Fashion
17 of the Best Looks from Dior's Spring 2014 Show, the Grown-Up Garden Party
Oh my Dior. Everything about today's show was just lovely, as Raf Simon re-imagined the garden party with a achingly beautiful setting, strong golden brows (!!!), creeping-vine jewelry, and enough huge peplums, mouthwatering colors, and metallic-floral ball gowns to keep the most cynical of ladies smiling. But this was hardly a girly show, despite the abundance of sparkle and floral. There were plenty of all-black, tailored looks, dresses with mysterious post-modern text, and even the makeup — so crazy-pretty up close — turned sternly confident from a distance. You can come into the garden, but you better dress up for it.
Oh my Dior. Everything about today's show was just lovely, as Raf Simon re-imagined the garden party with a achingly beautiful setting, strong golden brows (!!!), creeping-vine jewelry, and enough huge peplums, mouthwatering colors, and metallic-floral ball gowns to keep the most cynical of ladies smiling. But this was hardly a girly show, despite the abundance of sparkle and floral. There were plenty of all-black, tailored looks, dresses with mysterious post-modern text, and even the makeup — so crazy-pretty up close — turned sternly confident from a distance. You can come into the garden, but you better dress up for it.
The Musée Rodin was transformed into a colorful dreamland for Dior, with acres of bright foliage hanging from the ceiling. Not even a series of crisp all-black outfits could bring this setting down.
Image: @vaughnlowery via Instagram
Hello, is this Midas eye the most magical thing you've ever seen or what? When you're dealing with bright yellow eyeliner and a brow encrusted with gold, mascara is only going to hold you back.
Image: @intothegloss via Instagram
The opening look was a lovely pleated floral skirt grounded with razor-sharp pumps and a blazer with secretive side slits.
This dreamy outfit was my personal favorite look from the collection. I'd pair a loose pink sweater with a sheer skirt and a major necklace any day.
Just when you thought cutouts couldn't get any more innovative, here's an oversized keyhole paired with a crop top. And check out the model heading back on the right — layered cutouts are a thing now? Noted.
A shirtdress is just a shirtdress... until you cut the shoulders off. We saw this exposed-shoulder look at Balenciaga, too, so we're calling it: the shoulder is the new clavicle.
The power suit apparently doesn't need collars — or monochrome tones — to work. What it does need, however, is texture. And color. And shine. And embellishment. And a fantastic cummerbund.
Nipples are everywhere this month! But let's focus on that gorgeous skirt and the shockingly fresh combination of pink and bright silver.
Silver skirt, gold eyeshadow, and nobody to tell you no.
If you don't understand why I need a dress that says "hyperrealness," we can't be friends. Is this text supposed to mimic a news ticker? The pretentious notes we scribble in our Moleskines? I love it, I don't care.
On paper, a sleeveless oversized shiny pink '80s blazer paired with a wisp of sheer yellow fabric shouldn't work at all. But somehow, through the inexplicable magic of Dior (is it the gold eyebrows again?), the look is stunning.
This slightly boxy black skirt suit is phenomenally flattering, but the cluster of yellow flowers creeping over the shoulder (like a giant caterpillar... had to point that out) makes it one of the best, if simplest, looks of the show.
Love the punchy springtime colors bookended by silver and black.
This voluminous dress anticipated a series of huge peplumed tops that showed up later in the show. But check out the model with her back turned – these bold, striped dresses almost vanish from the back.
The ribbons of fabric on this series of dresses mimic the shape of paper lanterns — the OG garden party accessory.
After the individual looks went down the runway, Raf Simon sent out a cluster of gorgeous, metallic-floral ball gowns and sharp black suits that seemed ready-made for his celebrity clientele (and Natalie Portman will don one of these dresses in 3... 2...).
Last but not least, the shoes — vaguely athletic, reminiscent of the Roman god Mercury's winged sandals, and occasionally clustered with flowers. If there's a way to look light on your feet in stilettos, this is surely it.
