When a new creative director takes the helm of a house – as has so often been the case recently – a veritable frenzy of excitement surrounds their inaugural collection. Maria Grazia Chiuri's S/S17 debut for Christian Dior was a prime example of such anticipation, and her uniquely feminine vision found its synergy with the house’s storied codes through a fresh new incarnation of the Dior woman. “I strive to be attentive and open to the world and to create fashion that resembles the women of today,” she said “fashion that corresponds to their changing needs, freed from the stereotypical categories of ‘masculine/feminine’, ‘young/not so young’, ‘reason/emotion.’” What resulted was a collection that paid tribute to the history of Dior – complete with a take on Galliano’s famed J’Adore slogan (now: J’Adior), and Hedi Slimane’s bee motif for Dior Homme – but was resoundingly current: binaries were blurred and feminism was writ large across the chests of T-shirts. Here, some of the women who wore the pieces on the runway share their reflections on the line.
Bet Callieri
“What I like the most about Dior is the shape of their pieces, and their continual re-creation and dynamic new ways of seeing classic ‘Dior’ styles – that, plus the ingénue and originality of everything that they do. Without sounding too clichéd, I love the balance of femininity and almost tomboyish strength of Maria Grazia Chiuri’s designs this season, some of which have a simplicity to them but with such intricate detail… They are clothes that, when worn, made me feel so powerful. Also, for the show, each model had personalised jewellery with our zodiac signs on the pieces, which I really loved.”
Nora Attal
“I love how iconic and distinct Dior is – also, the show sets are always amazing. This season I really liked how the collection was directed more towards the younger generation – the accessories and shoes really portrayed that, and it seemed more wearable for every day.”
Julia Hafstrom
“Dior is such a timeless brand that always makes you feel beautiful – I loved this collection, but my favorite pieces were the bras and the fencing vests. It was so much fun just to be there, and to be part of such a cool moment for the house.”
Lululeika Liep
“Dior is often very classic, but every collection still surprises you in a new way. I really liked the cool, strong ballerina that Maria Grazia Chiuri created, and all of the strong statements in the collection – plus, the simple underwear was a lovely detail. It was wild, when I came for the fitting I had to wait for a little while and then I found out it was because an interview with Jennifer Lawrence was happening in the same room. I wondered if I should just jump out there to see her and tell her that I was a big fan...”
Adrienne Jüliger
“I love that Dior always has that special touch which makes it unique; if you see a dress, you can immediately tell if it’s Dior, and it’s always super elegant but still wearable. I really liked that new style that Maria Grazia Chiuri brought to the house this season: the classic dresses paired with the cool new stuff; she has shown her own style, but still kept that classic Dior aesthetic.”