05 Jul 2010, Posted by admin in Fashion, 2 Comments

christian dior fall 2010 haute couture is an opulent anime garden party

So it was right off the plane for me and to the Christian Dior haute couture show in the garden at the Musee Rodin (basically my favorite place in the entire world). Dior haute couture is always the ultimate fashion fantasy so I was excited to see what John Galliano had in store for us this season. The runway was set up in a see-through tent in the museum’s sculpture garden. It is epically hot in Paris but that didn’t stop the crowd from dressing to the nines. Carine Roitfeld showed up in white Alaia. Blake Lively donned an adorable white cocktail dress (most likely Dior but I can’t say for sure) and a cute white cocktail hat. And Lily Cole showed up in an easy going black lace cocktail dress and oversized shades.

The Scene Outside of the Christian Dior Haute Couture Show

The collection was inspired by Christian Dior’s infamous 1953 tulips collection. Thereby it was fitting that tulips were the centerpiece of the Dior stage. It was beautiful (if not a little subversive and menacing). While the collection was certainly an homage to Dior and his archives Galliano played with color and volume in unique ways, using his aesthetic to shout to the audience that couture still has relevance. After seeing this collection (and desperately wanting everything) I have to say I agree.

Christian Dior Haute Couture's Tulip Set

Skirts were shaped like tulips, lilacs appeared printed on the clothes and petals were festooned to cropped “new look” inspired jackets. The colors of red, yellow, lilac, green, sea foam and bubble gum were sharp and playful. Perhaps nothing in the show was as magical as Orlando Pita’s “tulip” hair, some of which was wrapped in colored cellophane (designed by famed miller Stephen Jones) like a newly bought bouquet of flowers. Pat McGrath’s makeup was also fabulous and powerful–geometric eyes and bold lips in primary colors (unfortunately mere mortals likely won’t be able to pull the look off but it felt perfect for the show). While I don’t think it was Galliano’s intent, I couldn’t help but feel that this is how an anime character would dress at a ball at Versailles.

Christian Dior Haute Couture Runway

Not surprisingly the only person who could upstage this otherworldly collection is its mastermind, Galliano. I mean the man took his bow in a bee keeper inspired outfit complete with a netted straw hat proving once and for all that he is the master of eccentric chic. Look closely in this picture of the front row (below) and you can spot LVMH heir apparent Delphine Arnault, Bernard Arnault CEO of LVMH, famed architect Peter Marino, fashion journalist Hilary Alexander and British Vogue’s Editor Alexandra Shulman cheering on the couture king.

John Galliano Taking His Bow

–Leah Bourne