John Galliano confirmed as creative director of L’Etoile

John Galliano has been confirmed as L’Etoile’s new creative director.

The 53-year-old star – who was fired from Dior in 2011 when he was caught on camera making anti-Semitic slurs in a Parisian café – has been out of a job since his fall from grace, but made his grand return during a special catwalk event yesterday (22.05.14) in Russia to announce his new position.

He was shrouded in smoke as “a thumping musical refrain of ‘John is back’ ” played out, reports WWD.

A voiceover said: “Someone who knows about beauty, who embodies beauty… Dear friends, I have the great honour and pleasure to introduce [to] you our new creative director, the world-acclaimed genius, the future of L’Etoile. Here is John Galliano.”

A press release states he will “create communication and brand images for the chain, plus be involved in developing makeup and accessories collections to be part of L’Etoile’s signature cosmetics brand, called L’Etoile Selection.”

After the 2011 scandal, the designer was also dismissed from his namesake label and only returned to the public eye in 2013 with two short-term projects.

His good friend Oscar de la Renta offered him a chance at redemption in January 2013 with a three-week residency at his studio, working on his autumn/winter 2013 collection.

Despite the role not becoming permanent, Oscar said: “I very strongly felt that when people fall, you should try to lift them up. I think everyone in life deserves a second chance. I’m not sure about a third or fourth. It was great to have another eye. It’s so important to have someone challenge you.”

The designer has also created costumes for Stephen Fry’s new theatrical production of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.