Walking Through History on the Ramp

As Paris Haute Couture week gathered pace on its second day, Raf Simons offered a walk through history at Christian Dior, with a mix of 18th century-inspired dresses with side hoops and embroidered masculine court coats.
The designer said he was searching for a modern interpretation of fashion codes from centuries past for his fifth haute couture collection since he was appointed Dior’s chief designer in 2012 to replace John Galliano.The show at the Rodin museum, staged in a gigantic round room with walls decked with white orchids, opened with a series of pale silk dresses with panniers, the dramatic side hoops first introduced by the Spanish court and immortalized in the paintings of Velazquez.
The collection moved on to long dark court jackets with embroidered collars resembling those worn at the court of Louis XIV.Bright stilettos brought modern flair to the looks, while handbags, one of Dior’s biggest products, were notably absent.