John Galliano

>> Not a day after the Financial Times's Vanessa Friedman predicted a return by John Galliano to the fashion industry — "People love a redemption story," she noted — Cathy Horyn reports that LVMH is considering re-hiring the designer:

"On Thursday, I ran into a number of executives who work with LVMH, and they would speak only on the condition of anonymity because of their close dealings. One individual said there had been casual discussions among LVMH executives about the feasibility of Mr. Galliano returning to his own label. Would the media and the public accept his return? This individual said he thought so. Another executive with whom I spoke had the same view. He cited the appeal of Mr. Galliano’s ultrafeminine fashion and added that in recent years the designer had lost touch with that sensibility (and indeed reality). 'It became a kind of Lady Gaga show, and he’s more talented than this,' the executive said."

Horyn, too, wants to see "what in time will be the rehabilitation of Mr. Galliano’s career. I hope he continues to get treatment. He should have a second chance."

>> After an almost 7 hour trial, there will be no verdict for John Galliano today — instead, the decision will come on Sept. 8. If convicted, Galliano faces up to a six-month jail term and a fine of 22,500 euros ($32,410).

Plaintiff Geraldine Bloch is seeking just one euro in compensation on moral grounds. "What we are after is an expression of regret and excuses for what has happened," her lawyer said on the courthouse steps before entering for the trial. Her fellow plaintiff and boyfriend, Philippe Virgitti, is pursuing compensation of 220,000 euros ($316,272) on the basis of "moral damage." His lawyer said, pre-trial: "Unfortunately Mr. Galliano doesn't seem to have a code of honor, so my client feels the only way to reach him is through his wallet."

The prosecutor ultimately recommended a guilty sentence and a fine of up to 5,000 euros ($7,188) for both the Feb. 24 and Oct. 8 incidents at today's trial.

>> Kate Moss apparently told a group at a Topshop dinner during London Fashion Week in February that John Galliano was designing her wedding dress, and though her fiance Jamie Hince denied the reports, the rumor is still persisting.

Late last month, the Daily Mail reported that Moss had enlisted the help of Galliano’s boyfriend, Alexis Roche, to oversee every last detail of the wedding dress while Galliano prepared for his trial today. "Kate knows that John is deeply sorry for what happened and has always been a loyal friend," a source supposedly said.

And now, rumors have surfaced that Galliano — who told the court today that since the Feb. 24 incident that caused him to get fired at Dior, he has been at rehab in Arizona for two months, and then in Switzerland for two months — has been ensconced at the atelier of a leading fashion designer in New York, working on Kate Moss' wedding dress.

If true, will so public an embrace by Moss signal the beginning of Galliano's return to fashion? The Financial Times's Vanessa Friedman suggests that although Galliano's career is over in its present form, she could see him returning to the industry in time: "People love a redemption story."

>> This afternoon in Paris, John Galliano arrived at a Palais de Justice courtroom for what is expected to be a one-day trial to determine whether he made anti-Semitic remarks to three separate people. He appeared in dressed-down garb compared to his usual: a black three-piece suit, black brogues, and a black-and-white polka-dotted neckerchief, and removed his fedora upon entering the courtroom, which, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter in attendance, is "hotter than a Jardin des Tuileries fashion show inside."

After the judge read Galliano's alleged anti-Semitic comments (to suppressed giggles in the courtroom), Galliano was questioned. Snippets from the conversation, below.

Judge: Do you remember what happened that night 24 February?

John Galliano: I don’t remember very well. I can’t remember very well, I have a memory of a very violent man. I have no recollection [of words used on night].

J: Does he remember who started to be aggressive and utter insult?

JG: I don’t remember. I don’t remember any insults and how the situation degenerated. I don't remember it lasted 45 minutes.

PJ: Do you remember the driver intervened when the chair was grabbed?

JG: I remember that and the arrival of the police.

PJ: How do you explain that this incident lasted for so long?

JG: I don’t know.

PJ: How do you explain the fact that you don’t remember anything about that incident.

JG: I have a triple addiction. I followed a rehab programme, spent two months in Arizona, I am still being treated and spent two months in Switzerland.

Further quotes from Galliano during the conversation:

JG: I'm a recovering alcoholic, I'm a recovering addict.

JG: I mixed alcohol, barbituates, sleeping pills and alcohol.

JG: I was in denial.

JG: I was taking sleeping pills during the day. I've only just discovered since rehab what a lethal mix I was taking.

Galliano says he started to drink because Dior was doing well: "After every creative high, I would crash and the alcohol helped me."

JG: At the time of the financial crash [in 2008], I have two children. One was Dior, the other was Galliano. Dior is a big machine and I didn’t want to lose Galliano [his eponymous label]. At this point in order for that house of Galiano to survive, I met many businessmen and signed many licenses. So the collections to increase men’s wear, women's, children, shoes boys and girls, perfume projects, jewelry, fine jewelry. Beachwear, underwear, boy's and girl's clothes. The workload increased very fast.

Galliano added that he lost his friend Steven Robinson [his right hand man and longtime collaborator, who died in 2007]: "Steven protected me from everything so I could concentrate on being creative. With his death, I found I had no protection."

He says that he began drinking regularly in 2007.

Galliano noted his father's death also affected him. "I really did not take the time to mourn." He turned to sleeping pills.

JG: I'm still in recovery but feeling much better.

Galliano then took his seat.

UPDATE: Later, after the infamous Galliano video is shown, Galliano is called back to the stand.

JG says the words in the video are not views he holds: "I see someone who needs help. It's the shell of John Galliano. I see a man who has been pushed to the edge ... someone that needs help, who's vulnerable. These are not the sentiments of John Galliano."

JG: I have all my life fought against prejudice, having been subjected to it myself. We moved to south London when I was 6 years old and aware that I was gay. I was sent to a difficult English boys school and you can imagine that children can be cruel.

JG: I never held those views — the things I'm being accused of today.

JG: I cannot acknowledge for this man I do not know. The man you see up there [in the video] is not John Galliano.

JG: I've no recollection of the events. I read about them afterward ... all you need is look at my work and see these are views I never held.

JG: I apologize for the sadness this whole affair has caused.

Galliano is seated again.

UPDATE #2: Galliano called to the stand once more.

Galliano says he has no current occupation. And he is in "day care" for his addictions.

When the judge asks for his last thoughts, Galliano says if we look at his work can see he embraces every creed and celebrates cultural diversity.

JG: I'm passionate and I travel the world, not just as tourist but to understand cultures . . . I've lived with Masai tribe.

He thanks the court, and the judges are recessing for 15 minutes.

UPDATE #3: Galliano's verdict has been set for Sept. 8, after a nearly 7-hour trial.

>> John Galliano is expected to make an appearance at his day-long trial tomorrow, and today his lawyer, Aurelien Hamelle, shed light on how he plans to argue the case. He attributed the designer's outburst shown in the now-infamous video to Galliano's longstanding drug and alcohol addictions: “Some things may have come out of his mouth that didn’t come from his brain." Hamelle noted that Galliano has nearly suffered from addictions to sleeping pills, Valium, and alcohol for nearly two years, and has since sought two months of treatment The Meadows rehab center in Arizona. [NY Times]

>> John Galliano, who has been in rehab since early March, "is still in rehab," a source close to the designer confirms to Vogue UK. "The treatment will be long and arduous — and ongoing for a long time in the future — but he is humble, apologetic and hopeful that he can recover."

But: Galliano will still appear at his trial on Wednesday, as was expected, his lawyer Aurelien Hamelle confirms. Hamelle also notes that Galliano has "been doing nothing. He's treating his addiction to alcohol and medication. He will think about his professional future" after the trial.

The Wednesday hearing is expected to span four or five hours, with five people set to testify, including two girls who were sitting next to Galliano during the Feb. 24 altercation who did not hear him say anything anti-Semitic, and two friends of the woman who Galliano allegedly insulted last year, who are expected to confirm her version of the events.

As for Galliano himself, Hamelle says he "does not remember because he was in an altered state. ... This video, where he even looks a little strange to himself, gave him a shock." Hamelle added that the alleged insults "do not reflect what [Galliano] thinks. He's not anti-Semitic or racist."

• John Galliano will attend his trial this week in Paris — Vogue UK
• Get easy Summer style: a faded denim vest — StyleList
• The secret sustainable jewelry line that's actually cool — Refinery29
• Cathy Horyn didn't like Lady Gag's new video outfit either — The Cut
• Summer statement shoes under $100 — InStyle
• Four reasons not to be scared of Summer boots — Lucky
• Yves Saint Laurent's 2012 Resort bags are fun on the high seas — Purse Blog
• When in Rome (and everywhere else): Vogue's 20 favorite shops in 20 cities — Vogue Daily
• Karlie Kloss makes Victoria's Secret Pink prettier — Modelinia

• Princess Beatrice's royal wedding hat is going up for auction — InStyle
• John Galliano's trial date set for June 22 — The Cut
• Get ready to show some leg in these adorable Summer skirts — Lucky
• Brittany Snow does tribal with a twist — Teen Vogue
• Iris Apfel to launch a jewelry line with HSN — Racked
• Kate Moss is the subject of a new Paris photo exhibit — Vogue UK
• Nicole Richie's Met Gala gown goes to auction for a good cause — Refinery29
• The best baby gifts for stylish new moms — Vogue Daily
• Do you love or loathe the Ralph Lauren Collection hobo bags? — Purse Blog