John Galliano a no-show as Dior presents his final collection

The soul of John Galliano was laid to rest as far as Christian Dior was concerned on Friday as the famed Parisian fashion house sent out its last pret-a-porter collection from the disgraced couturier.

Not once was Galliano's name mentioned under the huge marquee behind the Musee Rodin where Dior sent out the last 62 outfits ever to be associated with the brilliant English designer who now faces charges of hurling anti-semitic insults.

"What has happened over the last week has been a terrible and wrenching ordeal for us all," said Dior's chief executive Sidney Toledano, in what must be the only time a Paris fashion show opened with something close to a eulogy.

"It has been deeply painful to see the Dior name associated with the disgraceful statements attributed to its designer, however brilliant he may be."

Dior fired Galliano on Tuesday, day one of Paris fashion week, after cafe patrons alleged that he drunkenly made anti-Semitic insults at them.

The emergence of a video in which Galliano says: "I love Hitler," did not help his case.