Fashion Merchandising: Pure Glamour at Dior

Whether its Madame Butterfly, Barbra Hutton or this seasons Baby Jane Holzer meets Mrs. Robinson meets Raquel Welch, John Galliano always finds the perfect Dior Heroines that inspire his collections. Enormous thick eyelashes, gigantic back combed hair combined with Kennedy-era skirt suits and alluring dresses, portrayed Galliano’s idea of “pure glamour”. Galliano drew on the “optimism and opulence” of the sixties, an era when change in fashion as well as politics was in the air, much like today.
The color palette consisted of lime green, bright orange, red, fuchsia and purple. A delightfully surprising color story for a fall collection. Beautiful patent trim suits in red and an enlarged Dior hound’s-tooth print were particularly striking. Simply cut dresses were sublime with psychedelic-like prints, and flashy embroideries and feathers. Evening dresses were bubble cut, be-jeweled, lustrous, and the prints were mesmerizing. Luxurious mink and chinchilla flared coats, were cut in horizontal bands, and accessorized with short leather gloves and top handle bags.
Galliano always incorporates a narrative theme or a structure based on a fictional character. Unlike other Dior shows with an elaborate set and fantastic props, Galliano kept the right amount of creative restraint on both the collection and the backdrop. The set included a stunning waterfall staircase, that was purely for looks and not use. The models strutted down the runway to the tune of Mrs. Robinson with voluminous Baby Jane hair and thick embellished eyelashes. The fabulous hair and makeup dramatics set aside, the Dior collection for fall 2008 was muted compared to most Galliano shows. However, Galliano’s work was, as always, impeccably glamorous and this time completely wearable.

If you haven’t already…check out the Fall 2008 Dior show!
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2008RTW/video/CDIOR