PARIS, Jul 4, 2004/ FW/ --- The Spring 2005 season is only John Galliano’s second full menswear collection yet it is already apparent that his brilliance as a womenswear designer extends beautifully to menswear.

And like his womenswear collections, wherein the British-born designer had brought his audience all over the world, the Galliano gentleman had been transformed into a dandy pirate of the Caribbean who is also an explorer and crossed the Atlantic from Europe to find the Indians of the Americas.

Opening the show with ‘hardworking crewmembers’ of a pirate ship, complete with soot on their faces courtesy of working all day below deck, Galliano inferred that they are not ordinary pirates by dressing them in gentlemen’s clothing.

Sartorial vests, shirts and pants complete with a top hat, the John Galliano gentleman can fit in anywhere in the world.

And with a theme ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,” the designer could not help himself but give a subtle reference to Johnny Depp who played Captain Jack Sparrow in the Disney movie by sending a model in a pin stripe suit top hat and sunglasses.

All pieces are gorgeous and will surely please Galliano fans all over the world. And like any collection wherein there are standouts, it was in the military inspired jackets that the genius of this collection lies.

Referencing the ‘old armies’ of the world from Napoleon to the U.S Union Army, John Galliano cut his jackets close and added chevrons, buttons and insignias, the ‘little accessories’ that can easily be classified as men’s jewelry together with the rings, earrings and necklaces, giving a nod to the men’s bling-bling trend that is gripping the runways of Milan and Paris.

And there is no Galliano collection without his well-known ‘John Galliano Gazette’ that found its way into pants and shirts.

One great thing about this collection is that you do not have to ‘peel off’ layers to see Galliano’s ‘treasures’ because there was little ‘layering’ involved in homage to the season. Models paraded in half-naked states showing off cut-off pants that became shorts, knickers that are padded on the knees with ruching on the front instead of the traditional pleats and colored jeans with Mayan and Native American graphical prints.

Revolutionary ideas this season include the knee-length sports shorts that are both functional and fashionable. If you see Lance Armstrong wearing one during the Tour de France, don’t be surprised because this one can easily be a craze next spring.

John Galliano

John Galliano

John Galliano

John Galliano