John Galliano has made a return to fashion with the Russian perfumery house L'Etoile. The legendary designer has been in the shadows since being fired from his job as creative director of Dior for shouting anti–semitic remarks.

He'd been tipped to return with Oscar de la Renta, after spending a successful month with the fashion house in 2013 working on the autumn/winter collections for that year. There had been talks that Galliano would join the house in a permanent capacity, but an agreement couldn't be made – apparently Galliano wanted backing for a large design team, as well as specialist support that de la Renta couldn't provide.

However, L'Etoile broke the news on its website with a simple "John is back!", and the news was confirmed by Galliano's spokesperson. L'Etoile is the largest perfumery chain in Russia, in a market worth £12 billion, carrying prestigious brands such as Chanel and Christian Dior. What's unclear is whether Galliano will up sticks and move to Russia – given its infamously appalling record for LGBT rights – or if this move marks the next stage of the once-lauded designer's rehabilitation, or a place to sit out his time on the bench.