The Profound Reveal of The Dior 2023 Cruise Collection
Christian Dior’s latest 2023 Cruise Collection was uncovered in Seville, Spain, designed by the honorable Maria Grazia Chiuri.
On June 16th, Dior unveiled their latest Dior 2023 Cruise Collection at the infamous Plaza De España in the heart of Seville, Spain. The location was chosen to provide a spectacular backdrop for a procession of garments that come together to form a défilé and provide the space for these creations to honor various expressions of femininity and to celebrate the long-standing relationship between Dior and Spain which dates back to the early 1950s.
Dreamt up by Dior’s infamous creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, who was inspired by Andalusian traditions and artisanship made her mission to engulf herself in the historical traditions, crafts, and female icons of this region of southern Spain for months prior to the shows debut. She chose to center the collection around the legendary flamenco dancer La Capitana, the name given to Carmen Amaya.
To Chiuri, La Capitana represented the essence of Flamenco with her freedom to dance that was unconventional and did not submit to any regulation. An artist with singular, revolutionary movements, she was the first female dancer in her field to wear men’s clothing, symbolizing power and fragility through her art. Paralleling these inspirations, the looks evoke, for example, the Duchess of Alba, a legendary character, horseback riding with Jackie Kennedy.
“She is the symbol for this collection and brings us back to the realities of flamenco with her performing that does not submit to any canons. A revolutionary artist of extraordinary deeds, who through the gesture of dance combines strength and fragility. She is capable of depicting the soul of Spain and interpreting a conscious feminine idea that is feminism,” says Maria Grazia Chiuri
The emblematic Manila shawls, which took three generations of women to produce, tells all the stories and journeys of the communities that created and wore it, allowing for the multiple voices of these nomadic objects to share their truths through the silhouettes. At the intersection of these encounters is an exuberant display of traditional Andalusian savoir-faire.
The fringed and embroidered Manila shawls were made by Maria Jose Sanchez Espinar. The embroidery technique it displays came from China, with the shawls imported to Seville in the seventeenth century. It has become one of the most emblematic Spanish accessories, notably worn by the women painted by Goya and Velázquez. From Seville, it spread to Latin America, demonstrating how artisanship is a global language with the power to connect far-away cultures and places. The atelier has developed a series of traditionally embroidered shawls with quintessential Dior details.
For the 2023 Dior cruise collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri collaborated with Javier Menacho Guisado to reinvent the Dior Saddle bag using special leather embroidery methods.
The hats were created by the Fernandez Y Roche atelier and inspired by images of the Duchess of Alba riding with Jackie Kennedy. Duchess of Alba was also seen in a short jacket, high-waisted pants and a wide-brimmed hat worn on an angle. But also, red, black, and mantillas. Elsewhere, the abundance of embroidery that adorns the venerated Madonna della Macarena’s gowns takes on the role of a sacred ritual in a choreography that suspends the body into an iconic image.
Shimmering taffeta in red, yellow, ochre, and black is sculpted into exuberant skirts that symbolize both Dior and Spain. Carefully considered volumes elevate the contrasts.
Watch the full show below:
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