This morning, Dior revealed its haute couture Fall/Winter 2021 collection through a film of fantasy and fashion. As the world takes on a digital approach, so did the house, offering a video by the Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone that’s more a tale than a presentation of garments. The atelier’s dreamy story showcased its latest collection at first with introductory scenes hosted in its atelier. To a dainty tune, tailors and seamstresses delicately tended to materials. And as the video zooms out, we see the new pieces presented as miniatures. Smaller versions were then hung up and fitted to mini mannequins, guiding our imagination down a path of reverie.
After, “Le Mythe Dior” began, turning our thoughts into fairytale-like chapters, set in an enchanting forest. Bellboys carrying a small dollhouse reminiscent of Dior’s 30 Avenue Montaigne address passed through the lush scene. As the bellboys reached the end of the path, they stopped, opened up the dollhouse, and entranced the crowd—in particular, a woman emerging from a large shell to have her measurements taken.
Andy Warhol, Miles Fiterman, 1975, Shirley Fiterman, 1976, The Andy Warhol Foudnation for Visual Arts 2019, courtesy of Phillips.
The haute couture collection makes its way through the enchanted forest in miniatures, and flashbacks of the atelier fade into view. As artisans turn mini garments into full-figured pieces, characters in the forest emerge in the new luxurious pieces. Around every corner, the fantasy land awakens our imagination, reminding us that the tale of fashion is one of many layers. A sea-foam pleated dress with draped, winged sleeves dazzles with woven cut-out detailing on the bust; a ballgown nearly made of whispy feathers bellows out down below, belted at the waist with a braided belt; and a dress with a patchwork-like bottom is held up top by panels of black organza. Folds of glimmering fabric, large graphics, and embroidered cursive sentences in French echo the collection’s luminous allure.
For Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the fashion tale’s many layers are often found in the world of art—like photography, painting, and sculpture. All, however, are centered on femininity and the idea of what it is to be a woman. For the latest collection, Chiuri reflected on the work of Lee Miller, Dora Maar, and Jacqueline Lamba—all artists who toy with surrealism and take the idea of a muse to new heights. The surreal and transformative image of a woman was also inspired by the work of Cindy Sherman, as well as the colors of paintings by Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning. “Surrealist images manage to make visible what is in itself invisible,” said Chiuri. “I’m interested in mystery and magic, which are also a way of exorcising uncertainty about the future.”
Courtesy of Dior.
The presentation also embodied the idea of “Théâtre de la Mode,” a fashion exhibition of mannequins by French couturiers that traveled between Europe and America in 1945. Evoking Christian Dior’s personal voyage, “Le Mythe Dior” begins and ends with exceptionally crafted pieces that stand the test of time and tale.
The presentation also ellipses eras and technological advances, bringing wonderment to the 21st century. To commemorate the new collection, Dior also revealed the collection in an augmented reality presentation. Available on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat is the artistry of savoir-faire, presented in an invitation to dream and escape.
Courtesy of Phillips.
