Haute Couture in Turbulent Times

There is truly no greater experience that seeing gorgeous couture garments in front of you on the runway at Haute Couture fashion week, one can assume. Obviously due to the pandemic Haute Couture has shrunk to the small screen for our viewing pleasure. Designer after designer have released their collections, each in unique ways.

This past week, Christian Dior debuted a fairy tale experience with the release of a short film, with the models outfitted in the latest Dior Haute Couture. The film offers a fantastical escape into an world of mythology and was the vision of Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone. In “Le Mythe Dior” bell hops carry a doll house trunk filled with miniature mannequins dressed in Dior Haute Couture. The customers, were a variety of mythological creatures, including nymphs, tree people, and mermaids. Once the creatures have placed their orders, the film goes back to the atelier showing a room of dressmakers working on the full-scale gowns. The items get delivered to each creature, who is then seen galavanting in their brand new Dior gown.

The film was meant to be an “escape” for viewers into another world, and the surrealist plot is said to be the inspiration behind the garments as well. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri said in a statement that the collection was inspired by surrealist artists. "Surrealist images manage to make visible what is in itself invisible," Chiuri said in a statement.

Although the film was a creative alternative to an in person runway show, many fashion professionals were quick to point out the extreme lack of diversity in the film, which was an entirely white cast. It is understandable that the their intention was to mimic ancient greek mythology, however it is certainly not an excuse for the extreme lack of diversity.


By: Staci Soslowitz