Cathy is one of the best fashion writers there’s ever been, but I don’t think we see fashion the same way. Our jobs are very different,' he said.
In an interview to mark the 50th anniversary of his moving to New York to make it as a fashion designer, Mr de la Renta, 80, insists that Mr Galliano is one of the most talented men he has ever met.
'I like him very much,' he told New York Magazine of the former Dior designer, who was fired in 2011 after making anti-Semitic comments to patrons in a Paris bar. 'The years I was doing Balmain in Paris, I went many times with Anna [Wintour] to his shows.'
Studio-mates: Oscar de la Renta (left) invited
John Galliano (right) to work with him in the run-up to New York Fashion
Week because 'everyone deserves a second chance'
'It is so strange to me what people who don’t know Anna think of her,' he said. 'She is so wrongly guessed. She is the most wonderful person, so smart, and so funny, and an unbelievably loyal friend.
Smart, funny and loyal: Mr de la Renta says Anna Wintour is nothing like her Devil Wears Prada reputation
The designer could not shed any light on whether Mr Galliano's position in the studio would extend beyond New York Fashion Week.
'I would love for him to stay. Will he? I cannot tell you that today. Because we haven’t gone that far in really discussing it,' he said.
There is certainly no lack of enthusiasm from Mr Galliano, who told the magazine, 'I love it here'.
And indeed, Mr de la Renta acknowledges that while they are both very different, they both love what they do and are learning from each other.
The interview also saw the designer discuss a number of controversies that saw him make headlines over the past couple of years.
He admitted that he 'really feels bad about' his criticism of Michelle Obama for wearing a cardigan to Buckingham Palace and would still like to dress her - but stands by the opinion that the First Lady should have worn a young American designer, rather than Alexander McQueen, to a 2011 state dinner to promote American-Chinese trade.
'Unfortunately, I talk too much. Always. I never try to b******t people,' he said. 'I remember I went on and on praising Mrs Obama, but then I didn’t want to sound like a bag of saccharine.'
A-list favorite: Minka Kelly in Oscar de la
Renta last week (left) and Emma Watson in one of the designer's
creations at a Harry Potter premiere in 2011 (right)
He admits he 'had a ball writing that letter' and had nothing but praise for Ms Horyn who he has since invited to lunch.
'I think that Cathy is one of the best fashion writers there’s ever been, but I don’t think we see fashion the same way. Our jobs are very different,' he said.
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