Zara Unveils Re{form} by John Galliano With a Steven Meisel Campaign

John Galliano is back, and he picked Zara for the comeback. The British designer, who ran Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela, revealed Re{form} on September 30 in the middle of Paris Fashion Week. It's his first fashion project since leaving Margiela in December 2024, and it's the start of a two-year partnership with the Spanish brand.

The idea is simple but bold. Galliano treated Zara's own archive like a pile of prototypes, then cut, dismantled and rebuilt each piece using couture techniques. The result is a genderless first volume of 35 looks, and each one comes with its own French title, a bit like show notes. His muses are Les Incroyables and Les Merveilleuses, the rebellious dandies and divas of post-Revolutionary France, which was also the name of his 1984 graduate show.

Expect his usual signatures. There are bias-cut dresses and sheer layers in georgette, tulle, point d'esprit and net, plus lace printed with metallic foil and vinyl sleeve trims. The menswear-style frock coats, pea coats and suits come in classic wool, with some lined in Vichy check. Other pieces include a sheer layering coat called The Flix, oversized pockets and hats made with longtime collaborator Stephen Jones. Shoes include Oxfords, boots and court shoes, and there's a bag called Tri Chic.

Steven Meisel shot the campaign in the studio, with Karl Templer styling. The cast includes Lulu Tenney, Thomas Riguelle, Anna Bicanova, Frederic Bittner, Josephen Akuei, Frauke Nijs and Craig Shimirimana. The pictures are full of contrast, with black sheer gowns, faux fur-trimmed coats, sculpted heels over colored stockings, gloves and bows. The palette moves away from Zara's usual khaki and brown into purple, turquoise, red and acid green.

You can see it in person from October 1 to 6 at a townhouse on Rue des Archives in the Marais, open by appointment through zara.com. Re{form} is also on sale from October 1 online and in stores, including the flagships in London and Madrid.