(NEW YORK) Christian Dior
There’s been a youthful air at the haute couture shows in Paris so far: flats paired with evening gowns at Schiaparelli, and a couple of shiny, clubby body-con minis chez Versace. While Raf Simons’ collection for Christian Dior has a much different take on youth, it manifested in brief hemlines, baby doll silhouettes, and eyelet-cut chiffons.
Some mini dresses came with eyelet bustles on the hips that eclipsed the dress hemlines. Meanwhile a Fifties-styled full-skirted strapless dress was cut at the calves and done up in a pale shade of baby blue. There were high-waisted swing skirts paired with sleeveless crop tops, and sleek, sexy dark pantsuits peppered with eyelet detailing. Plus, Simons’ signature strapless bustier tops made a few cameos, paired with skinny pants. But perhaps the most overtly youthful statement of all were glittery floral sneakers that marched down the runway with all of these delicate garments, hand sewn by les petits mains in the Paris ateliers.
Pretty young things came to check out the show, with Allison Williams, Leelee Sobieski, French actress Olga Kurylenko, and Kate Bosworth perched front row. Per usual, there were two showings of Dior (one for press and one for buyers), highlighting the maison and Simons’ importance on the couture circuit. But this year, according to Vogue UK, a third show was staged at Dior’s expense for students from major fashion colleges from around the world. Two lucky students from each school were invited to attend, selected from the likes of Central Saint Martins and Condé Nast College. Proof that Simons is not only inspired by youth, but likes to inspire the youth in return.
