The Metropolitan Museum of Art and John Galliano have decided not to proceed with John Galliano: Horizons, the planned spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition dedicated to the British designer’s four-decade career. The decision was announced jointly on August 31, 2026, with the Met publishing an official statement on its website and Galliano sharing his own statement on Instagram. Galliano said that after “much reflection and discussion” with the Met and those involved in the project, he had decided it was best for the exhibition not to take place at this time.

He acknowledged the pain caused by his past words, particularly to Jewish and Asian communities, said he remained accountable for that harm and recognised that an exhibition or institutional recognition could not serve as atonement. He also said he did not want the controversy surrounding him to put the Met in a difficult position or distract from the Costume Institute’s work. Galliano expressed gratitude to the museum, Max Hollein, Andrew Bolton and Anna Wintour, as well as those who had supported him through 15 years of sobriety and recovery.

Photo: Getty Images

The Met confirmed that the decision was reached with Galliano following discussions. The museum also clarified that the cancellation concerns John Galliano: Horizons and does not mean the 2027 Met Gala itself has been cancelled. Details of a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 gala will be announced at a later date.

John Galliano: Horizons was announced on July 31 as the first major museum exhibition to examine the full breadth of Galliano’s creative output. It had been scheduled to run from May 9, 2027, through January 9, 2028, at The Met Fifth Avenue. The exhibition was to bring together garments, accessories, sketches, toiles, research books and archival material from across Galliano’s career, drawing extensively from the Costume Institute’s holdings, which the museum described as the largest collection of his work in the world.

The exhibition would have traced Galliano’s career from his 1984 graduation collection at Central Saint Martins through his eponymous label and appointments at Givenchy and Christian Dior to his years at Maison Margiela. It would have been only the third Costume Institute exhibition devoted to a living designer, following Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons in 2017. The Met had also planned to examine the more difficult aspects of Galliano’s career rather than separate his creative achievements from the events that reshaped his public reputation.

Photo: Getty Images

That history dates to 2011, when videos emerged of Galliano making antisemitic and racist remarks during an incident in Paris. He was dismissed as Christian Dior’s creative director and was later convicted in France in connection with the incident. He apologised for his behaviour, underwent rehabilitation and spent time away from the fashion industry before returning to the business.

Galliano returned to fashion in 2014 as creative director of Maison Margiela, where he remained until 2024. His work at the house received significant critical attention and became an important part of his professional return.

The Met’s decision to devote a major exhibition to Galliano nevertheless prompted renewed criticism. Jewish leaders and other critics questioned whether the museum should give such a prominent institutional platform to a designer whose past remarks had resulted in a conviction. The timing of the planned gala became another point of concern because the traditional first Monday in May date in 2027 falls on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Reports said the museum was considering moving the gala by a week.

The opposition extended to New York politicians and the museum’s donor community. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin criticised the planned exhibition, while Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt raised concerns with Met leadership. Reports also said some donors threatened to withdraw financial support if the exhibition went ahead.

Photo: Instagram

The Met had already been consulting Jewish leaders and other stakeholders while developing the exhibition. Anna Wintour and Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton were involved in efforts to facilitate discussions around Galliano’s past and how it would be addressed within the exhibition. Wintour also arranged a meeting between Galliano and Jewish leaders as the museum sought to engage with concerns about the project.

The Met backed the decision not to proceed. Hollein said the museum and Galliano had reached the decision together, while Bolton acknowledged the concerns surrounding the exhibition and supported the outcome. Wintour also supported the decision and described Galliano’s choice as courageous.

The cancellation ends plans for an exhibition that would have brought together four decades of Galliano’s work and examined both his creative influence and the controversy that altered his career. The Met has not yet announced what will replace John Galliano: Horizons or what direction the 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and Met Gala will take. Further details are expected from the museum at a later date.

We are all very familiar with the handkerchief, it is the kind of accessory you would normally find folded away in a drawer, but now it has made its way onto the streets of fashion week. And this time, it is not being carried in a pocket. Street style guests are wearing it on their heads and finding different ways to incorporate it into their outfits.

The trend was already being seen around the Spring 2026 ready-to-wear shows, particularly among people attending the shows and not on the runways themselves. Copenhagen Fashion Week has also helped bring the accessory into focus.

Photo: Copenhagen Fashion Week

The Handkerchief can feel feminine and a little nostalgic. The versions showing up on the streets are mostly light and sheer, with floral prints, delicate patterns and fabrics that almost look like lace or mesh. They make your everyday outfit feel more dressed without requiring much else.

Some street style guests have been seen wearing the handkerchief around their hair, paired it with long skirts, simple tops, sunglasses and ballet-style flats. Others have worn it with denim, including a coordinated denim jacket and jeans.

Photo: Copenhagen Fashion Week

One thing that makes this staple easy to style is that it does not always have to match the rest of the outfit. It could be paired with a polka-dot outfit, adding another pattern to an already feminine look. In other outfits, the handkerchief matched the sheer or mesh fabric of a top or skirt, creating a coordinated finish.

Photo: Copenhagen Fashion Week

One street style look paired a sheer skirt with a white top and blazer, with the handkerchief worn on the head. Another used a patterned handkerchief with a cropped button down shirt, lacy pantyhose and a kimono-style jacket.

Photo: Copenhagen Fashion Week

The accessory can also be paired with lace details, aprons or other delicate fabrics. It does not always have to follow one particular style. You can lean into the feminine feel with lace, or simply use the handkerchief to introduce another element into an outfit, even if you are wearing something as simple as denim.

Jeans are one of those fashion trends that never goes out of style, every season, denim always finds its way back. But where the challenge lies, is finding new ways to wear it without feeling like you are repeating the same outfit. A button-down shirt is an easy way to change that.

Aside the traditional classic white shirt everyone wears with jeans, there are other styles and patterns of button down shirts that can give your jeans a different look. From satin to pinstripes, the right shirt can make a pair of jeans look more put together.

Satin Button-Down Shirt

Photo: Pinterest/@ani.maar

Satin brings a smooth glossy texture to an outfit, which makes it a good match for the more rugged feel of denim. The contrast between the two fabrics keeps the outfit from looking plain. A satin shirt works well with straight-leg or dark-wash jeans. For a more relaxed outfit, pair it simple flats or sandals, but if you are going for a casual office setting, pair with pointed-toe heels.

Fitted Button-Down Shirt

Photo: Pinterest/@brooke

A fitted button-down shirt gives jeans a more defined shape, unlike an oversized shirt. It sits closer to the body and brings attention to the waist. This style works well with wide-leg and baggy jeans because the closer fit on top balances the extra volume below. It can also work with straight-leg jeans for a cleaner look. You can also add a belt, simple jewellery and loafers or heels to complete the outfit.

Plaid Button-Down Shirt

Photo: Pinterest/@Be Daze Live

Plaid adds pattern to an otherwise simple jeans outfit. Choose a fitted plaid shirt with light-blue or grey jeans. Straight-leg denim works well here. Finish the outfit with loafers, sneakers or ankle boots. You can leave the shirt partly unbuttoned over a simple tank top.

Gingham Button-Down Shirt

Photo: Pinterest/@ amie alden

Gingham can look similar to plaid, but the two are not quite the same. Gingham has smaller, more even checks, made from two colors, while plaid tends to have different lines and patterns crossing each other. This makes gingham feel a little cleaner and less busy. This type of button-down shirt fits well with both straight-leg and wide-leg jeans. You can keep the styling simple with mesh ballet flats, sneakers, or loafers.

Pinstripe Button-Down Shirt

Photo: Pinterest/@Evi

Pinstripes shirt aren’t meant for plain trousers only, it can also be worn with jeans. The thin vertical lines draw the eye up and down, giving the shirt a longer, cleaner appearance. Style them with straight-leg dark jeans, and pair with sneakers for a simple weekend outfit. You can switch to pumps or sling-back heels when you want it to look more dressed up. The contrast between the dressier shirt and casual denim is what makes the combination work.