Hello Teddy Girls ... Dior Fall/Winter 2019-20 Collection

The first round of Paris Fashion Week 2019 kicks off as celebrities and fashion editors from all corners of the world thronged Musée Rodin for the Dior Fall/Winter 2019 collection presentation.

Set amongst a vast collection of sculptures, drawings, old photographs and objets d’arts, Dior’s Artistic/Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri delighted her fans and critiques alike with a dazzling array of ready-to-wear pieces inspired by the Teddy Girls – a feminine take of the British subculture Teddy Boys – with a dash of post-war 1950s mood, an era when the late Monsieur Dior first debuted his New Look collection to the fashion sphere.

The Bar jacket – Dior’s timeless and forever celebrated invention – takes the runway as the season’s main protagonist. Featuring a more masculine line and through cut, the legendary nipped waist jacket is fitted with a velvet collar. 

The reinvented jacket is then paired with gathered skirts made from supple technical fabrics, bringing forth the allure of the house’s signature elegance and sportswear spirit.

Tailored pieces are paired with cutting edge outerwear while palette of sombre and lively colours woven into quirky tartan patterns. At a glance, Fifties aside, it would not be wrong the assume that collection is not just about celebrating the British subculture or reinventing the Teddy Girls with Dior’s renowned insouciance per se. 

In fact, it’s like a beautiful homage to the icons who have elevated the British fashion scene to its current level today: Think the late Alexander fashion’s rebellious dame Vivienne Westwood.

To soften the dominating masculine silhouette, Chiuri sent out models in a slew of corseted dresses crafted from airy printed chiffon, sweetheart neckline with braided straps, striped loose knits, and a full red-black tartan dress with frayed above the knees hemline and zippered front that certainly will receive the nod of approval from Cher Horowitz of 90s cult teen flick “Clueless”. 

As the show progresses through the evening wear, the Fifties begin to echo strongly with pieces that once adorned the svelte bodies of 50s silver screen sirens such as Greta Garbo and Rita Hayworth. Sheer fabric such as chiffon rules the line-up and made desirable with sometimes extravagant details such as butterfly appliques that seem fluttering – as if they were alive!  

Accessories such as bucket hat – either in black patent leather or tartan fabric finishing – with subtle netting signifies the unison of street and Dior’s revered codes of elegance. On the other hand, leather wide belts fashioned like Japanese kimono obi with “D” charm accentuates the feminine body silhouette. 

As the British climate is often damp, gloomy and sometimes wet, almost all models were seen strutting in ankle boots, wellington boots and or chic two-toned Mary Janes with rustic eyelets and ankle socks.   

Dior Fall/Winter 2019 ready-to-wear collection and accessories will be available at all Dior stores and selected multi-brand retailers worldwide as early as June 2019.

*Photos courtesy of Dior

Dior – G28, Indulge Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur; Lot G23B & LC-G01, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre,50088 Kuala Lumpur