An Icon of Y2K Romanticism and Galliano’s Visionary Storytelling

From the celebrated Spring/Summer 2004 collection, this exceptional two-piece ensemble captures the spirit of John Galliano at the height of his powers at the House of Dior — theatrical, sensual and deeply referential.

The look comprises a dramatic open-front silk top with a sculpted collar and exaggerated drape, paired with a voluminous ruffled maxi-skirt that sweeps into a soft train. The fluid silhouette embodies Galliano’s fascination with motion and form, fusing haute couture technique with bohemian ease.

The piece is rendered in Galliano’s now-legendary Tattoo Print, one of his most recognisable and enduring motifs. Inspired by 18th-century sailors’ tattoos and symbols of love and protection, the print intertwines scrolling calligraphy, hearts, anchors and daggers with romantic declarations such as “L’amour toujours” and “Je t’aime”. Printed across weightless silk, the pattern feels both intimate and rebellious — a perfect encapsulation of Galliano’s poetic subversion of Dior’s classic femininity.

A museum-level collector’s piece, this ensemble stands among the finest examples of early-2000s Dior — a synthesis of craftsmanship, narrative, and Galliano’s unmatched flair for fashion as theatre.