John Galliano and Hedi Slimane are turning out to be the fashion world's dynamic duo, as sales at Christian Dior rose 10 per cent to 236m Euro.

The results are bound to put a smile on the face of Bernard Arnault, the luxury goods tycoon who controls Christian Dior, and by extension LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. LVMH is expected to report earnings this week.

By contrast, rival Pinault-Printemps-Redoute said yesterday that second-quarter sales fell 9.7 percent, while sales at Gucci Group, of which PPR owns 64.5 percent, fell 6.7 percent for the February-to-April period.