Daily Front Row

2008 July 1

Dior - Paris Couture Fall 2008

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Dior Haute Couture Fall 2008
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(PARIS) John Galliano touched many an emotional chord with his strangely regal and grandiose couture master showcase--conjuring associations of Irving Penn, Edith Head and perhaps Amelia Earhart attending the royal court all at the very same time. The designer laid out a superbly edited collection that was inspired by retro model Lisa Fonssagrives, who was Penn’s wife and eternal muse. And the looks truly elaborated on beautiful contrasts: edgy dark-lipped beauty with delightfully soft transparents, strong defined silhouettes paired with lush colors and leopard prints, dreamy origami gowns worn by defiantly strong women. The collection seemed to satisfy more than one potential consumer by delivering perfectly tailored black jackets and royal sequins all at once. But most of all, Galliano seemed to succeed in the most difficult of challenges. He presented Dior in the way most people imagine it from oversized, vintage books but did so in front of celebrity driven front row and in the age of blogger culture.