Dior brings Paris to the Bund
By Caterina Bernardini |
April 20, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ELEGANCE and sophistication. Exclusivity and naturalness. These are qualities Christian Dior is renowned for.
The historic House of Roosevelt on the Bund was the venue for the presentation of the Dior spring/summer 2012 haute couture collection last Saturday - the first time the French fashion house has held a haute couture show in China.
With the location reminiscent of the salons of Dior's couture house at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, the event created a very special atmosphere. Guests in their best outfits - most of the women wearing Dior, of course --- sipped champagne to the accompaniment of delicate piano music. While the event was taking place on the Shanghai waterfront, there was an unmistakable Parisienne air to proceedings.
After almost an hour, where photographers were busy getting pictures of the glamorous guests, finally the show started. The stunning models - among them famous names such as Liu Wen, He Sui and Emma Pei - were elegance personified on the catwalk, even in incredibly high heels.
Stark tones informed the collection - white embroidery on black, contrasting with black on white - creating a body of luminous work. A restrained palette included black, white and Dior grey, accented with red, deep aubergine, nude and lavender.
Jupons were finished with precision, the semi-sheer layers revealing the painstaking detail behind each creation. Equal precision was evident in the cutting technique, seen through translucent layers of organdi, plissé and jacquard.
Among the collection highlights were long, nineteenth-century style dresses. Though coming with a hefty price tags, they would be perfect for very special occasions.
Throughout, the fine threadwork revealed the precise handiwork and artistry of Dior couture and Bill Gaytten, who replaced the controversial John Galliano as artistic director of the house in 2011.
The result was a collection for smart, chic and sophisticated women who know the real meaning of elegance.
Gaytten's Swansong
With Dior recently appointing Raf Simons as its new leader, Shanghai looks likely to have been the swansong for Gaytten, who was previously Galliano's right-hand man at the fashion house.
Celebrities on hand to applaud the first Dior haute couture show in China included actress Ni Ni, top model Natalia Vodianova, ex-model turned TV anchor Linda Li and the fashion photographer Chen Man. The presence of so many famous faces underlines the expansion of the luxury market in China.
As if presenting a show of beautiful garments wasn't enough, Dior also staged a photographic exhibition for guests. On display was the work of French photographer Gerard Uferas, who visited Dior's headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne and documented the goings-on at this mysterious yet unpretentious workshop, illustrating the story of how this haute couture show was produced.
The historic House of Roosevelt on the Bund was the venue for the presentation of the Dior spring/summer 2012 haute couture collection last Saturday - the first time the French fashion house has held a haute couture show in China.
With the location reminiscent of the salons of Dior's couture house at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, the event created a very special atmosphere. Guests in their best outfits - most of the women wearing Dior, of course --- sipped champagne to the accompaniment of delicate piano music. While the event was taking place on the Shanghai waterfront, there was an unmistakable Parisienne air to proceedings.
After almost an hour, where photographers were busy getting pictures of the glamorous guests, finally the show started. The stunning models - among them famous names such as Liu Wen, He Sui and Emma Pei - were elegance personified on the catwalk, even in incredibly high heels.
Stark tones informed the collection - white embroidery on black, contrasting with black on white - creating a body of luminous work. A restrained palette included black, white and Dior grey, accented with red, deep aubergine, nude and lavender.
Jupons were finished with precision, the semi-sheer layers revealing the painstaking detail behind each creation. Equal precision was evident in the cutting technique, seen through translucent layers of organdi, plissé and jacquard.
Among the collection highlights were long, nineteenth-century style dresses. Though coming with a hefty price tags, they would be perfect for very special occasions.
Throughout, the fine threadwork revealed the precise handiwork and artistry of Dior couture and Bill Gaytten, who replaced the controversial John Galliano as artistic director of the house in 2011.
The result was a collection for smart, chic and sophisticated women who know the real meaning of elegance.
Gaytten's Swansong
With Dior recently appointing Raf Simons as its new leader, Shanghai looks likely to have been the swansong for Gaytten, who was previously Galliano's right-hand man at the fashion house.
Celebrities on hand to applaud the first Dior haute couture show in China included actress Ni Ni, top model Natalia Vodianova, ex-model turned TV anchor Linda Li and the fashion photographer Chen Man. The presence of so many famous faces underlines the expansion of the luxury market in China.
As if presenting a show of beautiful garments wasn't enough, Dior also staged a photographic exhibition for guests. On display was the work of French photographer Gerard Uferas, who visited Dior's headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne and documented the goings-on at this mysterious yet unpretentious workshop, illustrating the story of how this haute couture show was produced.
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