TO BE unconventional means to explore the unfamiliar, to push boundaries and to attempt to do something differently. French fashion house Christian Dior has always prided itself on its unconventionality, stemming back to its beginnings, with Dior reinventing the female silhouette in fashion from its conventionally boxy and unflattering shape. Undertaking the unconventional, while also  paying homage to its initial creative vision and vintage collections, Dior showcases its AW19 collection at PFW.
Strength and femininity fuel the collection, even permeating in the shows soundtrack, especially through the music of Amy Winehouse. Anything but subdued and minimalist, the collection excels through its vast variation of prints, silhouettes, and shapes. Truly demonstrating the vast possibilities of Dior. Despite this, a running theme throughout the collection is the cinched and corseted waist, and ode to Dior’s groundbreaking reinvention of the female silhouette in fashion. Bringing a new contemporary edge, Dior clashes typically female and masculine shapes, mixing broad tailoring with the ultra-feminine silhouettes.
Accessories take centre stage in the collection. Varying from bucket hats to belts and the trending miniature purses, Dior proves they are on top of modern day trends while paying ode to their vintage designs. The bucket hat was especially suited to the collection, being both a voguish piece of 1940s and ‘50s fashion, while also a very popular trend today. Both vintage-inspired and incredibly contemporary, Dior remakes the famous accessory, reworking it in leather and embellishing with delicate mesh overlay.
Somewhat East Asian inspired, Dior incorporates floral prints and embroidery into the collection, which may be a reference to Christian Dior’s art deco influences. Perhaps one of the most stunning parts of AW19, the embroidery includes a fantastic butterfly-like design, a symbol of femininity, resurrection, and endurance. Footwear was another great success point of the collection, in particular the kitten-heeled leather fur lined boots, another vintage homage.
The Dior AW19 collection proved that the fashion house still aims to push for the unconventional. Honouring Christian Dior’s vintage designs, while remaking 1940s and ‘50s fashion for the contemporary audience, it is clear the collection is quintessentially Dior.
by Emma Hart