Sascha and I arrived at Longchamp Racecourse for the Dior Spring Summer ’19 Show excited but also a little confused. The location suggested a continuation on the equestrian theme of the Cruise collection, but the teaser Instagram posts of the past few hours hinted at a dance theme.
Once we made our way to the show venue it became apparent that the racetrack was purely location rather than inspiration, with dance quotes emblazoned over the exterior.
We headed indoors (after the obligatory pre-show pictures of course!)
to find ourselves in a spot-lit setting that was clearly going to deliver a performance over and above a parade of models.
The lights went down, and the performance began.
Choreographed by Israeli Sharon Eyal, eight dancers (dressed in custom Dior body suits) held the audience enthralled while the models paraded by.
It was an amazing experience and one I thoroughly enjoyed, with my only criticism being that the lighting and the distance made it a little more difficult than usual to see the detail of the clothes.
The following days visit to the showroom to see the garments up close addressed that completely though, and the full beauty of the collection and the artistry and skill that had gone into its construction was immediately apparent.
This dress, which I had loved on the runway but was desperate to see the detail up close didn’t disappoint, with the craftsmanship that had gone into this hand appliquéd flowers just exquisite.
This gorgeous daisy print trench was even more beautiful up close,
Especially when combined with the olive logo print lining which sadly I didn’t take a picture of….
These tie die pieces floated along the runway, no wonder when the up close inspection revealed they were constructed out of individual silk scarves stitched together.
The closing dress was beautiful in its simplicity, but again the up close inspection revealed it to be far from simple in its construct, with layer upon layer of pleated tulle delivering the light and movement.
Maria Grazia had been quoted after the show on her belief in the connection between dance and fashion, with both having an emphasis on the body but also requiring movement and lightness to deliver their full impact.
These beautiful feathered pieces delivered on that in spades, with the intricate kaleidoscope inspired designs formed into garments that were as light as air, blurring the lines between ready to wear and haute couture.
What were my ultimate favorites? For that you’ll have to wait and see when the collection drops, as I haven’t revealed any of my selections in this post….
A huge thank you to Dior for once again giving me the opportunity to be part of this magical experience, and especially for being able to share it with Sascha. J’aDior xxx