The labyrinth; irregular, almost impenetrable, like a secret garden is the inspiration for the Christian Dior Spring 2017 Haute Couture collection by Artistic Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, for her first Haute Couture season.

Fascinated by the myriad of interpretations to which this archetypal form has given rise over the ages, she perceived her adventure into the heart of the Dior world as being akin to entering a labyrinth, the way sprinkled with the flowers, plants and allegorical images that form part of the iconography of these places but which, at the same time, reference the imagination of Christian Dior who wrote of them: “After women, flowers are the most divine of creations. They are so delicate and charming, but they must be used carefully.” The result is evening dresses in changeant and powdery colors (mauve, blue, pink, gray) which evoke the passing of the seasons and of life itself, and whose layers of tulle trap exquisite flowers, like those we preserve in our most prized herbariums. Claude Lalanne, for his part, imagined that the flowers, brambles, and butterflies of costume jewelry landed on bodies ready to spring to life.

Memory is the driving force shaping a new story that rewrites the House’s lexicon, translating it into shapes and cuts that are the imprint of the silhouettes, dreams and desires of today’s women. Lace, for example, is cut out and remounted on organza, and pleated tulles in fairy tale hues are layered in compositions that are both ethereal and majestic. Stephen Jones’ hats and masks bring an aspect of gothic phantasmagoric with a punk edge.

Maria Grazia Chiuri embraces the art of divination, transforming it to embellish her creations: embroidered stars stand out against gold-colored tulle, tarot symbols are hand-painted on the white panels of long dresses. This white can be found inside a black coat, and adds a further element to the feminine tuxedo. Reborn in a series of fresh interpretations, this typically masculine evening outfit becomes the defining piece of a contem-porary take on femininity. The Bar jacket is deconstructed and reinvented, even as a cape. Pleated, roomy culottes have satin on the side, and the Domino coat an imposing black velvet hood.

This voyage is guided by a desire for beauty, where losing oneself is a necessary step to challenging oneself and evolving. And so, for the finale, Maria Grazia Chiuri imagined a splendid ball straight out of a fairy tale. Liberating and unforgettable.

Go backstage and discover the beauty secrets enhancing the spirit of the Christian Dior Haute Couture runway show.