Designer Bill set for top job

A FORMER Hulme Grammar School pupil is tipped to become the top designer at world-famous fashion label Dior.

Bill Gaytten is being touted as the replacement for disgraced British couturier John Galliano who faced an anti-Semitism charge after an altercation outside a Paris cafe.

The architecture graduate-turned fashion designer took the bow at the end of the Christian Dior haute couture collection catwalk show Paris on Monday.

It was the first Dior Couturier line in 15 years not to be designed by Galliano himself and featured 1950s and 1970s-inspired outfits, as well as a ballgown-wearing Pierrot clown.

A single garment can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Mr Gaytten, who was born in Cheltenham before moving to Oldham, said afterwards: “I wanted this collection to be very modern.”

The 51-year-old initially did an architecture degree at Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London before going into fashion.

His first job was with British designer Victor Edelstein and he has been Galliano’s assistant for 23 years.

Described a relatively unknown by some fashion journalists, Mr Gaytten recently took over as the head of the Galliano label which is owned by Dior.

His debut collection for Galliano menswear was showcased in the French capital and said: “It was the same job for me. I’ve been doing it for a long time.

“It was a bit different because John wasn’t there. I’m dying to know what he thinks.”