John Galliano Dials Up the Drama at Zara

Re{form} Zara Vol. 1 brings John Galliano’s theatrical vision to Zara with dramatic tailoring and a Steven Meisel campaign.

The Fashionisto

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Published October 1, 2026

Seven models in black ruffles, lace, sheer tulle, and tailoring with blue lips, posed in a row against a white backdrop
Frauke Nijs, Craig Shimirmana, Anna Bicanova, Thomas Riguelle, Josephen Akuei, Frederic Bittner, and Lulu Tenney gather in head-to-toe black for Zara’s Re{form} Vol. 1. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara

Zara hands John Galliano its archive and Re{form} Zara Vol. 1 sees the couturier cut, dismantle, and reassemble existing garments before reproducing his creations in new materials. The process revives Les Incroyables and Les Merveilleuses, the dandies and divas of post-Revolutionary France who have occupied Galliano’s imagination since his earliest work. For menswear, their theatricality arrives with Napoleonic coats, voluminous trousers, sheer layers, elongated winklepickers, faux fur, and crumpled hats recalling bicornes.

Re{form} Zara Vol. 1 by John Galliano

Craig Shimirmana in a gray felt hat and wool coat with a red collar embracing Thomas Riguelle in a black hat, lace jabot, and fur-trimmed beaded coat
Craig Shimirmana and Thomas Riguelle share the frame in oversized wool coats and lace jabots for Zara. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara

Re{form} Zara presents fashion designed for performance and that spirit illuminates the campaign photographed by Steven Meisel. Models Craig Shimirmana, Frederic Bittner, Thomas Riguelle, and Wiley Rhoads join the cast, styled by Karl Templer, with hair by Guido Palau and makeup by Pat McGrath.

Josephen Akuei in a lace-layered dress with sheer purple gloves and pointed kitten heels beside Frederic Bittner in a purple leather jacket, beaded top, and patent boots
Josephen Akuei poses in sheer gloves and pointed kitten heels beside Frederic Bittner, who wears a purple leather jacket over a beaded top in Re{form} Zara. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara

Teased hair, metallic blue lips, and exaggerated poses push Galliano’s characters beyond the conventions of a Zara campaign. The clothes invite their wearers to posture, seduce, provoke, and play a role. After years of fashion selling good taste through understatement, Galliano offers another possibility. The opposite of minimalism is not necessarily maximalism. Sometimes, it is character.

Frauke Nijs in a purple slip over black lace, Wiley Rhoads shirtless in high-waisted pleated trousers, and Julia Nobis in a green satin coat with faux fur cuffs and hem
Frauke Nijs, Wiley Rhoads, and Julia Nobis stand together in a lace-layered slip, pleated trousers, and a green satin coat edged in faux fur. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara
Close-up of Craig Shimirmana in a felt hat with a ribbon rosette and a faux fur collar over a collared shirt and silk scarf
Craig Shimirmana wears a rosette-trimmed felt hat and a faux fur collar in John Galliano’s Re{form} Zara campaign. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara
Julia Nobis in a gray wool coat, belted over a sheer skirt, leaning on shirtless Thomas Riguelle in knotted pinstripe trousers and a suede bag
Julia Nobis layers a gray wool coat over a sheer skirt as Thomas Riguelle leans in wearing knotted pinstripe trousers and a suede bag. Photo: Steven Meisel / Zara
Julia Nobis, Thomas Riguelle, and Anna Bicanova in layered knitwear, a pinstripe double-breasted suit, satin skirts, and long leather gloves
Close-up of Thomas Riguelle in a straw hat and pinstripe jacket beside Julia Nobis in a rosette-trimmed cap
Anna Bicanova, Frederic Bittner, Lulu Tenney, and Thomas Riguelle in a sheer tulle gown, a leather coat with a faux fur panel, a lace dress with a faux fur hem, and a fur-collared coat with glossy leggings
Close-up of Thomas Riguelle in a knit cap with a faux fur-trimmed coat beside Lulu Tenney in a metallic lace bodice and white neck scarf
Frederic Bittner in a glossy belted trench with a faux fur collar beside Anna Bicanova leaning back in a purple leather skirt and long pale gloves
Close-up of Frederic Bittner in a glossy trench with a faux fur collar and Anna Bicanova in a black neck bow and long pale leather gloves
Close-up of Josephen Akuei and Frederic Bittner in a purple leather jacket and ribboned neck scarf, both with metallic blue lips
Close-up of Anna Bicanova in a black tulle-trimmed dress and Thomas Riguelle in a black jacket and neck bow, both with light blue lips
Close-up of Julia Nobis in a rosette-trimmed cap and Thomas Riguelle in a brimmed hat with a light blue gingham glove resting on his shoulder

Zara has recently explored fashion’s more eccentric side, also collaborating with director Luca Guadagnino for the Baisi Guadagnino collection.

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