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Showing posts with label christian dior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christian dior. Show all posts
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| All images from Vogue.com |
It's no secret that runway collections are oftentimes a reflection of the times. Say what you will about the frivolities of fashion, but designers are constantly gathering inspiration from the world around them, placing their ears to the ground and trying to capture the cultural zeitgeists. Designers are, after all, the trend dictators, and when they unveil a new collection, they're not only sharing what clothes to wear but how they're currently interpreting the world at large; the culture, the fads, the politics.
Raf Simons announces he's stepping down from Christian Dior, fills the fashion crowd with tears.
There are few things that can surprise me these days. I'm a child of the Internet, raised on an era of skepticism and living through a time when a celebrity real estate agent is seriously running for president. I'm not one who's easily shocked.
And yet, today my mouth dropped in shock. That's because Raf Simons announced he was stepping down as head designer for Christian Dior.
The news comes only three years after Simons first joined the Dior team. Before that, he had turned Jil Sander into one of the coolest brands around, and during his time at Dior he raised profits and truly brought Christian Dior into the twenty-first century. His last collection was fresh and modern, with scalloped crop sweaters, sheer gingham dresses, and trendy choker necklaces. Simons was praised for his ability to make simplicity just as beautiful as the over-the-top dramatics of predecessor John Galliano, and he was getting into the swing of things with spectacular results.
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| The finale at the Christian Dior Spring 2016 show, via style.com |
Alexander Wang's departure from Balenciaga was something we saw coming; from the beginning, the appointment seemed off, so the news of Wang leaving Balenciaga wasn't all that surprising. But for Raf, the news of him coming to Christian Dior was exciting and intriguing, and he ended up really excelling at Dior.
It remains to be seen what Raf's next step will be, or who will fill his shoes as the new head designer at Christian Dior, but I hope he knows that we're all sad to see him go.
For more information, Cathy Horyn wrote a lovely article for The Cut.
What do you think about Raf leaving Dior? Who do you want to see as the next head designer?
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| Christian Dior Fall 2015 Haute Couture via style.com |
Let's discuss the Fall 2015 shows, then, shall we?
Armani Privé
With blindingly vibrant shades of neon pink, electric blue, and radiant green, "Shocking" truly is a great title for the Armani Privé Fall 2015 couture collection. Armani's collection was deeply inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli and her signature hue, "shocking pink" (hence the title and the abundance of pink on the runway). This collection was full-on 80s luxe, with strong shoulders, androgynous forms—from the abundance of suits right down to the shaggy pixie cuts of the models—and a powerful, eye-catching color palette that can only be described as a cool sunset.
This being a couture collection, there was no expense spared, no detail deemed too extravagant. That meant lots of feathers, sequins, crystals, and velvets. Luxe, indeed.
As is usual with Armani Privé, we will be seeing plenty of these designs on red carpets in the coming months, and I cannot wait. Whoever is bold enough to wear these stunning designs (I especially cannot wait to see the final dress in action) is sure to make a splash.
Chanel
As usual, the set at the Grand Palais was incredibly creative and cheeky; for Fall 2015 couture, head designer Karl Lagerfeld had models walk through a Monte Carlo-style casino where Chanel muses like Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, and Lily Rose Depp sat at poker tables, gambling away while identical, robotic models passed by. Robotic being the key word here, because many of the early looks in the show were 3D-printed and created with computer technology. With handmade detail being so integral to the institute of couture, I'm not quite sure if 3D-printing technology has a place in high fashion, but you've got to give it to Lagerfeld for always being innovative and ready to try the newest thing.
Stylistically, the daytime looks at the Chanel show just did not do it for me. Their odd stiffness is better explained when you consider the use of 3D-printing, but to be honest I often feel this way with Chanel shows as of late; the first half of the collection is repetitive at best, always the same tweed skirt sets and 1920s shapes that have been Chanel staples since the era of Mademoiselle Coco herself. The creative process might have been an innovative gamble (if we are to go with the casino theme) but the tweed suit is hardly a risk.
But the second half. That's where the magic is with this collection. From frilly cocktail dresses to decadent gowns, these are the clothes that are going to sell with the couture crowd.
Also, can we just talk about the la mariée suit worn by it-model Kendall Jenner? That is how you take elements of Chanel tradition and have some fun and innovation with it. Here's hoping some celebrity or high-fashion favorite is getting married soon and wanting to wear this, because this wedding suit needs a moment.
Christian Dior
Raf Simons is one of the—if not the—best designers in the business. He outdoes himself with each collection he delivers for Christian Dior, and to think I have gone from being skeptical of his appointment to absolutely ecstatic each time he does something new is crazy. After delivering a knockout resort collection in Cannes, Simons has done it again with the Fall 2015 couture collection. He has an obviously minimalist approach to haute couture, which at first I was nervous about (how can one be both minimalist and opulent and luxe enough for couture?) but I have come to appreciate how Simons has time and time again managed to make wearable, commercial, but no-less extravagant clothes for his couture collections at Dior. I think it's easy to confuse high fashion with high concept, and it's nice to see that there's a way to present straightforward, beautiful clothes that are going to impress.
Part 60s hippie, part modern medieval princess, and with a touch of New Look tradition thrown in, this collection had a lot going on, and yet it all felt incredibly cohesive. As usual, Simons has taken up Christian Dior's interest in flowers and has used fauna as the starting point for many of his collections, but here it takes a less literal approach than it has in the past. There are floral motifs here and there, and the set definitely had references to flowers, greenhouses, and naturalist painting, but it's not the petal-like creations that Simons started out with.
If people were still comparing Simons' vision of Dior to Galliano's, they shouldn't be doing that anymore. This is the Christian Dior of Raf Simons, and it is incredibly successful. In fact, it's kind of crazy to think back on the days of over-excess to the point of tackiness. Now, Dior couture is just as luxurious, but you could actually see well-dressed women wear these pieces out and about. And even with couture, the pinnacle of high fashion, you should still want women to wear your clothes in real life. Simons has made that a reality.
Elie Saab
Elie Saab shows may not be cutting edge or innovative in the same way that other couture shows tend to be, but Saab has made a career out of the pretty, sparkling gowns that grace the runway season after season. One comes to expect plenty of lace, embroidery, and embellishment, and yet, each season one marvels at the fun twists in Saab's designs and the stunning color palettes. We may know what to expect out of an Elie Saab show, but we love it each and every time.
For fall, Saab went a vaguely Gothic route, with a moody color palette of glittering emeralds and rich burgundies, medieval dress styles, and golden crowns atop the head of every model. He also added fur trims to the sleeves of dresses for added autumnal flare. This collection will appeal to the large list of royals who flock to Saab's creations as well as Hollywood princesses. The burgundy caped-jumpsuit, for example, better make an appearance on the red carpet (perhaps the Golden Globes?) or I will be incredibly disappointed. Another beautiful turn from the man who loves to create beautiful dresses.
(all images via style.com)
What was your favorite collection? And be sure to check back for Part II tomorrow!
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| Backstage at the Dior Cruise 2016 show via Vogue |
Destination fashion shows seem to be a trend all there own for the 2016 cruise/resort/pre-spring circuit. Chanel took Seoul, Louis Vuitton jet setted to Palm Springs, and now Christian Dior has staged a destination fashion show of its own at the iconic Palais Bulles (or Bubble Palace, also known as the former home of designer visionary Pierre Cardin) in Cannes. Oddly enough, this collection was originally going to be shown in Los Angeles on the 9th, but perhaps the proximity to Louis Vuitton's Palm Springs party was annoying. It's not a destination fashion show if the guests can simply drive to the locale!
In any manner, Raf Simons & Co. decided that the Bubble Palace was a more fitting venue, and with the Cannes Film Festival about to get underway, the change of venues seemed like a smart plan. Expect to see many of these fresh designs at Cannes photocalls and press parties (most of the looks were a little too casual for the über-glam Cannes red carpet).
The change from Los Angeles to Cannes seemed to make sense when it came to the clothes as well. The opening looks were no doubt Raf Simon's modern, 21st-century take on Brigitte Bardot's iconic gingham dresses (Bardot herself being a fixture of Cannes in the 60s and 70s). Other looks were sculptural and powerful, reflecting the unique architecture of the Palais. Simons has a love affair with beautiful architecture, and Monday's presentation was no exception.
Other staples of Raf Simons design? The use of inventive materials. Several looks were composed of some sort of mesh that reminded me of those little mesh pouches that the supermarkets have on apples and other fruit. Simons is always playing with textiles and pattern. I've never seen anyone make supermarket mesh look so cool.
My favorite inappropriate-for-resort touch? The fur stole accessories, of course. A fur stole may not make for the most practical of poolside accessories, but you know these accessories are going to be a hit with the street style crowd.
But the number one takeaway from this collection: Raf Simons has transformed the Christian Dior brand into a commercial success. Some may say this is a bad thing and lament the loss of the artistic John Galliano, but let's be honest: even high-fashion has to sell, and I would wear every one of these designs. The fact that Simon's collections for Dior are wearable does not make them less creative; there is a way to be artistic and innovative while still presenting a product that makes money. Simons expertly combines the creative with the commercial, which is exactly what I think Dior needed when they were looking for the next head designer.
Another stellar collection by my account.
My Favorite Looks:
Behind-the-Scenes Pictures from Vogue:
What did you think of the Dior Cruise 2016 collection?
Talk about a major Cinderella moment! Lily James, one of the stars of your mom's favorite show Downton Abbey, has been dazzling everyone during her promotional tour for Disney's Cinderella. As the titular lead who happens to be one of the most iconic Disney princesses, James had a lot of expectations to live up to both on and off screen, but I must say that she has succeeded! I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've heard it's delightful and I cannot wait to see the gorgeous costumes.
On the red carpet, James has been exuding the Disney princess vibe with every look, donning regal Elie Saab Couture gowns and Christian Dior ensembles. She's an expert at dressing to the occasion, looking like a true princess for large premieres while looking modern and trendy at talk show appearances and fashion week front rows.
And, in a moment when eyebrows are of the utmost beauty importance, Lily James has a gorgeous pair of strong and defined brows to rival miss Cara Delevingne (not an easy feat).
All in all, Lily James is a true rising star, and I hope she has ample opportunities in the future to show off her red carpet game.
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| Wearing Camilla and Marc | Christian Dior | Marchesa Notte | Prada | Black Dress | Elie Saab Couture |
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| Proenza Schouler | Sally LaPointe | Tommy Hilfiger | Suno | Wes Gordon | Christian Dior |
Love a pleated skirt but feel too much like a private school cheerleader? Easy! Just add slits to instantly make your pleats look more mature. Pleat slits add movement and intrigue to any outfit, and it's a perfect style for showing off some leg while still wanting to maintain conservative.
Will you be wearing this skirt style soon?
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Looking for a new 'do but not sure which direction to head in? Consider an intricate braided hairdo. I'm not talking no boring braided pigtails or Pinterest-style complicated princess updos; rather more modern twists on the classic hairstyling technique.
Consider brands Antonio Marras and Christian Dior, who for their respective pre-fall collections turned to a Heidi-meets-Princess-Leia type for beauty inspiration. The end result: a both folksy and futuristic hairstyle that is at once unique and très cool. Braid your hair into three or four sections, then loop them around and pin them up to create your own take on the look.
I also am really digging the reverse French braid pigtails that Refinery29 recently did for one of their editorials. This is not your average playground hairstyle; no, this is an edgy look for a tough lady who just also happens to love pigtails.
If you want to avoid looking like you're ten, try a smoky eye or thick sweep of eyeliner to edge up the look, or wear a minimalist outfit with clean lines. You won't look like you're trying to be ten years younger than you are, but you will be looking like the coolest girl in the room.
What do you think of braided loop hairstyles? Will you be trying this look out?
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| Dior Couture | Dior | Dior | Dior | Dior Couture | Jason Wu |
What did 2014 bring for Jennifer Lawrence? Mockingjay: Part I and X-Men: Days of Future Past meant plenty of red carpet opportunities for America's most relatable actress. She stunned at Cannes (the Dior crop top outfit is one of my favorite looks of hers, beating poofy ball gowns and other more dramatic red carpet looks) and has shown she has great style even when she's just running errands.
In the next year, Lawrence has starring roles in Serena alongside Bradley Cooper in addition to the final installment of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay: Part II. But fear not! Katniss's journey may be coming to a close, but the 24-year-old starlet is just getting started! We're going to be seeing Lawrence's lasting starpower and fashion prowess for a long, long time.
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| image via pantone.com |
The same company that made "Radiant Orchid" pop up everywhere has named a new it-color for 2015: marsala. Pantone describes the 2015 Color of the Year as "a naturally robust and earthy wine red" that "enriches our minds, bodies and souls."Well, okay then.
It's a big jump from last year's vibrant hue, more of a matte oxblood than anything else. And in the short while since Pantone's announcement, there's already been some staunch criticisms about the color and the images it conjures. Who knew a trendy color could be so controversial!?
No matter, there's no denying that marsala has been featured quite prevalently on the Spring 2015 runways. Take a look for yourself!
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| Christopher Kane | Creatures of the Wind | Derek Lam | Christian Dior | Jil Sander | Thakoon |
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| Bottega Veneta | Thankoon | Tracy Reese | Christian Dior | Wes Gordon |
Most of the items from the Spring 2015 collections won't be available for another six months (if you ignore the fact that brands like Moschino and Burberry released pieces immediately following their runway presentations, or that sites like Moda Operandi allow eager fashionistas to pre-order the spring collections) but that doesn't mean we have to wait until next year to start wearing the trends.
The floor-length coat gained a lot of traction during the marathon fashion month, with models at Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Dior, and elsewhere dusting the floor with their maxi coats. The coat styles themselves were quite varied—from Tracy Reese's classic trench coat loosely belted around the waist to Raf Simons' structural outerwear at Christian Dior—so there are varied ways to wear this style.
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Come spring, however, play with proportions! Peter Som and Tracy Reese threw floor-length coats over form-fitting bodysuits. Margiela used a belted coat as a top, strategically cinching it at the waist and pairing with shorts. Thankoon and Emilia Wickstead showed minidresses with long coats, creating a high-low hemline effect.
Shop Floor-Length Coats
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| image source |
Raf Simons was mainly inspired by two things for his fall 2014 Christian Dior haute couture show: the first being Antoinette; the second, flowers (snow white orchids in particular). In fact, Simons has adopted flowers as muse with the same fervor as Christian Dior himself. This season there were plenty of floral motifs, but they were more muted and less literal than they have been in seasons past. Instead, the historical Rococo era took center stage, as Raf imagined what it would be like if Marie Antoinette was traipsing around Versailles and telling people to eat cake in 2014.
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| Paniere skirts at Christian Dior Fall 2014 Couture |
The show opened with a group of panier-skirted dresses in snow whites, emphasizing the season's inspiration early on. These dresses were the most literally Rococo-inspired pieces of the show, but accents and motifs of the 18th century remained.
There were so many beautiful looks from this collection (as it tends to be with couture shows) but surprisingly my favorite looks were a trio of elaborately beaded and embroidered coats over plain black sweaters and pants. The coats were magnificent, the kind of detailing that can only exist in the world of haute couture, and I love seeing Raf simons—long heralded as a king of minimalism thanks to his previous position at Jil Sander—embracing the fanciful side of couture.
There were so many beautiful looks from this collection (as it tends to be with couture shows) but surprisingly my favorite looks were a trio of elaborately beaded and embroidered coats over plain black sweaters and pants. The coats were magnificent, the kind of detailing that can only exist in the world of haute couture, and I love seeing Raf simons—long heralded as a king of minimalism thanks to his previous position at Jil Sander—embracing the fanciful side of couture.
I've been delighted with Raf at Dior thus far, but this collection has quite literally taken the cake as the best yet. You can see that he is growing more confident with designing for an historic fashion house that has a long and rich legacy to uphold.
Of course, the fact that the collection was based on Marie Antoinette doesn't hurt!
Of course, the fact that the collection was based on Marie Antoinette doesn't hurt!
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| Embellished coats and jumpsuits take the cake |
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| Looks from the Dior Cruise 2015 Runway Show (via style.com) |
I've been rewatching Gossip Girl on Netflix lately (the perfect alternative to studying for finals, right?) but it already feels somewhat dated. Poor Dan Humphrey had to put up with so much crap for being from the dreaded Brooklyn *gasp* but if only he had stuck around to see how coveted the New York City borough has become. Blair, who once scoffed at the very idea of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, surely would have been delighted to make the trek if it was for a Christian Dior runway show.
Some of fashion's brightest young things crossed into Brooklyn for a delightfully vibrant Dior cruise collection at a Navy Yard warehouse, and the clothes radiated both the sophisticated class that Dior is known for and the hip urban edge that a city girl would absolutely adore.
Light, airy fabrics inspired by silk scarves from the Dior archives meshed perfectly with bold graphic prints and statement-making black lace-up open-toe booties. There are first date looks, board meeting ensembles, and of course resort-worthy frocks, making the collection one for all women to wear and enjoy.
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| Hanneli Mustaparta | Allison Williams | Rihanna | Leandra Medine | Marion Cotillard | Adele Exarchopoulos |
The front row was just as hip as the Brooklyn setting. Fashion bloggers Hanneli Mustaparta and Leandra Medine (of the Man Repeller) showed up in baby blues. I loved the juxtaposition of the slightly scandalous mesh sweatshirt with the sweet skirt and ladylike pointed pumps from Hanneli.
Allison Williams looked minimalist chic in a Dior tuxedo-inspired jumpsuit and sleek straight hair. She is truly proving herself to be a stunning fashionista.
French ladies Marion Cotillard and Adele Exarchopoulos also attended. Cotillard wore a glimmering Dior maxi shift. It's a cute dress but I think it would have looked even cuter as a mini dress with a swing shape. Exarchopoulos has become a shining star on the red carpet and her look at the Dior show was no exception. Her mix of loose crop top and tight black pencil skirt, complete with classic black pumps, is exceptionally chic and stays true to her vampy style.
In an unexpected turn, Rihanna ended up being my pick for best-dressed amongst the front row celebs. I love her girly bubblegum pink dress and colorful top-handle handbag. With tattoos and a bold red lip, the look isn't too cutesy but rather the perfect mix of girly and edgy.
On both the runways and the seats, the Dior cruise show was full of fabulous looks What was your favorite look from the collection? Who was your best dressed front row lady?
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