John Galliano in conversation with Colin McDowell

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JG That's a Liberty (Ross) with a snake and that's a fantastic piece of workmanship from Gossens, which is one of the kind of like finest jewellery makers in Paris.

CM How much work is there in there, how many hours?

JG Oh I would say about three weeks, because it's all put together as real jewellery would be put together, and that was from the Maharajah-inspired collection, the Jardins de Bagatelle, so it was a very important part of the silhouette and what we were trying to say, and I don't know if you can see in the picture, you've got those enormous earrings as well. Huge, they're actually held down with a metal Alice band.

CM Oh, they weren't on the ears at all?

JG No, her ears would have been dragging on the floor!

CM Made with the African feel as well.

JG Yeah, and the Jardins de Bagatelle as well had this kind of Nouveau vibe going on, and so that all started quite in advance and it was a beautiful piece, and also it was trying to establish this kind of aristocratic profile. Yes, of course, the initial idea was inspired by the Masai and how they stood, very high necklaces, so that was really, the inspiration came from that and that was the Jardins de Bagatelle.