Dior took to the Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, to reveal its 2017 Cruise collection.
The fashion house is no stranger to the grand venue, as it frequented the palace in the 50s to unveil shows. Pouf sleeves, ruffles, and pleated skirts matched the historic site as Dior revived the image of the modern woman of the 18th century. The models were adorned with structured tops and jackets, which speak to the traditional Dior. Layers were a common theme, as sweaters were dressed under jackets, which were cinched by thin silk scarfs.
The runway carpet added to the ambiance and was like none other – images of foxes being hunted could be seen and we were again brought back to that historic era. Printed scarves were a signature runway item, as they were woven into dresses and looped into purses. Although the brand featured its patterns and prints on some garments, it highlighted them primarily on the scarves and bags which complemented the outfits.
According to Vogue, guests of the show were invited to dine at a “one-night-only pop up bar” (apparently that’s a thing) located in London, before heading to the show.
Emma Roberts and Kate Beckinsale were spotted at the exclusive Lady Dior Pub.
Dior grabbed the fashion world’s attention when it announced that model Bella Hadid would be their newest beauty ambassador. Hadid joined the waves of models strutting down the runway during the unveiling of the collection. Bella’s boyfriend, Abel Tesfaye (known as The Weeknd), could be seen in the front row along with celebs Alexa Chung, Kate Beckinsale, and Elizabeth Olsen among others.
The show’s creative directors, Lucie Meier and Serge Ruffieux, stayed consistent in their theme and put forth a cohesive collection that made sense for both the brand and location. Both Meier and Ruffieux are interim designers, as Dior has yet to announce who will be replacing Raf Simons as head designer, amidst his departure six months ago.
In an interview with The Fashion Law, Dior’s Chief Executive spoke on the delayed decision saying “It is a work in progress, and we’re giving it a little bit of time.“