John Galliano pays tribute to illustrator René Gruau in latest haute couture collection for Christian Dior
Paint me beautiful! Brushstrokes and high volume make Christian Dior haute couture show a work of art
By
Tamara Abraham
24th January 2011
His haute couture shows are one of the most highly-anticipated events in the fashion calendar. And John Galliano didn't disappoint with his latest collection for Christian Dior.
Inspired by the illustrations of René Gruau, whose work was synonymous with the French fashion house from 1947 onwards, the elaborate creations had a distinctly painterly feel.
Indeed some even had almost feather-like brushstrokes painted on them, while others featured cascading layers of feathered fabric.
But it was the voluminous shapes that had the most impact on the catwalk. From the geometric Forties and Fifties silhouettes to the drama of the bubble-hem dresses, every piece was almost sculptural in its precision.Razor sharp pleats fell around the models' legs in layers of varying lengths to reveal the contrasting colour of the dress lining beneath.
The limited palette of vibrant red, black, teal and taupe also added to the drama, and a catwalk lit in the same colours set the scene.
Painterly: The elaborate haute couture creations referenced Gruau's watercolour illustrations with degradé fabrics and black brushstroke details
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