John Galliano is keeping busy designing the stage costumes for Stephen Fry’s upcoming London revival of Oscar Wilde’s famous comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest.
Rumors floated around back in July that the British designer was in the running, along with Sarah Burton and Roland Mouret, to outfit the cast. WWD has confirmed that he will indeed create the costumes ahead of the production’s 2014 opening.
Fry, a seasoned English actor, will direct as well as dress up in drag to play Lady Bracknell, a sour old lady, according to Vogue. David Plugh and Dafydd Rogers are set to produce.
Galliano is well acquainted with the production, and probably the perfect match to design the costumes, as he was dresser to Dame Judi Dench when she portrayed Lady Bracknell at the National Theatre in 1982.
The 53-year-old former Dior designer is also in talks with mentor Oscar de la Renta about designing full-time for the fashion house based in New York. This past February, he spent three weeks in de la Renta’s studio, helping create the autumn/winter 2013 collection. It was Galliano’s first time designing since his suspension from Dior for his anti-Semitic remarks and arrest for assault. The two email each other weekly and de la Renta is a big fan of Galliano, saying to WWD, “He is a great talent.”
Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair