When Christian Dior finally confirmed Raf Simons would fill the couture abyss that John Galliano abruptly created, the next step was to scrutinize his first collection for the Paris fashion house. The fall 2012 collection, which was shown earlier this week, garnered mixed reviews.
Simons faces a challenge like no other as all eyes are on the direction in which he chooses to steer the Dior brand. After Hedi Slimane made the decision to change Yves Saint Laurent to Saint Laurent Paris, we’re poised to expect the unexpected. The new guys are in the “house” and they’re switching the game up.
Over 50 streamlined looks were shown in Paris in a house that was lined from floor to ceiling with flowers. Perhaps a tribute to Mr. Dior as he loved flowers.
At first glance, the term ‘simple’ comes to mind; but take a few moments to remember the Christian Dior energy, legacy and the brand in general. The use of clean lines, color and a feminine touch were an ode to the Dior past.
Simons is in a position where treading lightly means looking to the past, present and future – all at once. Until now, he’s had no experience in haute couture. He started designing for women in 2005 at Jil Sander and established himself as a menswear designer with the launch of his eponymous label in 1995.
Browse through the collection, tune out the noise, appreciate the intricate details and decide for yourself how you feel about Simons’ Dior debut.
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To view the complete collection, visit WWD.
