Confessions of a Fashion Writer: Christian Dior Haute Couture F/W 2010

A floral obsession at Christian Dior. British couturier John Galliano presented a beautiful floral dream at the Christian Dior Haute Couture show in Paris. This season he was inspired by the late Christian Dior's childhood home, “Les Rhumbs,” located in Granville, Normandy. Les Rhumbs is a beautiful cliff top garden filled with a breathtaking floral fantasy. The vivid floral fantasy were similar to the colors in nature like sunflower yellow, turquoise, lilac purple and rose. The flowers that were visible in this bouquet were poppies, crocuses, sweet peas, orchids, tulips, pansy and orchids. Skirts were manipulated to resemble a parrot tulip and a pansy was hand painted onto a ball gown. Galliano was also inspired by photographers Irving Penn and Nick Knight floral portraits that influenced the colors and the flowers that were visible in the collection. It also seemed that there was a reference to Christian Dior's 1953 spring collection that was titled, “tulip line” in the floral prints of delphiniums and lilacs that were painted on fabrics. It was obvious that Galliano was having a floral moment and this was his dream. The Christian Dior look is fresh as a daisy with the proper elegance of Haute Couture.

The show was held at rue de Verenne at the Musee Rodin in see through stage tent that displayed the outdoor gardens filled with baby pink roses and beautiful statues. A huge orange floral arrangement decorated the backdrop of the runway. American Supermodel Karlie Kloss opened the show in a lilac purple coat adorned with a petals around the collar that was paired with red leather gloves and a clear purple bulb shaped hairpiece. On various models the towering bulb shaped hairdo were encased with a cellophane wrapped hairpiece, like an upside down bouquet, created by London milliner Stephen Jones. Mohair and boucle dresses resembled the wildflowers in a field that are ready to bloom. Jackets were decorated with silk hydrangeas and dresses had beautiful hand painted floral prints.

Admired pieces in the collection were the ball gowns and the coats. The ball gowns are what Christian Dior have been known for and the hand painted delphiniums and lilacs dresses were extremely appealing. The coats were amazing and had the Haute quality with nice selection of vivid colors.

John Galliano referenced the house of Dior and inspiration from the childhood home garden of the late Christian Dior to create this successful collection. This collection had the Dior drama but was completely wearable and elegant. The Christian Dior Haute Couture women elegant and ready to be a flower in Dior's garden. -Brent Billiman, Paris, France.