Raf Simons takes ownership of new role in Haute Couture show
In a private house in Paris on Monday, creative director Raf Simons revealed why Dior is far from finished.
In the past two years, Dior has dealt with controversy, vacancy and an unfulfilled legacy that many believed would contribute to the demise of the French fashion house. Unless, a revival swept through Dior's illustrious, historical and hollowed-out image.
In a private house on the Avenue d'Iena on Monday, creative director Raf Simons revealed why Christian Dior is far from finished. Simons- the successor of fallen fashion star John Galliano- reiterated through each and every single one of the 54 outfits featured on the haute couture show runway that the underlying voice of Dior was still very much alive, speaking into the ears of the industry's top editors, designers and stars.
After his teary goodbye at minimalist fashion brand Jil Sander's Fall 2012 womenswear show, the Belgian designer was hand-selected by LVMH chair/CEO Bernard Arnault for the vacant Dior post. "I simply told him, 'It's Dior, so give us your version, your vision of what Dior is today,' " Arnault told reporters. The impressed boss of Simons sat alongside Princess Charlene of Monaco and a sea of notable guests, including fashion's biggest designers: Alber Elbaz, Donatella Versace, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs and Pierre Cardin were among the names. Stars included French actress and Dior spokeswoman Marion Cotillard, Sharon Stone and Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence. The guests marveled at the floral walls, created to enhance the designs featured down the runway.
View photos of the Fall/Winter 2013 haute couture collection below.