The return of the girdle

A brief history

I am fully aware that tight waist-cinching corsets are, and always will be, a perennial genre of fetish outer garment or dress-up undergarment.

I have read that corset wearers can experience a rush of excitement to be squeezed real tight around the waist. However, I have never heard this described as comfortable.

As standard female underwear requirements, the “girdle” - a reinforced elastic, boned and structured corset - and its companion the “panty-girdle” disappeared from popular use around the mid-1960s. You may ask, why?

At a recent dinner party there was some debate about the reason for the decline in corset wearing as an everyday garment. Present at the dinner was Marie Forster, the designer of highly regarded 1980s Australian fashion label, Sabot.  Marie put the disappearance of  these garments down to the change of fashions in the 1960s. Styles like baby doll, mumu, tent dress and princess line were in, and hourglass figures were oh so 1950s.

In my view this simplifies the phenomenon too much. Actually, what was going on was a revolution against formality and constraint. Especially in a hot climate, women complained bittterly of tight, rubbing and chafing corsets which by the 1950s were commonly known as girdles. Obviously they were more comfortable than the Victorian era, but nonetheless they were hated by the women who wore them. The fashions reflected this rebellion, as fashions do.

There was also a moralistic slant on those women who did not wear girdles. Girdles were like armour, providing that bit of extra modesty between a woman and any who might like to savour her curves. Not wearing one made you, quite literally, loose.

I was too young to wear a girdle, but only by a very few years. 

Check out this advertisement. Amazingly it appeared in the 1968 edition of The Chronicle, the official school magazine of Sydney Girls High School. Along with advertising secretarial school and the benefits of an all electric home for aspiring home-makers, it was considered appropriate to advertise corsetry. 

People of my age regarded corsets and panty-girdles with ridicule and scorn. They were of the past, and it seemed inconceivable that they would ever return.

But they are indeed returning, albeit in a new form. 

Todays corsets are known as “slimwear” and “shapewear”. They may be cleverly structured, and their materials are revolutionary high-tech fibres. There are too many brands of these garments to name, but top names include Nancy Ganz and Spanx. Some brands even make claims to reduce cellulite and even lose weight just by wearing them, and changing nothing else about your lifestyle.

Drop two sizes instantly

I saw with my own eyes a friend who dropped two full sizes wearing Spanx on New Year’s Eve. I had seen her less than a month before, so it wasn’t just weight loss - these things are amazing. I have to say, though, she didn’t look comfortable, and there was a bit of tugging and squirming going on.

I won’t be testing these garments, so do not expect a personal review, but another friend tells me she felt real bad after wearing a similar product to a dinner party. 

Still, they have their fans - such as the author of a “big girls”  blog I found on line. Check this out for a comprehensive product line-up plus reviews:

http://www.biggirlsbrowse.com/blog/2009/08/big-girls-ultimate-shapewear-review-updated/

In describing one of her favourites, the blog author writes: “Corsets improve your posture and keep everything well and truly strapped in, and overall, this is probably one of the pieces I wear the most, but it is restrictive (I rarely sit down / eat when I have it on)!”

Hmmm

But who are you kidding?

The reality is that unless you make love under a kaftan, or in the dark, someone is going to see you naked.  And that “someone”  is probably the person in all the world you most want to impress. What good is your corset then?

Then there is the beach, where very few women have opted for the burkeeni. Again, what good is your corset?

Have you ever seen the gym slogan : “Look better naked”.

Why go to all that effort and expense to squash your fat temporarily into place, when you can get rid of it?

I hear people often say “I hate gyms”, “I hate exercise” and the like.

Well, I hate being uncomfortable! Constricted! In denial! Saying I hate exercise would be like saying I hate breathing.  But that is just me. Modern corset undergarments are here to stay in a big way judging by the growing plethora of products coming on the market. 

Just watch out for the possibility of false claims. It is possible that a new weave technology can “massage” the thighs and make the cellulite go away. Give it a try if you must, but don’t expect miracles.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine v Christian Dior Addict Shine

Christian Dior and Chanel cosmetics have both launched new high-shine lipsticks with the effect of a gloss, but in a lipstick form.  Christian Dior’s offering, called Addict Shine, is represented by British supermodel Kate Moss, while Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine’s front-woman is Vanessa Paradis, the famous French model, singer and actress.

The two brands are pitted directly against eachother in the younger lipstick market, launching within a short time of eachother. Both of their branding even features a handwritten subtext - in the case of CD it says “be iconic” and Chanel’s says “shine”.

That’s not all.

Am I the only who has noticed that both brands are using as their figureheads, a former fiancee (Kate Moss) and wife of many years (Vanessa Paradis) of actor Johnny Depp?

While on the subject of the Dior Addict range - which includes two fragrances Addict and Addict II and their spin-offs, lipsticks and nail varnish - I don’t mind the fragrance but I would never buy any of this range on philosophical reasons.

I have a strong objection to the brand name Addict.

Addiction is a dehumanising situation, where the individual’s free will is diminished. It is a situation of servitude - presumably here it suggests addiction to make-up? Fashion? Glamour?

There is NO glamour in addiction, no matter what the heroin chic lovers of past years might have tried to convince us. And they didn’t convince us, and the heroin chic fashion is now dead, where it should be. There is no glamour in addiction at all, whether it is for a cigarette or whatever your next fix is, because it bespeaks desperation. Glamour must be comfortable, relaxed and confident.

Addiction and glamour are opposed.

When I wanted to buy a young friend a lipstick for her birthday, I chose the Rouge Coco Shine in a light berry colour - the colour of the season, here in winter 2011.

It is slightly more expensive, but the packaging is much better and I believe the quality too. 

Addict Shine is in a nasty, bulky, tricky and tacky lipstick container. In the posters and ads, the always stunning Kate Moss looks less than her best, especially pitted against the artwork featuring Vanessa Paradis. Do check them out when browsing the make-up department next time - you will notice the Christian Dior artwork and face artistry far inferior to Chanel’s.

Squashed breasts deserve after-care

We treasure all of our bodily organs (except the appendix, perhaps) but for a woman, few organs are as treasured as one’s breasts.

Most of us also treasure our life, so we undertake breast check-ups at the doctors, and sometimes even mammograms, to detect any abnormalities or lumps that could lead to cancer.

Recently I underwent a mammogram at the Rose Clinic at David Jones, Elizabeth Street store, my first in 18 years. 

For those who do not know, a mammogram is a kind of X-ray with a glass plate on which you have to place your breast. Another plate is lowered down and squeezes the breast until it is as flat as possible, while the X-ray picture is taken.

My first mammogram was so uncomfortable that I was scarred for years and I kidded myself that I would never have another one again. But that would be pretty stupid. With so many women around me falling prey to insidious breast cancer, I knew I had to have my breasts checked despite my reluctance.

The squeezing takes place according to a scale of 1 to 20. The lowest measure on the scale, 1, is very light squeezing, and 20 is very tight squeezing. The radiographer said they prefer a measurement of 8 to 10, which delivers a good mammogram picture.

I started whimpering at 2, and at 4 I was begging the radiographer to turn it off. 

“I really would have liked to get a better picture, but this will do”, she said. “I’d rather not scare you off , because then you might not come back for another ten years, and I want you to come back in 2 years”.

Poor breasts were feeling very tender for about a week, but I adopted the following breast care plan, which gave considerable relief.

Daily breast chilling

This is an old tip I learned from 1950s bombshell Jayne Mansfield, or was it Marilyn Monroe? 

Take a large cereal or noodle bowl and half fill it with small to medium sized ice cubes. Alternatively dip each breast into the bowl, for a minute at a time.  You will instantly feel a tremendous relief from the tenderness. Do this until the ice has melted into cold water.

This is also a good technique for breast maintenance, whether you have had a mammogram or not!

Breast massage

Use a nice emollient such as almond oil or another massage oil (but not cellulite or sports massage oil), a body cream, or if you can afford one of Clarins breast products go for it.  Breast are often neglected by their owners. So make sure you don’t. 

Wear a light bra to bed

Depending on your marital circumstances, this might not always be advisable - or even possible. 

You don’t need to make a habit of it, but tender breasts benefit from a night wearing as light bra. It stops them from moving around too much during the night.

A toning gel

In days long past when I would occasionally go braless under a special top, to a special party, I would always treat my breasts with Clarins bust gel - the original formula has been superseded, and now I use Clarins  “Gel Buste Super Lift” not daily but for an occasional treat. 

So there you have my one week, post mammogram breast therapy. Go on - they deserve it!

About gloves

Until the 1960s, gloves were a requisite part of a woman’s wardrobe, worn in matching colours with one’s dress.  The place to go was Meyer’s Glove Shop, Imperial Arcade Sydney, a small traditional store which stocked every kind and colour of glove you might fantasise about. Or a good department store, such David Jones or Mark Foys.

Gloves suffered the same fate as hats and suspender belts around that time - they were jettisoned by Australian women, and indeed women all around the western world. Though suspenders never lose their appeal as a niche garment, or for dress-ups, they are not regarded as standard underwear any more. Hats are considered for special occasions. Gloves are not considered a necessity by the majority of women today.

The flight from formalism in dress was a profound social change in the 1960s, but in the process of rejecting the stuffy, strictly controlled dress code of the time, the important role of gloves as an accessory garment became largely forgotten.

I first started buying gloves in different colours from Mr Meyer in the late 1970s. There had been enough years of dress code deconstruction, and now the 80s was about to break with the advent of new romanticism. Dressing up in leather, lace, fluffy mohair, retro, in pastels and brights,  was what I was doing. I had two favourite pairs of gloves, a turquoise blue suede pair and a musk stick pink pair too. 

They were an investment at the time, certainly not cheap. I learned to gently wash them in a special glove shampoo and dry them flat on a dry towel. Coloured suede gloves are definitely not low maintenance.

All the years since then I have continuously had a glove collection, including a range of winter leather gloves, opera and elbow length gloves,  cotton, stretch, beaded and lace ones too. I used to wear them from the start of winter, but these days I start protecting my hands as soon as April, with some cotton or other light gloves. 

I get cold hands in winter and risk getting chilblains if I don’t keep my hands at an even temperature. 

Last Friday I was with KG for a night on the town, staying at the Hilton Hotel. The night at the Hilton was courtesy of winning a competition at my gym, Living Well Sydney. 

What to wear on a wet Friday afternoon to go into town? Old Chloe jeans, chiffon Collette Dinnigan blouse, beige Ferragamo pumps, a black leather jacket and some bling. Underneath, one of my favourite brassieres, Aubade French embroidered chiffon - absolutely gorgeous to wear! I was also not going to go out without a light pair of gloves.

I chose a lovely light pink crochet pair, just the right weight for the season.

Ladies please note

Ladies please note, gloves really do protect your hands from extremes of temperature and this in turns means they are less likely to be dry or have shaggy torn cuticles in winter.

If on a strict budget, a simple polyester glove can also save the day, and you can customise them by adding button trims or beading. It's better than nothing!

A couple of additional points regarding Vogue Paris

There is one small matter I failed to mention when I was recommending Vogue Paris in a previous Glamablog post... it is published in French. My school French,  unused for decades but for the rare visit to Paris, is assisted by the use of a French-English dictionary. 


Sure, I miss some. But hey, I never said reading a fashion magazine is high literature.


Also I wanted to point out the relevance of the sub-plot in the Meryl Streep - Anne Hathaway starring film The Devil Wears Prada (2006) where the New York editor (Meryl Streep) is in steep competition with her counterpart in Paris. 


Vogue Paris editor until January this year was the sexy 56 year-old Carine Roitfeld, who is now consulting to the famous Barney's department store in New York. Is this some kind of transition into the role of editor of Vogue US?


I have heard it said many times that she is not interested. 


However, time will tell if Conde Nast publishers will lure her to take over from Anna Wintour in the prized role. It will certainly lead to a shake-up of the stale Vogue US, if Carine Roitfeld were to take over. 

Favourite fashion reads - Vogue UK and Vogue Paris

Vogue has got it - it's got the name, which today stands for fashion. The word "vogue" comes from the French navigational term  meaning “momentum, rate of motion imparted to a ship by rowing”. It's a great name, and captures the essence of fashion.

Worldwide, Vogue magazine is the number one name in women's fashion publishing. In the magazine world, there are many other contenders - Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire and the like, as well as the more recent innovation of weekly fashion publishing like Grazia which overlaps into the trashy gossip genre. Although they all have their niche, I am most likely to look to Vogue  first and foremost.

Vogue magazine appears in many countries and in many languages, each profiling its own home-grown designers as well as international fashion. 

Vogue Australia is a big disappointment to me - I never buy it these days, although I am always interested to read it online. Everything I want to read in the Australian edition of Vogue can be obtained online. It lacks the artistry in fashion photography and overall styling, it is skimpy and not a great read, and the features are poor to average.

Two things turned me off Vogue Australia some years ago, and I have never returned. It was unsatisfactory that Vogue Australia was syndicating stories I had already read in Vogue British. I couldn’t believe they had to do that. I felt sure they would increase sales if they had original features, rather than syndicate them from the UK. Another thing that repelled me was the over-representation of advertorials and advertising about cosmetic medical procedures.

Vogue British and Vogue Paris are my favourite fashion magazines. 

They are more than double the price of Vogue Australia when purchased at the “express delivery” rate, appearing in Australian newsagents very quickly after their country of origin release and staying on the market at the express delivery rate for a couple of weeks, after which the price drops back by a few dollars. 

Kate Winslet on the cover of Vogue British, April 2011

Comparing French and British offerings from Vogue last month, Francais wins (with Dutch model Lara Stone in colour block outfit with primavera floral background, 80s makeup and very, very upbeat) over Anglais (bleach blonde, cold-as-ice-and-airbrushed-to-death actress Kate Winslet on white background with nil visual interest) on front cover.

I really love this cover. Beautifully designed spring  fashion shot.

Vogue British is edgy and sophisticated, but Vogue Paris is sexy too. Its daring sexy photography often overlaps with another sub-genre of fashion magazines of lesser circulation, where photographic art (and styling) is, in truth, more the focus than the clothes. 

You may have have noticed that I did not mention Vogue US. It’s not a favourite of mine. It was, of course, the subject of a popular and much talked about documentary film The September Issue (2009). This is a must-see for all fashion lovers. Its editor, English doyenne of the US fashion industry, Anna Wintour is one of the most stylish women alive. Find out more at:

http://www.theseptemberissue.com/theatrical.html#/home

I have a few problems with Vogue US, starting with the amount and type of advertising. The issue with Lady Gaga on the front cover also had a feature on the artiste. Nice cover, but the story was buried so far to the back of the edition, swamped by ads, I wondered what Anna Wintour is thinking. Sorry Ms Wintour, it’s time for a change if this is the best you can do.

Vogue US not worth the money, but the Lady Gaga cover is a winner

Visually, the magazine underperforms. The print is too pale, and the styling unsatisfying, as is the overall layout.  Vogue US is cold and uninviting, and certainly not inspiring.

On the other hand I always find the French and British editions extremely inspiring. 

I loved French No 914 February 2011 summer 2011 fashion feature, a really accessible interpretation of the most current trends.

I went wild over Vogue British’s stripe story in the April edition (along with lace, I am also a huge stripe fan) as well as a kind of belle epoque dreamy floral story - “Savour the languid charms of boudoir dressing, captured in dusky florals and diaphanous chiffons”.  

For a multi-racial country like the US, and having its base in the cosmopolitan city of New York, Vogue US is disturbingly monocultural. But to be fair, I didn’t see any north African looking models in the French edition. The British stripe story (above) had a striking Eurasian girl, but that's it. At least they can't be ac used of tokenism.

To conclude, I would advise joining Vogue Australia’s Club Vogue, and you will receive everything you need from that magazine - online:

http://www.vogue.com.au/

Selective purchasing of great fashion magazine editions, whether they are Vogue, French or otherwise, is a worthwhile consumer behaviour. It is relaxing and stimulates wardrobe creativity. Cynics please note: it does not, in my experience, produce clone culture.

I don’t feel guilty about the paper consumed by glossy mags such as these. They contain timeless, beautiful and inspiring fashion art. 

A well curated collection of brilliant fashion magazines is a useful resource for every girl but don’t waste money and space on the mediocre!

Peter Pan Committee twice yearly SALE - mark your May diaries!

Some of you have heard me talk about the Peter Pan Committee  twice yearly clothing sale, held at Paddington Town Hall every May and October.  This long-running fund-raiser for Barnardos has been a "must attend" for me for some years now.  The ladies at the Peter Pan Committee set up their "pop-up" store for just three days, always Wednesday to Friday.


It's on again this May so lock these dates in, and be at Paddington Town Hall, corner Oatley Road and Oxford Street on:


Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 or Friday 27

Friday is always half-price day. There is always something good left on the Friday, but they pack up around midday so get there early if you are planning a clean sweep of the super bargains.

What can you expect to find there? They say vintage, but in reality there is not much vintage, whatever that is nowadays. It is mostly used, good quality, expensive or mid-range labels. There is also the chance you will find New With Tags designer clothing. 


The offerings include such labels as Armani,  Chanel, Sonia Rykiel, YSL, Sass and Bide, Ferragamo (to name a few), in a wide range of sizes.


This is where I purchased my much-loved Ferragamo raincoat for around  $200 - it probably cost around two grand originally.

For further details check out the rather drab Barnardos website, which belies the fashionable possibilities which lie in wait. I don't care if the website is dull - I love Barnardos, one of Princess Diana's most beloved charities, helping poor little children and families in trouble.

http://www.barnardos.org.au/barnardos/html/events.cfm

Farewell my Marni skirt!

Last week for the very last time I wore my Marni cotton skirt, the most expensive skirt I ever bought.

Originally priced at over $700, I picked her up at a 30 % discount at the Belinda sale about 5 years ago.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Italian Marni label, it specialises in natural fibre women's garments. Dresses, skirts and tops are the mainstays of the label. Design-wise, Marni is architecturally influenced, using fabrics in a way that creates volume and structure, rather than form-fitting, or sexy.

This skirt of dark green polished cotton had a wide waistband and billowed out from the waist with some unfathomable seams and folds that two experienced seamstresses said they were unable to precisely replicate.

My friend Rachel is a contra-fashionista like me. We have a language of dress that is constantly seeking new experiences, but is never confined to commercial "fashion". She coined the term "skirt of skirts" to describe those amazing skirts that are so beautiful and so versatile that no matter how expensive they are, you will get good value because you just want to wear them so much.

Me and Petra at the outback nature study tour April 2009 

Marni skirt and Robert Clergerie pumps with silver heel just the thing for arty Broken Hill

This was my skirt of skirts. She has done parties, boating, fun, beach, more fun, out at night with fancy shoes, even on an outback study tour.

And though at first blush this might seem to be a story of wardrobe excess, think of it rather as a story of what I do best: wardrobe economy. My Marni skirt had been mended during its lifetime, with an addition of a button where the large press stud started to fail. And wash after wash, I would press and wear it again,  using a range of artifices to deceive the eye of the beholder ( I think!) that I was not wearing a 5 year old totally well-loved and worn garment.

It is the oldest trick in the book, used by magicians from time immemorial - distract the  viewer and make them focus on something else.

So on Marni's last day out, the other weekend in Coogee, I did just that. I teamed my dying skirt of skirts with tan suede sandals with butterfly motif (Maryons, Brisbane), a petrol coloured lace and satin body suit and Zambesi embroidered organza top. Black leather cropped jacket was at the ready in case of inclement weather. At the end of the day, I removed a vintage hand made glass button I had added a couple of years ago, and folded the skirt for the rag bag.

But before I did, I remembered my Marni skirt in these pictures.

Marni skirt-of-skirts ... RIP

Think twice before buying feather earrings

Feather earrings, trims, and even capes and jackets are currently all the rage.

I love the look of feathers - they are so opulent. They make you feel pretty as a bird. I have had them on hats, and I have a gorgeous royal blue 70s dress with matching feather trim on the bell sleeve.

I would love to indulge my love of feathers even more, but items such as feather capes and jackets are not good wardrobe investments. Feathers are not a thing that can be sewn down securely, and thus are prone to falling off.

Of course, inherently the feather is a resilient product of nature, as ancient as the dinosaurs and tough enough to be a sort of coat of armour for birds.

But try affixing them to a garment or jewellery. The two methods are by gluing or sticking a needle through the bony backbone of the feather. Neither method will ever have long term success unless the item is worn with particular care, and stored without crushing or folding.

So I decided to dip into the latest feather fashion fad by buying some feather earrings, only $19.99 at a chain store near you (I won't name it, because at heart I am still not convinced I should be buying their landfill fashions, however well-priced or well-designed).

They look great don't they?

I have worn them twice only. I don't think I will be wearing them again.

How lacking in foresight was I to buy earrings with feathers that tenderly nestle on my neck and with every slightest move ... tickle.

It's so obvious!

Maybe your ticklish area is not your neck - everyone is different after all. My feet are not in the least ticklish, but my neck, underarms and flanks are sensitive to tickling.

So if you share my ticklish zone, think twice before you buy feather earrings.

NOTE TO FRIENDS NOT TICKLISH ON NECK :

If you are not ticklish around the neck, let me know as I am planning to give the earrings away.

Today I nearly fell over in the street - the sling backs have to go

Today, I came close to falling in the street. As I tripped, I lunged with arms outstretched - one arm reaching for a wall, and the other to grab the arm of a smiling dark-skinned man.

As I recovered from this close call, two things sprang to mind.

First, I thought, I'm glad I wasn't holding a baby. And if you have missed the significance of this statement, you may wish to read The Daily Telegraph's report on the Jackie O baby neglect story by following this link:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/row-erupts-over-jackie-os-feeding-furore/story-e6freuy9-1226032575479#page

Second, I have to ditch these shoes.

The shoes in question are a pair of sling back, peep toe Lodi brand black suede with a 40's touch, that I purchased early this summer at Sydney's Cignetti Boutique, in King Street. They were reasonably priced - at under $300 for a smart and comfortable mid-height shoe, which I could wear to work or to parties.

They still look great, and the heel is barely worn. They certainly are not scruffy. But they have a fatal flaw - and sure could have been fatal, or at least could have caused me some considerable harm.

The problem is, they do not have a buckle for making the sling back tighter as and when the suede stretches. As a result, the sling back has just this week become too loose and is flopping down at the back.

It was just starting to bother me when today's near accident occurred.

I have enjoyed wearing them, but I am going to cut my losses and give the shoes away to someone with half size larger feet.

You see, now that the sling back has stretched it needs a larger foot.

Some time soon, those larger feet will walk into a St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army or other Op shop where these shoes will be waiting.

Memo to self:  When I tried the shoes on I had noticed there was no buckle, but disregarded my concerns that I would not be able to tighten the sling back as it got looser. Next time, do not ignore better instincts.

Baited like a toothless bear? - the John Galliano story

In late March the fashion news broke that coutourier John Galliano, the celebrated long-time creative head of the House of Dior, had disgraced himself in two shameful public incidents - leading to his immediate sacking.

Fashion lovers know him as the petit exotic Englisher of Spanish extraction who blasted onto the high fashion scene during the 1980s with his costume-influenced, retro and themed collections. Non-fashion lovers may know of him only because the fashion lovers in their midst are reacting with shock and disappointment at events.  

Galliano is facing criminal charges under French anti-racial vilification laws.

You can see the mobile phone video that was taken by his accusers, verbally abused by Galliano when they were drinking at the same bar, in Paris’ fashionable and multicultural Marais district.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3441087/Racist-John-Galliano-sacked-by-Christian-Dior-after-I-love-Hitler-rant-on-Sun-video.html

During the short video he is asked by a woman, "Are you blond, with blue eyes?" to which he replies: "No, but I love Hitler, and people like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers, would be...gassed and...dead."

Despite the hideousness of these words, many friends, business associates, models and clients have been firm in their support for John Galliano the man. While he undoubtedly said those  words, his sympathisers call for understanding.

Very clearly, he is a sick, sick man. The video shows him slurring, puffy, making ugly distorted facial expressions. He is obviously very drunk, and alone.  Instead of his usual sensuous, elegant, attractive - and camp - attire, he is wearing a comical Pulcinella-like collar and cap. The accusers can be clearly heard giggling and teasing him, as people once would tease a dancing bear. 

I don’t wish to make excuses for Galliano, as some others have done. In particular New York stylist and designer Patricia Field (Sex and the City) has blitzed the internet defending Galliano against two-faced critics. Field described Galliano’s videotaped behavior as “farce” and said she was bewildered that people in the fashion community have not recognised it as such. "It’s theatre," she is reported as saying. "It’s farce. But people in fashion don’t recognise the farce in it. All of a sudden they don’t know him. But it’s OK when it’s Mel Brooks’ The Producers singing “Springtime for Hitler”.

Patricia Field is wrong to compare Galliano’s drunken bile with a Mel Brooks comedy.

Galliano’s drinking has reputedly become such a problem that at least one recent range has been produced by Dior staff and junior designers to the Dior formula, with the designer himself becoming more and more unavailable due to his drinking. Many believe that the LVMH Group which owns the House of Dior was just looking for an excuse to sack him. 

Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova expressed sympathy for Galliano, saying he is “under influence of a disease”.

“This is beyond his power. And I know, because I'm Russian, I've met people under the influence of alcohol doing monstrous things before,'' Vodianova told Associated Press Television News as she left the show. 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/fashion-world-bids-adieu-to-gallianos-dior-reign/story-fn6bn80a-1226016308220

Alcoholics Anonymous last year addressed the problem of foul-mouthed alcoholic friends and relatives in the award-winning “Not Invited to the wedding” advertising campaign. It was cruelly amusing, and seemed to expose a common problem faced by some alcoholics - they  are often not too sweet when drunk.

John Galliano, who is in the US undergoing rehabilitation, issued a statement in which he denied the claims of racism. It is not an apology but rather a statement of personal philosophy and belief designed to counter the perception that he is a racist. 

With criminal proceedings on foot, it is well worded to ensure no acknowledgment of guilt. 

Galliano also has some support from the French media, such as satirical  Le canard newspaper which has not given importance to the incident as they stressed that he is not a racist.

What do you think of his statement, extracted below from daily updates on the affair:

www.vogue.co.uk )

Updated Wednesday 2 March 5.03pm: John Galliano has just issued this statement regarding the events of the last week via his British legal team.

"Since the events of last Thursday evening I have not been able to make any public comment on what took place based upon advice from my French lawyer. However, given the continuing delays at the French Prosecutor's Office I should make my position clear.

I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully co-operated with the Police investigation.

A number of independent witnesses have given evidence and have told the Police that I was subjected to verbal harassment and an unprovoked assault when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing. For these reasons I have commenced proceedings for defamation and the threats made against me.

However, I fully accept that the accusations made against me have greatly shocked and upset people.

I must take responsibility for the circumstances in which I found myself and for allowing myself to be seen to be behaving in the worst possible light. I only have myself to blame and I know that I must face up to my own failures and that I must work hard to gain people's understanding and compassion. To start this process I am seeking help and all I can hope for in time is to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people's forgiveness.

I have fought my entire life against prejudice, intolerance and discrimination having been subjected to it myself. In all my work my inspiration has been to unite people of every race, creed, religion and sexuality by celebrating their cultural and ethnic diversity through fashion. That remains my guiding light.

Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologise for my behaviour in causing any offence."