ONE year after Maria Grazia Chiuri showed her first collection at Dior, the fashion house started PFW with a triumph. Chiuri created her own It girl image in 2017 at Dior with her We Should All Be Feminists t-shirts, as well as the leather berets and infamous tulle skirts with bodysuits in her second. And for SS18 she continued the feminist theme, asking this time, perhaps ironically, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?”.
Not to mention that Chiuri is the brand’s first female creative director – and that she has managed to bring a youthful yet elegant image to Christian Dior, making it one of the most coveted labels of the moment. With such high expectations for the SS18 show, Chiuri exceeded them all, proving that she makes the rules over at the historic Parisian fashion house. The show referenced and explored the work of French-American (female) artist Niki de Saint Phalle who was known for her vivid coloured huge sculptures.
The collection featured lots of denim, in all sorts of silhouettes and looks, paired with a signature white t-shirt, creating the ultimate modern-day Parisian woman image. Then came excellently tailored, all-black suits, with black chokers – another Chiuri/Dior signature.
The new Dior for SS18 also had motor-crossed styled jackets and jumpsuits, which have been seen on many runways this fashion month. Then came a new selection of the Dior vintage-esque handbags, which referenced the vintage Dior monogram, followed by chequered mini-dresses trimmed with the new Christian Dior logo.
This new collection demonstrates Chiuri’s enormous ability to encapture and express a vision of modern femininity.
by Jessica Graham
Images Christian Dior