Suzy Menkes: Galliano Deserves A Second Chance

Veteran  fashion journalist Suzy Menkes believes that John Galliano  should be given a "second chance", although the situation is "difficult". The designer recently cancelled a planned student workshop at Parsons The New College of Design in New York, after he refused to participate in a "frank forum discussion" about his career trajectory.

"It's a tragedy," she said of the anti-Semitic comments that Galliano made, which led to his Dior dismissal. "We know that creative people have all sorts of demons. I would never say that I love Hitler in any shape or form ever, and I don't know many people who would. That's not to say that somebody with such brilliant talent shouldn't be given some kind of second chance. But how you do that is difficult."

John Galliano

Speaking at a talk with Fern Mallis in New York, theInternational Herald Tribune fashion editor also showed her support for another designer - Victoria Bwckham

"[She] works incredibly hard," she said. "And no she doesn't go to Roland Mouret and ask him to make a few things for her."

She wasn't, however, as praising of musician-turned-designer Kanye West  - who showed during Paris Fashion Week for two seasons, in October 2011 and March 2012.

"What I would say to him, particularly after his absolutely brilliant performance on Monday [at the Met Ball], is, 'Don't give up the day job or, in his case, the night job,'" she said.