video transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) SHOWS: Dior's creative director Raf Simons firmly integrated himself into the history of the brand on Friday (March 1) with an Autumn/Winter collection that tied his own personal inspirations to iconic Dior patterns. Simons created a dreamlike visual scrapbook of Dior's past and present influences, from Christian Dior's known love of the Belle Epoque and to Simons' own interest in pop culture. Nowhere was this more evident than in the works emerging as a collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Pieces incorporated a selection of mid-twentieth century Andy Warhol sketches, printed or embroidered as flashes of bright colour across ecru and cream dresses. The cloud-covered catwalk the models drifted down was reminiscent of the work of twentieth-century Belgian artist Rene Magritte -- and perhaps a subtle link to Simon's own Belgian origins. Simplicity reigned throughout the collection, from the models' scraped back hair to the blunt lines of the numerous bustier designs. As the culmination of the hazy, dreamlike world pulling on past and present, Simons presented his 'memory dresses' in a classic 1920s shift shape featuring motifs referencing the history of the Dior brand. Classic Dior houndstooth print appeared across woollen dresses and strapless tops, while playful flashes of pink offsetting the traditional black and white designs. The collection is Simons' second for Dior ready-to-wear after he replaced John Galliano as creative director of the French label last April.