An Edgy, Boho, Retro Baby

Dior Fall/ Winter 2020-2021

Ready-To-Wear

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Imagine an edgy, 70’s inspired, retro bad-ass were all mashed up into one singular person’s outfit. Well, that’s what Dior forecasts for what the post-pandemic (hopefully) fall/ winter 2020-20201 woman will be rocking. When speaking on the collection she put forth, Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, said “It’s a very personal visual diary,” and that “The ’70s gave me the attitude I have.”

The 70’s were just as pivotal for women to express themselves with their clothing as recent years have become in being crucial for the development of women learning to be comfortably express themselves sexually. But, like most designers have showed us this season, we do not have to always express our sexuality the same way, and can use our clothing to explain that without even talking.

Opening the show with a full-on tailored pantsuit was an intense statement for women viewers. Sometimes being a bit masculine is okay, and can quite frankly be very fashion-forward. We also saw the layering and pairing of different kinds of knits and textures. This aspect to the styling made the model’s head-to-toe look appear one of a kind, even though this was not haute couture, it was ready-to-wear. Playing with bold and colorful prints was a huge push in this collection, and a nice contrast between the clumps of black garments that followed each other here and there. The use of color within the runway was a vital component to how Chiuri told a story, her story. Ups and downs in her life were reflected through model order, pagination, and color pairings, and shows the personal struggles she’s dealt with as a woman.

This collection features many trends we had already seen last fall, like rouching and bananas, but also takes new twists on things like fringe, prints, and styling. This turns shapes we may already have in our wardrobes into pieces we can see and wear an entirely different way. In addition, we noticed something not going away for a hot second is 100% the banana. Working as a force against the environment, but also as an outfit-enhancing accessory, every fashion-goer has at least one.

The accessories paired with the garments had a 70’s drive behind them as well, and often times a personal story from the designer. On top of bundles of large and chunky jewelry, the styling team included fishnets, bandanas, and different colors of leather baker boy hats (which I personally hope never go out of style) alongside classic Dior purses and crossbody’s.

The runway production was particularly striking and was primarily made up of words and sayings. Repeating signs glowing of the words “consent” and “love” stood alongside powerful sayings like, “women’s love is unpaid labor” and “when women strike the world stops.” Maria Grazia Chiuri has used her platform in recent years to focus her collections around women’s rights. Ironically enough, the collection followed the latter sentiment of Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein. 2020 has seen some of the most women come forward with sexual assault and rape stories, and Chiuri felt it was time to share hers.