Photo: CARLOTA GUERRERO FOR DIOR
Dior held its Spring/Summer 2019 ready-to-wear collection show in a special tent at Longchamp Racecourse, accompanied by ballet dancers. Artistic Director Maria Grazia Chiuri has recently focused her creations on specific women, and this season she once again draws inspiration from legendary female ballet dancers such as Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis, Isadora Duncan, Pina Bausch, and Martha Graham. The collection combines long dresses reminiscent of the costumes of ballet dancers who were active and influential around the world from the late 19th to the late 20th centuries with the shape of the Dior "Bar" jacket, utilizing the sophisticated techniques of a couture house. The result is a collection unique to Dior that is neither ready-to-wear nor haute couture, yet somehow both.

Tulle is a material favored by Maria Grazia Chiuri, and this season it appeared in the form of fishnet dresses knitted in a gradient pattern, see-through dresses knitted like lace, and dresses with delicate volumes created by peeling off small parts. The collection featured bras and tops in subtly different colors underneath, and layering techniques were used to create depth.

Couture-like pieces such as dresses with graphically embroidered feathers and dresses featuring motifs appliquéd with cut tulle were eye-catching, but the simple and feminine goddess-like pleated dresses and jersey dresses were also outstanding. The beauty of the cuts and silhouettes stood out, demonstrating the finish you'd expect from a couture house.