The iconic French fashion label Dior is all set to transform a public park in Dubai into a playground filled with a glittering circus and models wearing shimmery pleated skirts, shiny skull caps and swirling capes as a part of their Middle Eastern debut on March 18. Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, who paraded her flamboyant spring-summer 2019 haute couture collection to the UAE, showed how it’s done with absolute aplomb and transported us to her enchanting magical kingdom. Chiuri, like a seasoned circus ring leader, began by acquainting her well-heeled guests to her superbly-tailored capsule collection that was playful and fun, but never frivolous or clownish.
The absolute favorite among the crowd was the embroidered frogging and the iconic Dior bar jacket and structured sleeves. Chiuri also looked to her host country, the UAE, for inspiration as she added a small collection of 15-pieces in addition to her creations that were earlier showcased at Paris Fashion Week earlier in January.
Every time Dior moves to a new country, it’s the location that gives them inspiration.e When thinking about Dubai, it is a place that in a sense is very Mediterranean, where there is the sun. So we used more color, different techniques, different shapes. Her Middle Eastern debut was also her way of promoting global sisterhood and women empowerment. The carnival atmosphere didn’t end with the glamorous fashion showcase that saw Dubai’s wealthy social set attend. As far as fashion debuts in the Middle East go, Dior has set an example on how you blend fantasy, fiction and fashion in one go.
