Bernard Arnault praises John Galliano

Bernard Arnault believes John Galliano is the perfect designer for Christian Dior.

The businessman - who is in charge of LVMH, the huge luxury conglomerate that owns Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton - is pleased he chose the eccentric sartorialist to be the top man at the label because he is so suited to it.

He said: "I could have asked many other talented designers to do Dior, but it would not have been the same. Take Marc Jacobs, he has been a fantastic success at Vuitton and he has a proximity to the Vuitton spirit, but I don't think it would have been a success with Jacobs at Dior and the other way around, if I had asked John to do Vuitton, it would not have worked. An essential ingredient in the success of the brand today is the real proximity of Galliano to the talent of Christian Dior."

One of the main reasons Bernard is impressed with John is because he is so down-to-earth.

He told Tatler Asia magazine: "An essential ingredient in the success of the brand today is the real proximity of Galliano to the talent of Christian Dior. John, in spite of his very exuberant look and artistic vision is very down to earth. He goes into shops and asks what is selling. He is not only an artist but a businessman. Some great designers, when they become famous, lose contact with reality and think they can walk on water. Galliano is not like that."