Christian Dior's Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2016 show happened not so long ago, but without a certain ex-traordinary (get it) member of it's team, Creative Director, Raf Simons.
It is very well known that Simons has said "Au Revoir" to his job as Creative Director of French Fashion House 'Christian Dior', however when the time came for Raf to acknowledge his audience on the catwalk after all his models had exited it themselves, I sensed a feeling of sadness but also a fresh and exciting new beginning as not him but a team of designers stepped out on to the runway to thank the audience.
This Christian Dior collection was designed largely by Serge Ruffieux, who since 2008 has been Head Designer of Christian Dior, Lucie Meier, who before working at Christian Dior worked at Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga, and of course, it's incredibly creative design team. Cleverly, this Haute Couture Spring-Summer collection has maintained Simons' brand revolutionising modern aesthetic, however largely because it was designed whilst Simons' was still in the job. The inspiration for this collection was "the relaxed and spontaneous Parisienne", who is very much present within this collection as both soft and tailored forms dominate the collection, emphasising the relaxed and spontaneous nature of it. Whilst the collection has maintained Simons' modern aesthetic of which he had developed throughout his years at Dior, the team of designers' key inspiration being "the relaxed, spontaneous Parisienne" was emphasised through their use of structure, textures and colours. Sequinned textures, floral prints, metallics and soft materials combined with a colour palette consisting of navy, black, white, vibrant oranges and pinks as well as muted mustards and blue hues shaped this collection and enhanced it's Parisienne influence.
The forms of pieces within this collection were simple yet dramatised through the use of colour and texture. Off the shoulder pieces were a reoccurring look within the collection along with panelled or A-line skirts which strongly resonated with it's Parisienne influence. The combination of tailored jackets and soft chiffon dresses gave the collection the dimension and aura it needed in order to achieve a collection that screamed "WEAR ME IF YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A RELAXED, SPONTANEOUS PARISIENNE".
The shoes within this collection were also beautiful. Throughout Simons' time at Dior, shoes were an ever-developing element within the French Fashion House that continued to amaze me each season; and this season was not any different despite the fact new designers were involved in the design process of it. The incorporation of a leopard print within the design of the collection's shoes was surpirinsly subtle however worked harmoniously with the entirety of the collection. Simple mule-esque heels as well as ones with large bows completed every look and polished off the collection to Parisienne extent they were after.
This collection designed by Christian was beautiful, delicate, harmonious and really encapsulated the relaxed and spontaneous personality of a Parisienne. Although like I said in one of my last posts that it is sad to see Raf go, I am excited for the future of Christian Dior and, if each season they can continue to achieve results like these, I think the death of Raf Simons as Creative Director of Dior would be an event we can look back on more positively (despite the fact it's still really sad).
P.S I wonder who will be the next Creative Director... We must wait and see.
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