Dior's Couture: Nature's Pressure Cooker

Paris Couture Week commenced with Dior, where designer Jonathan Anderson presented his inaugural haute couture collection. The show, themed 'nature in motion,' featured a disciplined palette of blacks, whites, and ecru, punctuated by flashes of color. Anderson masterfully reworked historical Dior elements into modern interpretations, seen in silken Asian-style coats and avant-garde pannier gowns evoking a contemporary twist on 18th-century volume. The collection demonstrated Anderson's unique ability to blend wit and precision, drawing inspiration from the house's heritage while maintaining a fresh perspective.

Concurrently, Schiaparelli unveiled its couture collection, characterized by dramatic plumes and fantastical, creature-inspired designs. Designer Daniel Roseberry framed the collection as a shift from 'thinking' to 'feeling,' evident in sharp-shouldered jackets and armored bustiers. The designs incorporated elaborate techniques, such as thousands of handset feathers and intricate bas-relief lace bouquets. Schiaparelli's presentation embraced an exuberant aesthetic, balancing menace with beauty and emphasizing fantasy built on meticulous craftsmanship.