The Paris Fashion Week which was held in February had lots of glitz and glamor from the outfits on display to the design and decoration of the runway. Dior by far had one of the most engaging set designs at AW23 Paris Fashion Week.Â
In front of a crowded audience at their customary ready-to-wear location; the Jardin des Tuileries, Christian Dior Fashion house showcased a collection that was both accessible and functional. The collection pays tribute to three famous women from the 20th century – Catherine Dior, Édith Piaf, and Juliette Gréco, who through their way of life challenged post-war gender conventions.
Piaf’s song, ‘Non, Je ne regrette rien’ served as the show’s final background tune, captivating the audience for the little time it was played leading to a round of applause from attendees. It wasn’t simply the outfits displayed; it was also Piaf’s distinctive singing voice, which moved the audience. A song by Juliette Gréco was also included in the playlist for the runway show.
The creative director of Dior fashion house, Maria Grazia Chiuri hired Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese artist who designed the Dior Ready-to-Wear location.Â
Vasconcelos created substantial installations that took up the entire center of the space. Knitting, crocheting, and sewing techniques were all used to create the huge floral cloth that formed part of the decorations for the location.Â
The flowers that adorned the decorations are a tribute to Catherine Dior, who had a deep love for flowers.Â
Let’s introduce the three icons who inspired the Dior 2023-2024 Autumn/ Winter collection.
Catherine Dior
Catherine Dior, originally Ginette Dior, was born on August 2, 1917, in Granville, France. During World War II, Catherine participated in the French resistance by joining the Franco-Polish espionage organization F2 in November 1941.Â
In July 1944, she was arrested by the Gestapo who detained and tortured her in Paris before sending her to the Ravensbrück detention camp for women.
Following the end of the war, Dior worked with flowers for the rest of her life, first as a flower trader in Paris and subsequently as a flower farmer. She died on June 17, 2008.
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf was born on December 19, 1915, in Paris, France. Piaf was a French actress, singer, and songwriter. She was regarded as France’s national songstress and one of the nation’s most well-known foreign celebrities.
Édith was an accomplished composer with autobiographical ballads centered around love, loss, and sadness. Some of her best-known songs are La Vie en Rose (1946), “Non, je ne regrette rien” (1960), “Hymne à l’amour” (1949), “Milord” (1959), “La Foule” (1957), “L’Accordéoniste” (1940), and “Padam, padam”. Since her passing in 1963, her life story has been the subject of numerous biographies and feature films.
Juliette Gréco
Juliette Gréco was born on February 7, 1927 in Montpellier, France. She was a well-known actress and performer of French music. Her best-known songs include “Paris Canaille” (1962, originally sung by Léo Ferré), “La Javanaise” (1963, composed by Serge Gainsbourg for Gréco), and “Déshabillez-moi” (1967).Â
When she started her final global tour, dubbed “Merci,” in 2015, her 60-year career came to a glamorous close. On September 23, 2020, she passed away at the ripe-old age of 93.
Now that we have seen the three icons that inspired the Dior Autumn/Fall 2023-24 collection, join us as we take you on a tour of some of the mesmerizing items from the collection.
Dior Blue Raw Cotton Denim
(Photo: MODEL IN DIOR BLUE RAW COTTON DENIM)
This unlined Dior Blue Raw Cotton Denim Jacket updates a classic style using the house’s modernist principles. It is made of raw blue cotton and has a standard fit with split sleeves. The Blue Raw Cotton Denim Jacket has brass-button fastening on both the cuffs and front closure.
(Photo: DIOR BLUE RAW COTTON DENIM)
To complete the denim look, you can wear this jacket with a pair of matching jeans pants.
(Photo: MODEL WEARING DIOR BLUE RAW COTTON DENIM AND MATCHING JEANS PANTS)
Dior Beige Trench Coat
(Photo: MODEL IN DIOR BEIGE TRENCH COAT)
An essential wardrobe item gets a stylish new spin with this Dior beige trench coat. A distinctively embroidered bee design, a significant emblem of the Maison, is added just under the right side pocket to accentuate this stylish garment. This trench coat can be worn with any outfit for a classy formal look.
Dior Fitted Jacket
(Photo: MODEL IN DIOR FITTED JACKET)
This Dior fitted jacket is a signature design, which was first developed by Christian Dior in 1947. The design, which Chiuri reinvented, is made of a thin mixture of black wool and silk. It has side pockets, a single breasted, three-button front closure, and pointed lapels that subtly draw attention to the waist. The Dior fitted jacket complements the full Dior ensemble for a chic and sophisticated appearance.
Dior Micro Cannage Scarf Jacket
(Photo: MODEL IN DIOR MICRO CANNAGE SCARF JACKET)
This Dior scarf jacket which was unveiled at the fashion show, features the micro cannage design. It is made of quilted technical taffeta and can be worn in any cold weather. The scarf jacket also features two pieces that you can comfortably wrap around your body. When paired with a sophisticated long skirt, the Dior micro cannage scarf jacket looks unmistakably fashionable.
Dior Leopard Print Midi Dress
(Photo: MODEL IN DIOR LEOPARD PRINT MIDI DRESS)
This Dior leopard print midi dress comes with short sleeves and a pleated neckline that will enhance your off-duty collection. To complete the ensemble, pair this leopard print dress from the Dior 2023-24 Autumn/Winter collection with modest jewelry and ankle boots.
Stars at the Paris Fashion Show
Like any other fashion show , the presentation of Dior Autumn/Winter 2023-24 collection had its own attendees, many of whom are A-list Hollywood stars.
They were spotted in outfits from the previous Dior collections. These celebrities included Jisoo, Charlize Theron, Deva Cassel, Maye Musk and many more.
This year’s Dior Autumn/Winter collection is a reminder of the legacy of three French icons – Catherine Dior, Édith Piaf and Juliette Gréco. These great women will forever be remembered for their contributions to art and they are today immortalized in the latest Dior collection reminding us that we can all attain immortality by our good works.
