John Galliano Fall 1999 Ready-to-Wear Collection

Editor’s note: When we talk about the millennium in fashion, we’re talking about a look, but 1999 is the turning point. As Nicole Phelps turns her attention to this special year, we’re adding five archival shows to the archive.

The boys were back in town for John Galliano’s fall 1999 show. The previous season’s Roman boy toys were replaced by grease-smeared construction workers romanticized by the “uptown girl” models. It opened with jackets in Poiret-esque cocoon shapes, made from textiles with patterns borrowed from Africa and the Far East. Second-skin skirt suits in gelato colors followed, and the collection closed with satin slip dresses in jewel tones like ruby ​​and amethyst.