DIOR’S DESTINY

In recognition to Monsieur Christian Dior and his reverence for the divinatory arts, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s spring / summer 2021 Haute Couture collection presented a contemporary interpretation of  the Tarot deck – in the form of a short fashion film.

Several years back, the 2018 Dior Cruise show saw Chiuri explore the world of the Arcana, from the ethereal planes of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Reserve in California. For this seasons sartorial instalment, the Haute Couture story of the house chose to celebrate the bequest of the ‘New Look’ visionary – this time through the direction of Matteo Garrone. Shot on location at the Château of Sammezzano, this is yet another on-going collaboration with the Italian director (who was also responsible for last July’s imaginary short film, which featured within the Haute Couture autumn / winter 2021 collection.)

Dior Haute Couture – s/s ’21

Christian Dior was well known to have courted Clairvoyants – a notion he discussed at length in his autobiography. His superstitious imagination guided and inspired him all throughout his career and followed him to every corner on earth. He was remembered for quoting the prophecies of past readings such as the immortal, “It will be extraordinary. Your house will revolutionize fashion!”

‘The prolonged episode of the first lockdown ignited Grazia Chiuri’s interest and love for the Trionfi, due to a chance encounter with Italo Calvino’s fantasy novel ‘The Castle Of Crossed Destinies.’ She discovered that this world reverberated in perfect frequency with the archives of the house and many of the women that inspire her on a daily basis.’ – Charles Daniel McDonald

Last week, Dior unveiled its current spring / summer 2021 Couture collection – a presentation which was focused on the Visconti-Sforza Tarot cards. These cards were adorned by the renaissance illustrator Bonifacio Bembo for the Duke of Milan, back in the 15th century. The short film, entitled ‘The House Of Tarot’ is directed by Matteo Garrone and sets the scene for the collection by the discovery of cards being drawn – before taking us into a journey of the houses Arcanaian aesthetics.

Within the depths of the Château, we are enlightened by a selection of prospects, personified by the main characters who symbolise the mystic narratives of the Tarot cards. Epitomising both man and woman, Dior’s main protagonist overcomes recurring trials, before meeting her fate in the arms of the nameless Arcane otherwise known as death. This continues the tales symbolic notion of reincarnation and rebirth within the collection.

‘Levitating laces and intricate illustrations characterise this new season, which is further enhanced by the artisanal talents of Pietro Ruffo. His mystifying prints are transposed across an array of velvets with signs of the Zodiac – affirming our need to dream via the seventh art. This is a notion which is necessary now, more than ever.’ – Charles Daniel McDonald

The prolonged episode of the first lockdown ignited Grazia Chiuri’s interest and love for the Trionfi, due to a chance encounter with Italo Calvino’s fantasy novel ‘The Castle Of Crossed Destinies.’ She discovered that this world reverberated in perfect frequency with the archives of the house and many of the women that inspire her on a daily basis; Vicki Noble, the American Shaman and healer and Niki De Saint Phalle – the talent behind Tuscany’s iconic ‘Tarot Gardens’.

The Influence Of The Tarot

This latest Couture collection is a testament to the ‘savoir-faire’ talents of the Dior Petites Mains which sees every silhouette within the collection named after the Tarot deck – with each look paying homage to the traditional art of weaving and hand spinning. The accomplished collection fulfilled Maria Grazia Chiuri’s ethereal elucidation of Tarot cards – a vision which cost hundreds of hours of intricate work per look.

Levitating laces and intricate illustrations characterise this new season, which is further enhanced by the artisanal talents of Pietro Ruffo. His mystifying prints are transposed across an array of velvets with signs of the Zodiac – affirming our need to dream via The Seventh Art. This is a notion which is necessary now, more than ever.

Article: Charles Daniel McDonald

Photography & Media:  Christian Dior / Matteo Garrone