John Galliano's Replacement Is Chosen
by Timothy Chernyaev
LVMH has finally chosen a replacement to take the reins at John Galliano. While the trial heats up, and until a verdict is handed down, the label must go on. After Cathy Horyn launched speculation last week that LVMH execs were considering reinstating the disgraced designer at his namesake label (and possibly back at Dior), today we discover that Christian Dior CEO Sidney Toledano has personally selected Bill Gaytten for the coveted spot.
Haven’t heard of him? That’s okay, neither had we. But the lucky designer had been working under Galliano for over 23 years at both labels, making him a natural choice. (Balmain and Alexander McQueen have made similar moves with Olivier Rousteing and Sarah Burton, respectively.) Gaytten told WWD, “It’s the same job for me; I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Gaytten will also be overseeing the Christian Dior couture collection presented next week in Paris, leading the media to theorize he might be a contender for the Dior job. As much as we like the idea of promoting from within, we doubt this will turn into that kind of Cinderella story for Gaytten, particularly since LVMH has been heavily lobbying for a ready-made star. After all, one doesn’t just offer a position to Azzedine Alaïa for the sake of being polite.
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