DIOR delivered a collection with an attitude. AW16 is going to be elegant but with an edge as lenses of wide sunglasses were covered in leopard print, ears covered in cold ear cuffs and earrings and middle-parted hair tied in two low buns. There was darkness in the air as models’ lips were poisonously dark purple, almost black and glossy and a significant part of the collection was black.
The show started off with a series of black crisp coats, skirt suits and layered dresses. Then more colour was introduced, occasional explosion of bright hues like orange, yellow and pink or then in the form of prints. It was all about florals with the addition of leopard.
Iconic Bar jackets were worn with midi-pencil skirts and covered in head-to-toe floral print traced by embroidery to give the garments even more luxurious feel, and so did gem embellishment forming a floral pattern. Checker-resembling print on pencil skirts also turned out to be floral and paisley was transformed into falling leaves.
The off-the-shoulder silhouette is here to stay as it was key at Dior. Coats and jackets were falling off the shoulders revealing zipped up polo necks, as polo necks were worn with almost everything, or shirts, and so were dresses with a range of asymmetrical necklines or straight off the shoulder look. As the show progressed there was more mini lengths then midi – miniskirts, draped floral silk dresses or short coats worn as dresses with draped necklines and collars.
Models walked down the runway in pointy lace up boots above the ankle paired with small quilted bags carried baguette style, bags with multiple compartments hanging down or covered in sequins, often carrying a selection and layering them. At least now we won’t have to decide which bag goes with our outfit better, we can just wear them both.
by Sara Hesikova
Images courtesy of Christian Dior