In the war between art and commerce during the age of globalization, pure, unbound creativity like Galliano and McQueen practiced had been sacrificed for the sake of profit. What we were left with was “stealth wealth,” “quiet luxury,” and speedy, soulless fashion shows that barely registered in our brains and were forgotten by the time everyone had returned to their idling black sedans.

There’d been a years-long drought of Galliano-style pageantry, and pleasure-starved fashion followers were thankful—swooning—that he’d brought it back to the runway.