John Galliano

For lovers of late-1990s and Y2K fashion, it's one of the most iconic pieces you can own. The Saddle bag was Galliano's creation, debuting in Dior's Spring/Summer 2000 collection and becoming one of the most popular handbags of its era. Whether it's worth it to you depends on how much that nostalgia and design legacy resonate, since it remains a defining "it bag" of its moment.

The Dior Saddle bag is the standout. Introduced during his tenure at Christian Dior in the Spring/Summer 2000 collection, it became a signature accessory of the period. He also designed the chartreuse Chinoiserie gown Nicole Kidman wore to the 1997 Academy Awards, another widely remembered moment from his Dior years.

He's a British fashion designer, born in Gibraltar in 1960 and raised in South London. He has led his own eponymous label as well as the French houses Givenchy and Dior, and from 2014 to 2024 was creative director of Maison Margiela. He has been named British Designer of the Year four times.

His Central Saint Martins graduation collection, Les Incroyables, inspired by the French Revolution. He graduated in 1984 with first-class honours, the collection drew strong reviews, and the London boutique Browns bought it in its entirety for resale, which set him on his way.

In December 2010 he made antisemitic remarks to people in a Paris bar, which were caught on camera; the video resurfaced in February 2011 and Dior dismissed him. He was later convicted of public insults based on race or ethnicity and given a suspended fine of €6,000. It is one of the most documented episodes of his career, handled here only as a matter of record.

After a period out of the industry, he made a temporary residency at Oscar de la Renta's studio in early 2013, then in October 2014 was named creative director of Maison Margiela by the OTB Group. He led that house until December 2024, and in March 2026 announced a two-year creative partnership with Zara.

Yes. In July 1995 Bernard Arnault of LVMH appointed him head designer of Givenchy, making him the first British designer to lead a French haute couture house. He presented his first couture show there in January 1996 before LVMH moved him to Christian Dior later that year.

Ten years, from October 2014 to December 2024. He showed his first couture collection for the house during London Collections: Men in January 2015 and, in September 2018, unveiled Mutiny, his first perfume for Margiela. His decade there marked his full return to a leading role in luxury fashion.

Four times, in 1987, 1994, 1995 and 1997. In 1997 he shared the award with Alexander McQueen, who had succeeded him at Givenchy. A 2004 BBC poll also named him the fifth most influential person in British culture, a measure of his standing at his peak.

Theatrical and romantic. He has described his role as being "to seduce," and cited his love of theatre and femininity as central to his work, with influences ranging from heiress Millicent Rogers to historical references like the French Revolution. Expect drama and storytelling rather than restraint.

His Dior-era accessories in particular circulate widely on the vintage and resale market, where the Saddle bag and related designs are sought after. Stick to reputable vintage dealers and authenticate carefully, since the most desirable Galliano-for-Dior pieces are exactly the kind of items that attract fakes.

He stopped. He told French Elle in 2018 that he would no longer use fur, citing a meeting with Penélope Cruz and PETA's Dan Mathews as his inspiration. So his later work, including his years at Maison Margiela, moved away from fur.