Fashion is nothing without the city it dresses was the message in Paris this afternoon as Raf Simons placed the notion of the metropolis at the heart of his latest Dior collection. Creating what he described as "a new vision of the urban experience, a place and power of the possibility of women", Simons unveiled an autumn/winter offering in which he sought to strike a balance between masculinity and femininity.
The idea was to combine the tried traditions of tailoring with the house's signature vision of female beauty. For the clothes this meant masterfully tailored 'bar' jackets — reinvented with double- breasted lapels — synthetic sleeping-bag dresses and outerwear that packed all the punch any self respecting city girl could ever wish for.
It was a notably commercial collection from the Belgian designer who is now two years into his tenure at the house, with wearable silhouettes that look likely to appeal to many. Voluminous gowns cut from flowing bubble-gum pink silk and forest green were among the stand out pieces on offer today.
Raf Simons for Dior A/W14 - in pictures
Evoking memories of Simons' collections during his tenure at Jil Sander, these were minimal in cut and vivacious in colour. Texture also played a central role: mink coats in acid shades came juxtaposed with the cleanest, most elegant suiting while beaded gowns worn loose over cotton t-shirts enhanced the initial idea of the meeting of two different worlds.
Since arriving at Dior, Simons has shown a fierce determination to deliver clothes which communicate a message to a whole variety of luxury fashion consumers. Today he delivered this beautifully.
