Perfect!
Meticulous, manicured hedges by Belgian landscape artist Martin Wirtz was the stage for the anticipated Christian Dior couture presentation. It is definitely a pretty turn from the elaborate and beautifully dense setting of flowers from fall. Raf Simons said this is the very idea of spring. And so it was when the confections made their presence. The models were all done up and styled with small feathered caps of hair and wore sparkling red lips dressed in these originals.
The theme is similar to the allure to his fall couture and this time for spring it is even better.
The presentation started with a bustier dress with a black bodice, simply draped, with a delicious skirt in a Fifties cut and length.
Simons continues to reinvent the nipped in the waist tuxedos, and the bustiers worn over cigarette pants that models' hands were tucked into. There was a reference of Dior's iconic "Bar" jacket in flare at the hem of scoop-neck satin tops and in the ethereal, trumpet-shaped bridal gowns that came at the climax of the show.
Simons continued using the great ideas from his debut. Instead of embroideries on the front and back of his dresses, they were planted in an asymmetric fashion on fitted gowns and on a short sleeved dress in a sea foam color.
Simons gave some looks a modern and futuristic feel by using colors that were bold and unique like using neon yellow embroideries on a black bustier or tinting the edges of floral shapes with a shade of red on a cream column of Guipere lace.
Simons said he is taking things slow in the makeover of Dior. He didn't want to do a heavy concept, hence the idea of the garden, flowers, spring and the evolution of that.
The snow made Paris beautiful yet the streets were slushy. After viewing this impeccable collection spring is not such a bad idea after all! Wearing any of these Christian Dior creations will make spring even more fabulous!
When it is time to go there is a way to say goodbye by leaving a mark that no one will forget. This is exactly what Raf Simons did with the last collection he designed for Jil Sander for fall 2012. This is a collection that was so clean and jam packed with wonderful silhouettes encompanied with smart details. Out of all the years that he has been at Jil Sander this collection was the best one out of all of them. Chic, elegant and refined that only Simons can do best with his talent for minimalism.
The show started with double faced clutch coats that were sublime in pale pink and dove gray, tobacco and bright pink, with an air of the late-Fifties couture and then went into confections with lingerie references. Intricate construction was involved, many in powdery make up shades, combined tones and textures with visual ease.
Simons has worked with the couture aura for several seasons and showed that not only can he create elegant evening wear but can also turn out some luxe looks for the day that will make women throw money to purchase them.
So on the way out, Simons bids farewell to Jil Sander and steps into the unknown, only to be carried on into a new chapter that will be the most amazing journey of his life.
The fall couture showing of Alexis Mabille followed after Raf Simon's much anticipated debut at ChristianDior. That is a tough act to follow. At Dior the collection was a much stripped down modernity. At Alexis Mabille an opulent and glamorous line up was unveiled at the Shangri-La Hotel. The gowns were inspired by precious jewels and were made of silky velvets, metallic lace, stretch sequins fabric and lames in beautiful rich shades of emerald, garnet, tanzanite - and some were sprinkled with fabulous Swarofsky crystals for the extra bling.
The lamédresses looked like sheets of iridescent foil sculpted onto the body giving a very shiny a sense of young kitsch. The Hollywood-like silhouettes would have been fitting for classic stars like Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, or Carole Lombard.
Beautiful red and black crepe gowns featured beautiful cowl backs, a beaded silver gown had a fragile touch of a midnight blue sheath over it and the nude color finale gown gave a beautiful whisper of subtle sex appeal with a touch of sparkle under a layer of tulle.
I like that Mabille takes risks in silhouettes, fabric choice, and details. The outcome is always charming. Just like him!
Christian Dior is one of the most luxurious and beautiful brands in the world.Monsieur Dior himself always created clothes that were highly exquisite and unique. They had the most elegant touches in construction, detail and silhouette. Not only did they make a woman look beautiful but they made her feel beautiful as well. Today the house of Christian Dior continues to create the most beautiful clothes designed by the very talented and made by the best hands.
2012 marks a new era for the house of Dior with the most anticipated debut since Galliano's own debut in 1997. The beginning of the Raf Simons era took place in a grand residence in a series of rooms, the walls of each covered densely packed, floor to ceiling with flowers. One room had white orchids, deep purple delphiniums and multi blooms in another. And in these rooms sat editors, executives and clients. The house ambassadors Sharon Stone and Marion Cotillard were present, as well as a variety of supportive competitive designers - Azzedine Alaïa, Marc Jacobs, Riccardo Tisci, Diane Von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace, as well as Pierre Cardin, Jean-Louis Scherrer, and Alber Elbaz. "We designers don't hate each other like they used to." says Marc Jacobs. Riccardo Tisci said the collection is "very Raf" and "the future of fashion."
The collection opened with a tuxedo that is an elegant updated Bar suit in black. "Cut off ballgown" ensembles came out with slim cigarette pants that were richly embroidered and elegant. There were some soft party dresses in the mix with a mixture of true couture craft. There was a dress of wide bands of pale pink and blue feathers that was quite exquisite.
Major focus was put on construction and subtle detail that at the same time offered a range from elegant sophistication to the younger end without compromising the Dior aesthetic. Simons worked on various fabric weights from astrakhan and mink to chiffon and mesh.
In the midst of all his blacks and greys he expressed his love for color in the form of a "Dior Red" coat and a shocking citron dress of sheer T-shirt and skirt.
In this entire collection Simons showed the respect for the house founder through his research of the fabulous archival wonders as the Bar, the florals, the range of grey tweeds while staying in the 21st century.
The house of Dior is already on the way with the New Looks and will do extremely well with old and new clients. LVMH Moët Hennesy Louis Vuitton chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault gave Simons a straightforward brief. "I simply told him: 'It's Dior, so give us your version, your vision of what Dior is today. You have the result. I think it's fantastic, " he said. After the show, Arnault said his yearlong designer search was worth the wait. "I didn't want to rush," he said. It was really a question of choosing the best person for the job, and he stood head and shoulders above the rest: the greatest talent of the moment for Dior, the greatest house in the world."
I am sure that Monsieur Dior himself would agree and would also be pretty pleased. After his first collection for Dior, Raf Simons will definitely continue to evolve in his craft as an amazing haute couture designer. Congratulations!
This collection is truly a masterpiece that holds the JiI Sander aesthetic and as the clean Raf Simon's touch is added. This collection for Spring 2012 is a promise to all those who are looking for a minimal yet feminine and lady like quality with a mid-century touch which he said "the highest form that survived and that you always see coming back in contemporary creative outings."
So, out came a line up that began with the signature Jil Sander white shirt that was worked into various ways that was clean and chic . The bold pink paisley prints added a punch, pants and skirts came in gingham, knits were had motifs of Picasso ceramics that were sanction by the artist's familly trust. The dresses that followed after that exuded pure Jil Sander were truly outstanding. The beautiful Grace Kelly-like strapless white full skirted dress was breath taking. Simons has definitely put his best foot forward for a great Spring season for Jil Sander.
