Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012. The Raf Simons Era Begins.

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!

Christian Dior 

Haute Couture

Autumn/Winter

2012-2013