From deconstructed tailoring and dramatic dresses to surprisingly wearable cashmere, John Galliano’s highly anticipated Zara collaboration is finally here.
John Galliano's Met Gala might be over, but the highly anticipated collaboration with Zara is officially here. After months of waiting, Galliano's Zara collection has transformed the high street giant's usual offering of everyday staples into something almost unrecognisable. Archival Zara pieces have been pulled apart, exaggerated and stripped of their original form, before being reconstructed in a way only the couturier could.
The former Maison Margiela creative director teamed up with the Spanish fashion retailer to create Re{form}, a genderless collection that defies practically every expectation of what an everyday piece of clothing should be. Shirts are no longer simply shirts, dresses twist and drape around the body, and tailoring takes on entirely new proportions. Even the most familiar wardrobe staples feel theatrical in Galliano’s hands.
While Zara is a brand we ordinarily turn to for clothes that slot seamlessly into our wardrobes, Re{form} asks us to look at those same pieces differently. The collection is made up of dramatic coats, sculptural tailoring, fluid dresses and beautifully deconstructed separates that feel more like fashion objects than straightforward basics.
Galliano’s signatures are everywhere. There’s romance and theatrics, but also imperfection: exposed construction, unexpected proportions and the sense that each garment has been tampered with rather than simply designed.
Amongst all the drama, however, there’s also a surprisingly strong line-up of simpler wardrobe staples . Pure-cashmere V-neck jumpers sit alongside knitted waistcoats and T-shirts , offering a considerably more understated way into the collection. Then there’s the cropped graphic tee, tapping into fashion's renewed appetite for statement T-shirts and arguably one of the collection's most accessible pieces.
Keep scrolling to see the Zara Re{form} pieces that caught my eye—and sure to sell out asap.
The delicate lace cut-outs against fluid satin perfectly capture the tension between romance and deconstruction. I’d keep everything else minimal and let the dress do the talking.
The exaggerated, relaxed proportions of these trousers are what make these feel distinctly Galliano.
A classic trench, but certainly not as we know it.
The knitwear in this collection is surprisingly strong—case in point, this 100% cashmere v-neck.
The multiple straps transform an elegant kitten heel into something altogether more interesting. Just add tailoring or a fluid midi skirt.
Tapping into fashion's love for graphic tees, this is one of the collection’s most accessible pieces .
Pinstripes are having a major moment, but Galliano’s take naturally feels less corporate and decidedly cooler.
One of the more wearable items in the collection, complete with oversized proportions and contrast detailing.
Romantic, intricate and just a little undone, this is exactly the kind of dress I hoped to see when I first heard of the collaboration.
The cropped proportions give the classic faux-fur-collared coat an unexpected new shape.
Proof that sometimes the simplest pieces make the greatest impact.
A surprisingly understated piece amongst all the drama. Pure cashmere gives this simple waistcoat a luxurious foundation
This is arguably one of the collection’s most theatrical pieces.
The striped wool and contrasting band detailing take a traditional trouser somewhere far more directional.
Pair this skirt with a simple knit to really emphasise the silhouette.
A pure-cashmere T-shirt is the ultimate elevated basic and an easy way to own a piece of the collaboration without going full Galliano.
The mixed fabrics and pareo construction give this skirt that deliberately pieced-together quality that defines so much of the collection.
From the asymmetric construction to the almost sculptural way it sits on the body, nothing about this coat feels conventional.
Marina Avraam is Senior Shopping Editor at Who What Wear UK , where she expertly navigates Zara, H&M, Toteme and Net-a-Porter (to name but a few) on a daily basis to unearth the most worthwhile pieces, while valiantly resisting the urge to add every single one to her basket. At Who What Wear , Marina is committed to curating a shopping experience that feels both aspirational and intentional, guiding readers to items—both affordable and investment—that will genuinely benefit their wardrobes.