TUTORIALS

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Virtually Chic: Dior's Digital Couture Show



In this, the year of Coronavirus lock downs, in person catwalk shows have been halted...at least for the moment. But the fashion industry wants everyone to know that it is still with us, if in no other way, it exists in spirit. As a result, the big haute couture houses of Paris staged a "virtual fashion show." For some this was simply a collection of photographs or sketches for a collection that will never be. While for others it was an opportunity to creatively express the philosophy of its couturier. For me, this season was not so much about clothes as it was expressing soul of each fashion house. 
Theatre de la Mode (1946). Source: Dior.com

The virtual show presented by the house of Christian Dior touched me profoundly, not because it employed doll-sized couture gowns, but also because it allowed us to revisit their famous, "Theatre de la Mode,"  a traveling exhibition of 27 inch tall, quarter-scaled mannequins used to present their post-war collections to clients living in Paris, London and the United States. The backdrops of each "scene" were designed by world famous artists including Christian Berard and Jean Cocteau, set to much by Christian Dior's personal friend Henri Sauguet. The mannequins were constructed of wire, resembling a five-minute sketch, each dressed in an exquisite couture creation and accessorized by other renowned milliners and jewelers. A few weeks ago, Dior released a video for Fall/Winter 2020, where it borrowed the concept of their iconic "Petit Theatre" and applied it to the creations of its current designer, Maria Grazia Churi. 
 

   





Though I am not a huge fan of Mme. Chuiri's collections, I loved this video. Aside from the sheer fascination of recreating haute couture creations from the most famous fashion house on the planet to "doll clothes," I find it amazing that two sets of clothing were created...one at 1/4 scale the other full scale. Each had its own set of challenges. The next video takes the viewer back stage for a rare look at the atelier and processes involved in bringing this collection to life.

 

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13 comments:

  1. Your beautiful creations are always my favorite. Plus I learn so much from your posts!

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    1. Thank you Wanda, for your very kind words. I try hard to keep this blog interesting and it's friends like you who inspire me to keep it going! Big hugs.

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  2. I was totally in love when I saw the first video a couple of weeks ago--the art, the historical and mythological references, the colors, the nature woven into the stories, the whimsy...it was just magical. Then to see the doll mannikins being created, oh my! What a wonderful post, and I sure love the your suit, I picked up some very soft/thing suiting that might work well with a similar design...! Thanks for all your inspiration! Sandi

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    1. Sandi, I too was in awe when I saw the first video. I am not a huge fan of the current designer for Dior, but the film, the references to the past as well as the fetishes of the house, were presented so well. And of course, the small scaled gowns were what really caught my eye as I am already a big fan of the original Theatre de la Mode. When I saw the second film, I was fascinated to see the relationship between the full scale and the smaller versions. It is a fantasy of mine to study at the Chambre Synidicale de Couture school but to work only in miniature. At this point, I don't think that's going to happen, so the next best thing is the second video! LOL! So happy you enjoyed this post. Thank you for your very kind words.

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  3. Twoje modelki ubrane są w zjawiskowe stroje! Żakiet ze spódnicą, kapelusz, torebka - piękne!
    Czarne kreacje również budzą mój zachwyt! Nie wiem, która najpiękniejsza!
    Przedstawiłaś dwa filmy, którą są oszałamiające!
    To niesłychane, z jaką skrupulatnością, dokładnością wykonuje się każdy detal miniatury! To jest Laboratorium Mody! Niewiarygodne, jak Mistrzowie Krawiectwa wspaniale radzą sobie z szyciem, drapowaniem, haftowaniem strojów w dwóch rozmiarach!
    Przepiękny film o magicznym istnieniu nimf wodnych, syren i rusałek, które zainteresowane są kreacjami Dior! Wspaniały pomysł na scenariusz i równie wspaniała realizacja!
    Tajemnice tworzenia strojów - ukazane w drugim filmie... Super!
    Pozdrawiam Cię serdecznie ♥

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    1. Olla wrote: Your models are dressed in amazing outfits! A jacket with a skirt, a hat, a handbag - beautiful!
      Black outfits also inspire me! I don't know which one is the most beautiful!
      You've presented two movies that are stunning!
      It is unheard of with what meticulousness and precision are made of every detail of the miniature! This is the Fashion Lab! It is unbelievable how the Masters of Tailoring are great at sewing, draping and embroidering clothes in two sizes!
      A beautiful movie about the magical existence of water nymphs, mermaids and nymphs who are interested in Dior creations! A great idea for a script and an equally great implementation!
      The secrets of creating costumes - shown in the second movie ... Great!
      Yours sincerely ♥

      Oh Olla, Thank you so much for your very kind words. To be honest, I wasn't overly inspired by the clothes in these videos, but there are other Dior collections I do love. So these black gowns and the one suit are a small collection of Dior garments from collections past. There are number of my friends, yourself included, I was sure would enjoy these videos. I thought of you all when I saw them and decided to post them. So very happy you enjoyed this post. Big hugs.

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  4. Bonjour April, j'espère que tu recevra ce commentaire.

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    1. Bonjour Shasarignis. Oui, je vois bien que t'as passe. Merci de ta visite. (J'ai recu l'autre ou t'as ecrit "test.")

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  5. Oh Linda, I am so happy you passed by to say hello and to look at these video. Christmas before last, there were a few quarter scale Dior suits and a dress in the windows of a bookstore in Paris. I was mesmerized! They were so perfect! That book you bought must be quite lovely. Again, so happy you enjoyed this post.

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  6. Amazing, how precisely the miniatures of outfits are made. I'm impressed.

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    1. I agree. But thn again, in the nature of why they were created---representations of actual couture garments---I suppose they would have to be as meticulously crafted as the full scale dresses. It is, after, the house of Christian Dior! Glad you enjoyed this Dlubaniny.

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  7. I've seen it and I couldn't take my eyes off this. So, so amazing!

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  8. Those dresses are beautiful! I love the whole concept of the video and it was beautifuly done. I feel like the only good thing about everything going on in the world is that brands and companies are starting to think out of the box when it comes to their business and the way they present their products.
    Hope you're having a lovely week.

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