Christian Dior, Haute Couture, SS11, Paris.
Considering all the controversy surrounding Galliano’s exit from Dior it is worth returning the focus back to the clothes of this great house. Returning to the fabrics from the Spring-Summer 2011 haute couture show, there is an incredible process of layering in the fabrics.
It appears that the main fabrics are swathed in a fine layer of tulle, or possible multiple layers, to build up a gradient of colour that flows across the elegant vintage silhouettes.
In one show report, it was mentioned that the masks were a styling reference that tied into the hype surrounding the movie Black Swan, however this is not necessarily true. Styling can sometimes be the clue that unlocks the collection, and in this case the masks seemed the key to unlocking the process. These were not dresses to be taken on a superficial viewing alone as the textiles in themselves are “masked” in their own way. The effect is that the fabric is given more depth, more interesting shadowing in the creases, and more light catching halos around the outer edges.
Catwalk images from Vogue.co.uk»
