Mr. Dippity Don’t Says: September 2026

Ring the triangle, set the table, bring out the fine china, and heat the tea kettle … Mr. Dippity Don’t Says is back! Yes, children, after a long hiatus, Fashion Reverie’s Dippity Don’t column is back, and like Norma Desmond, it’s as if we never said goodbye. Dippity Don’t Says has returned just ahead of New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and Fashion Month, and there is plenty of hot tea to pour. The industry has been abuzz in my absence, but Fashion Reverie is here to tell you all you need to hear and then some.

Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville in Paris is allegedly hemorrhaging money, as over 100 of their brands have left, many because they weren’t paid for orders. The struggling department store chain is so desperate that they brought Shein into their store because they know it’s an easy sell.

Many blame the executives at the top for poor management, which could have been avoided. Others say the decline in tourists from places like Russia has also hurt the store’s bottom line. Luxury retail is supposedly one of the few sectors of fashion making money, so Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville needs to get its act together.

The Met has announced that John Galliano will lead the next theme for the 2027 Costume Institute exhibit. While Galliano’s acclaimed years at Dior and Margiela have earned him quite the fanbase, many have not forgotten why he was fired from Dior in the first place after going on an antisemitic rant in 2011.

Now, publicist Lauren London is alleging she witnessed another antisemitic rant by John Galliano in 2019, where he accosted her friend for speaking Hebrew in public. Galliano allegedly screamed “Merry Christmas” over and over to London’s friend while she was on the phone, in the middle of July, and unapologetically told London’s friend he had a problem with her speaking Hebrew. Unlike the 2011 incident, where Galliano was intoxicated, London says he appeared completely sober.

Is he or isn’t he? Deuxmoi posted a tip that Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson was collaborating with Zara, but Anderson and his J.W. Anderson brand quickly shut down the rumors. Although Anderson and his team denied any such collaboration, Anderson still has a very successful collaboration with Zara competitor Uniqlo. However, Anderson’s contract with Uniqlo is not on a fixed-term basis, so it could end at any time.

Anderson is one of the hottest designers in the game right now, so any fast-fashion brand would kill to collaborate with him. Uniqlo doesn’t look like they’ll let him go anytime soon. The Uniqlo and J.W. Anderson collaboration is still considered a best seller.

J.Crew may have had a successful rebound and is now holding steady in terms of sales, but the company is now engaging in cost-cutting measures as they work to increase profit. Brendon Babenzien, the men’s creative director, exited the company in February. No one was named to replace him, which is also saving J. Crew money. Let’s see if they start slashing employees or store count next. Allegedly, some corporate jobs could be on the chopping block.

—Mr. Dippity Don’t