Photo Credit: Christian Dior
The mere name “Christian Dior” exudes French sophistication—so we were not surprised to see just how gorgeously elegant the fashion house’s new Cruise 2019 collection looked on the runway in Chantilly, France. The show was masterfully put together by Maria Grazia Chiuri—the brand’s first female artistic director—combining Dior’s French heritage with a Southwestern chic aesthetic, drawing inspiration from Mexican female rodeo riders called “escaramuzas.” Notable attendees included influencers Aimee Song, Alexa Chung, Camila Coelho, Chiara Ferragni, Paris Jackson and Negin Mirsalehi.
Photo Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Christian Dior
Photo Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Christian Dior
Though the collection was deeply rooted in tradition, Chiuri put the two regions together for an overall, modern look and feel. She used varied fabrics and combined unexpected materials, including a French classic, “toile de Jouy,” lace, rubber, Japanese cotton and leather. Models walking the runway wore full, ornate skirts that were narrowed at the waist to maintain a feminine shape, further emphasized with thick waist belts, along with fitted jackets.
Photo Credit: Christian Dior
Juxtaposing materials were also put together for an unanticipated, yet welcomed combination, such as delicate lace with black rubber boots, further highlighting the marriage between the past and the present. Additionally, Chiuri drew inspiration from “The House of the Spirits,” Chilean writer Isabel Allende‘s first novel, which showcases a cast of independent female characters.
Photo Credit: Christian Dior
To complete the looks, some models wore the Chiuri’s remake of the iconic Dior Saddle bag and wide-brimmed straw hats, envisioned and created by Stephen Jones, while droplets of rain graced the runway perfectly and female riders on their white horses galloped through the sanded area in the middle of the gorgeously appointed space. The overall result was a strong collection of clothing and accessories, worn by powerful and assertive women, supporting each other and overcoming gender barriers.
