John Galliano Makes His Public Return

John Galliano made his re-entry into fashion last night with a speech at the British Fashion Awards. The designer lauded the "loyal friends" who had supported him through his "highs and lows", without whom, he said, he wouldn't be standing before the industry "healthy and happy again".

Galliano returned to London - the city that considers him its own despite the fact that he was born in Gibraltar, because it is the place where he studied, built his brand and eventually found fame, before being taken to Paris to helm Givenchy and then Dior - to present the night's Outstanding Achievement award to American Vogueeditor Anna Wintour. Speaking slowly and carefully but smiling often, Galliano recounted a trip to the Met Ball with Wintour, for which he was so scared to be late that he tucked the sari he had planned to wear into his "knickers" when he couldn't remember how to drape it properly.

John Galliano

"When we were about to get out of the car," he remembered, "there was Calvin, and Donna, and my sari began to fall down. In Anna's world there is a solution for everything and she said, 'There is an Indian prince here, he'll know how to drape it properly.' And, of course, there was, and he did."

Wintour noted Galliano's immense talent as she accepted the award, thanking London fashion for always innovating, and its key protagonists - from Sarah Burton to Christopher Bailey - for being her "great friends".