Dior uses zodiac signs and tarot symbols to provide ‘escapism’ from Covid during a virtual Paris Haute Couture Week
- Paris’ Haute Couture Week showcased an array of Christian Dior dresses embellished with zodiac signs
- Yearly show saw hand-stitched outfits provide a touch of escapism as brands displayed outfits online
- Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri saw models showcase glitter and gold gowns that combined lame fabric with velvet
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Christian Dior dresses embellished with zodiac signs and tarot symbols created an air of mysticism and escapism as Paris’ Haute Couture Week launched its very first online display amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The yearly catwalk show, which was held in digital format this year, saw the brand’s models showcase a unique array of hand-stitched embroidery and golden gowns during a whimsical film set in a Tuscan castle.
Italian fashion designer and creative director at Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri, said her collection was inspired by tarot cards – a recurring motif and reference at Dior- with many looks evoking a 15th century illuminated tarot deck known as the Visconti-Sforza.
Paris’ Haute Couture Week, which was held online this year, saw an array of Christian Dior dresses embellished with zodiac signs and tarot symbols
The yearly fashion calendar saw elaborate hand-stitched outfits provide a touch of escapism inside a Tuscan castle
Dior designer Maria Grazia Chiuri used lame fabric with velvet to create her collection and said she was ken to exlore the magic and solace tarot could offer amid the coronavirus pandemic
The hand-stitched outfits on display were inspired by tarot cards which is a recurring motif and reference at Christian Dior
In order to create her outfits, the designer, who was appointed creative director of Dior in 2016, combined lame fabric with velvet.
Chiuri said she had been keen to explore what magic and solace tarot could offer nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic after it had upended lives and industries globally.
‘It can help you not to be afraid of something you don’t know, that’s so insecure,’ Chiuri said of the tarot references in an interview.
The cards are often used for fortune telling, a theme explored in the Dior film, directed by Italy’s Matteo Garrone.
Luxury brands have had to transform the way they plan for collections with coronavirus restrictions, and Chiuri said Dior now carried out fittings with Haute Couture clients over Zoom calls, orchestrating adjustments from afar.
Runway shows are usually an opportunity for fashion editors, bloggers and buyers to get a sense of the brands’ style up close.
Chiuri said Dior had forged ahead with its collection in order to give some of the industries that depend on fashion weeks a leg up too.
Models wear Christian Dior’s Italian fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri creations during as they take part in Haute Couture Week in Paris
Chiuri (centre with models) said she used the tarot references to help encourage others ‘not to be afraid of something you don’t know’
The looks, some of which evoked a 15th century illuminated tarot deck known as the Visconti-Sforza, were created by Maria Grazia Chiuri
While runway shows are usually an opportunity for fashion editors and bloggers to get a sense of the brands styles, Chiuri said Dior had forged ahead with its collection
Chiuri said she had been keen to explore the magic and solace tarot could offer nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic
The Christian Dior dresses combined lame fabric with velvet and referenced an array of astrological signs- with many looks evoking a 15th century illuminated tarot deck
The elaborate hand-stitched outfits were captured in a whimsical film set in a fairy-style Tuscan castle by Gomorrah director Matteo Garrone
‘We tried to make the best of it for the supply chain too. We have to maintain the tradition of embroidery in Paris,’ Chiuri said.
Top brands like Chanel are also due to present their Haute Couture ranges online.
Schiaparelli, whose Texan designer Daniel Roseberry dressed Lady Gaga for Joe Biden’s inauguration as U.S. President last week, earlier on Monday showcased bejewelled gowns paired with oversized earrings and super-hero style dresses which appeared to give models sculpted abdominals.
Maria Grazia Chiuri looks at one of her creations during a fitting session ahead of a Haute Couture collection presentation in a digital format in Paris
A team of employees wear personal protective equipment as they prepare an array of dresses for Dior’s Haute Couture collection presentation
The yearly fashion show, which is usually held at venues across Paris, was held online this year amid the coronavirus pandemic