FASHION Magazine

Alexis Roche, Galliano‘s partner of many years, has reportedly not been seen in the Dior offices for nearly two weeks — around the same time that Galliano was initially suspended from his post.

Check out our Paris fall 2011 fashion week photo gallery »

As is the case with virtually any news story these days, the developments in the John Galliano story⎯the designer being accused of hurling anti-Semitic insults at an (incidentally non-Jewish) couple while drinking at the Paris café, Le Perle⎯can be measured in tweets, quotes and snippets. Given the proliferated speed at which these bits are published and publicized, it’s amazing to witness how quickly the industry’s reaction has gone from appalled to forgiving to looking forward to the designer’s imminent replacement at Dior. Given the industry’s propensity for forgetfulness⎯history has made fools of those who once condemned Coco Chanel for her involvement with the Nazis or Kate Moss for being caught with cocaine⎯we have no doubt that Galliano will be back at the top in no time. All references to the frankly horrifying severity of his remarks will vanish and whereas Chanel’s and Moss’s actions took years to do the same, Galliano’s have almost done so in a matter of 14 days. Meanwhile, as rumours swirl for a possible replacement by Riccardo Tisci, Alber Elbaz and Marc Jacobs, we take a look back at the quickest judgment turnarounds in fashion history.

There are many reasons why it is so much more enriching to be here in Paris seeing the fall 2011 collections firsthand, rather than simply viewing them on the web. Being alongside buyers and press from around the world puts everything in context.

It is always about five days into a fashion week that the trends become crystal clear. And lo and behold, there I was this morning at Akris, the 5^th day of the Paris fall 2011 shows and here is what was scribbled in my notebook:

Bravo to the house of Christian Dior for handling the Galliano debacle with tact and elegance. In a tent at the Musee Rodin, Sidney Toledano, Dior CEO, addressed the crowd, reminding them of the history of the house. He pointed out the legacy of founder, Christian Dior, who loved both women and feminine beauty. He also called to mind the house’s strongly held values of craftsmanship and technique.

If optimists were still holding out for evidence to the contrary, The Sun has obtained a video that shows John Galliano uttering Anti-Semitic slurs, similar to those he was arrested for saying last Friday. Galliano was interrogated by police earlier today about the last week’s incident. Arriving at the police station, the designer was mobbed by the paparazzi, as captured by The Telegraph in this video.

Meanwhile, with Paris fashion week beginning on Tuesday and the Dior show still on the schedule, the fashion world holds its breath for the official news from the house. Its hard to imagine how a house that is legendary for spinning such magic with silk and tulle can spin its way out of this one without severing all ties to the designer.

Designer John Galliano is awaiting investigation into his alleged comments. The Dior fashion house has apparently suspended him just a week before the fall ready-to-wear show. [The New York Times]

Could we love her more if we tried? Watch Natalie Portman flit around in a very Parisian Sofia Coppola short for Dior: [Bella Sugar]

The Material Girl has landed: Madonna and her daughter Lourdes’s juniors fashion line, Material Girl, will be arriving at The Bay this spring. [The Star]

Canadian designer Thomas Tait is one of the recipients of the British Fashion Council’s NewGen program, which will help him show at London Fashion Week. Other winners include Mary Katrantzou, Holly Fulton and Louise Gray [Vogue UK]

January Jones bares all in Versace‘s spring 2011 ad campaign. The Mad Men actress appears in the ad–which was shot by Mario Testino–wearing nothing more than Versace heels, a handbag and her birthday suit. [Fashionista]

View a gallery of perfect presents for the beauty lover»

They say you can’t buy style, but with the right connections to Christie’s auction house you never know. The wardrobe of the late fashion icon Isabella Blow will be auctioned off this September. Up for grabs are over 90 Alexander McQueen pieces, hats by Philip Treacy and Manolo Blahnik shoes. [Racked]

Those who always secretly rooted for the Snow White‘s evil Queen, Cinderella‘s jealous stepmother or the Little Mermaid‘s squid lady will be enlightened to know that MAC Cosmetics is teaming up with Disney to launch a colour collection inspired by the bad guys. Venomous Villains launches this September. [WWD via Fashionista]