Trimming the Hedges: A Blossoming Collection of Dior Couture

Raf Simons pruned his own magnificent spring garden Monday afternoon behind Paris’ Jardin des Tuileries in his second couture show for the house of Dior. The key to pruning is to know when to prune what. Simons proved his mastery as both gardener and designer with his new Spring/Summer 2013 collection that undoubtedly displayed an innate ability to refine the new by revitalizing the old. His first look, a sophisticated pale blue dress, oozed artisocracy, a garment that belonged on the ultra-elegant Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, in the 1950’s but could also be worn today by the Dutchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. His gentle hues of blue, reminiscent of the cold of winter, slowly began to melt and were infiltrated by gradual pops of color to insinuate a temperature change.

A superbly cultivated flower bed of beautifully rendered garments, Simons’ collection was inspired by the spring season, a season which motivated his free-flowing gowns and floral embellished skirts. The vivaciousness of his collection was further illuminated by a palette consisting of canary yellow and cherry red to mask the mucky slush and falling snow outside the tent. The show was in true Dior fashion: an exuberant culmination of layers, of chiffon and embroidery, with exceptional éclat and dynamism that would make Christian himself proud.