Christian Dior: Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2021 By: Taliyah Norris
On January 25, 2021, Christian Dior premiered their newest collection on YouTube with over 1.1 million views. Dior’s current Creative Director, Maria Garzai Chiuri teamed up with director Matteo Garrone again to create the short film, Le Château Du Tarot (The Tarot Deck). Chiuri and Garrone worked on the prior Le Mythe Dior film, which also had mystical themes.
The collection revolves around tarot Cards, specifically the Visconti-Sforzo deck by Bonifacio Bembo deck. Tarot cards provide guidance to people in trying times, and Maria utilizes this idea to apply to the current Coronavirus epidemic. Viewers applaud this idea of tarot cards saying, “It hasn’t really been done before.” Maria’s concept goes deeper than just an idea. Christian Dior used tarot cards himself. After his sister went missing in World War two, he tried to find closure through these cards. Maria has made reference to tarot since she has been Dior’s creative director, making designs like the Book Tote, and her debut collection in 2017.
In this collection she has redesigned the garments of tarot in an Italian Medieval renaissance form. The designs stay true to Dior’s reputation of being very detailed in embroidery and incorporating elements that represent femininity. Christian’s focus on flowers stems from his sister’s garden. In the collection, you see flowers incorporated in some way, and this collection was no different.
Within the short film, it opens with a woman receiving a tarot reading to figure out who she is. The scene changes and she receives a key from the High Priestess who is wearing a robe-like garment in gold and burgundy jacquard. With this key, she travels into the mansion that acts as a labyrinth on her journey to finding herself while she sees another version of herself also going through the labyrinth. Both were being guided by the Fool Card, who is wearing an embroidery top and tulle skirt. Not only does garment mimic the ones in the tarot cards, but the meanings of the cards represented also “align with the cards.” Throughout the labyrinth, they meet other members of the Major arcana like Death, Justice, The Devil dressed in quality fabrics such as Lamés, Velvets, and silks. Details in these garments include crystal jewels, good draping, pleating, hand-painted flowers, and embroidery. While the garments have some modern themes like plunging necklines, they stay true to the renaissance theme by incorporating breast plates and bustiers. In the end of the film, the two versions of the protagonist come together, representing her finding herself.
This collection could not be put down the runway because of coronavirus, like many other fashion houses. Due to this, designers and creative directors “have gotten more creative with showcasing the designs in a safe environment, according to Lindsey London, a fashion major at the Academy of Art.” This short film showcases the collection in a clever way. At the very end, all the outfits are showcased at a standstill with a quick description. Seeing the garments and understanding the film may be hard for some of its viewers, but with the end feature it “ties it all together.” According to Marina, a prospective FIDM student. This journey of the protagonist finding herself by meeting the Major Arcana brings back Christian Dior’s fantasy elements that came with his previous collections. Maria and Matteo have made another masterpiece, and the public hope to see more collaborations with them in the future.
The collection revolves around tarot Cards, specifically the Visconti-Sforzo deck by Bonifacio Bembo deck. Tarot cards provide guidance to people in trying times, and Maria utilizes this idea to apply to the current Coronavirus epidemic. Viewers applaud this idea of tarot cards saying, “It hasn’t really been done before.” Maria’s concept goes deeper than just an idea. Christian Dior used tarot cards himself. After his sister went missing in World War two, he tried to find closure through these cards. Maria has made reference to tarot since she has been Dior’s creative director, making designs like the Book Tote, and her debut collection in 2017.
In this collection she has redesigned the garments of tarot in an Italian Medieval renaissance form. The designs stay true to Dior’s reputation of being very detailed in embroidery and incorporating elements that represent femininity. Christian’s focus on flowers stems from his sister’s garden. In the collection, you see flowers incorporated in some way, and this collection was no different.
Within the short film, it opens with a woman receiving a tarot reading to figure out who she is. The scene changes and she receives a key from the High Priestess who is wearing a robe-like garment in gold and burgundy jacquard. With this key, she travels into the mansion that acts as a labyrinth on her journey to finding herself while she sees another version of herself also going through the labyrinth. Both were being guided by the Fool Card, who is wearing an embroidery top and tulle skirt. Not only does garment mimic the ones in the tarot cards, but the meanings of the cards represented also “align with the cards.” Throughout the labyrinth, they meet other members of the Major arcana like Death, Justice, The Devil dressed in quality fabrics such as Lamés, Velvets, and silks. Details in these garments include crystal jewels, good draping, pleating, hand-painted flowers, and embroidery. While the garments have some modern themes like plunging necklines, they stay true to the renaissance theme by incorporating breast plates and bustiers. In the end of the film, the two versions of the protagonist come together, representing her finding herself.
This collection could not be put down the runway because of coronavirus, like many other fashion houses. Due to this, designers and creative directors “have gotten more creative with showcasing the designs in a safe environment, according to Lindsey London, a fashion major at the Academy of Art.” This short film showcases the collection in a clever way. At the very end, all the outfits are showcased at a standstill with a quick description. Seeing the garments and understanding the film may be hard for some of its viewers, but with the end feature it “ties it all together.” According to Marina, a prospective FIDM student. This journey of the protagonist finding herself by meeting the Major Arcana brings back Christian Dior’s fantasy elements that came with his previous collections. Maria and Matteo have made another masterpiece, and the public hope to see more collaborations with them in the future.
