Paris Fashion Week - a Resurgence of Dior's 1960s Designs

Dior's creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri oversaw a remarkable blending of art and design at the Paris design Week runway event.

On Dior's Paris Fashion Week catwalk, sentinel figures adorned in voluminous gowns reminiscent of skeleton shapes stood vigil, evoking cane knights. The flamboyant presentation was the latest in Maria Grazia Chiuri's series of shows at Paris Fashion Week that fuse fashion with fine art.

 

The celeb-studded crowd, which included Jennifer Lawrence, Maisie Williams, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Natalie Portman, saw a line of clothes that harkened back to the '60s and Dior's ready-to-wear roots. According to the fashion house, this period marked a turning point when creativity and elegance exited the studios in order to take over the world.

 

The designs that honoured the independence and empowerment of ready-to-wear garments for the contemporary woman were set against the dramatic armour-like background of cane frame sculptural décor by Mumbai-based artist Shakuntala Kulkarni.

 

Buckled and strapped knee-high boots were part of the collection's footwear that mirrored the cane ceiling's lattice design. For other parts of the collection, designers drew inspiration from the 1960s' signature A-line cuts and nipped waists.

 

However, Chiuri expertly updated these classic features with a contemporary spin, fusing sporty silhouettes with minimalist round-shouldered jackets. According to the program notes, scarves—a go-to accessory for Chiuri—were described as "protecting, enveloping, and adorning as necessary" for a lady who is both independent and sophisticated. An eye-catching example of the director's inventive historical fusion was a puffy black crossover coat with an Asian twist, belted at the waist and accessorized with a rad studded black leather cap.

 

White, orange, pink, and neon green were the colours of the collection, which mirrored those of Marc Bohan, Dior's designer in the 1960s. The cosmetic tones matched the palette.

 

Not to mention that Dior's most recent TV show complements the setup. The New Look, an Apple TV series that follows Christian Dior's professional life and his competitiveness with Gabrielle Chanel in the fashion industry, has also been generating waves outside of the catwalk.

 

Taking place during the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII, the ten-part historical series portrays the key time during the 20th century when the French capital brought the entire world back to life via its design hero Christian Dior. According to the summary, Chanel's position as the most renowned fashion designer in the world is threatened when Dior becomes recognized for his iconic and revolutionary style of beauty and impact.