Latest news with #WeShouldAllBeFeminists'
Observer
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Dior shows Maria Grazia Chiuri's cruise collection in Rome
French fashion house Dior showed creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri's cruise 2026 and fall-winter haute couture 2026 collections at a fashion show in the gardens of the Villa Albani Torlonia in Rome on Tuesday at night. Guests sat under transparent umbrellas as models marched past on a gravel walkway lined with hedges. They paraded sheer gowns covered with lacework, textured dresses with rows of ruffles and long, tailored coats - mostly in white, ivory and nude colors. A sharp-shouldered trench coat, military jackets and tailcoats over skirts brought contrast to the airy looks, as did a few dresses in red or black velvet. After the show, Chiuri rounded the gardens for her bow as the audience stood, cheering and clapping, while mist rose from the gardens. The catwalk presentation, which drew on references to Italian cinema and theatre, follows last week's cruise fashion show from Louis Vuitton, another LVMH-owned label, in Avignon, France. The shows come as the luxury industry grapples with a prolonged slump in business, and a number of high-end fashion labels are seeking new creative direction to reignite interest from shoppers. Over the last five years, Chiuri has established herself as a groundbreaking leader, blending activism, craftsmanship, and innovation to redefine the brand's identity. Since taking the helm in 2016, Chiuri has championed feminism and social justice through her collections, making Dior a platform for powerful messages. Dior shows Maria Grazia Chiuri's cruise collection in Rome Her 2019 'We Should All Be Feminists' T-shirts became an instant icon, sparking global conversations about gender equality. Subsequent seasons incorporated slogans, symbolic motifs, and references to female empowerment, turning runway shows into potent statements. Chiuri's respect for Dior's heritage is evident in her reinterpretation of classic silhouettes, emphasizing artisanal techniques and sustainable practices. She has prioritized eco-friendly materials and collaborations that promote ethical production, aligning luxury with responsibility. Her partnerships with contemporary artists and activists, including Judy Chicago, have expanded Dior's cultural impact, fostering dialogue around gender, identity, and creativity. These efforts have garnered widespread praise for authenticity and influence. The 2025 show, held in Paris, marked a significant milestone. It showcased a daring new direction—mixing couture craftsmanship with futuristic design elements. Incorporating digital innovation and sustainable fabrics, the collection reflected Chiuri's commitment to modernity and environmental consciousness. Critics applauded the show for its boldness and relevance, emphasizing how Dior continues to evolve while maintaining its heritage. As Dior advances under Chiuri's visionary leadership, her body of work exemplifies how fashion can be a catalyst for social change, blending tradition with contemporary activism. The 2025 show underscores her role as a transformative figure, shaping the future of luxury fashion rooted in purpose and innovation. —Reuters
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maria Grazia Chiuri's Most Iconic Moments at Dior
When Maria Grazia Chiuri ascended to the helm of Christian Dior in 2016, she brought with her a reverence for tailoring, a romantic slant, a respect for the house's past, and her signature feminist fire. The first woman to lead the French fashion house since it was founded in 1946, she revolutionized the Dior woman with wearable yet interesting clothes made for an array of occasions and generations. Throughout her time as creative director, Chiuri embraced the house codes with flair, softening the sculptural characteristics of Monsieur Dior's original 'New Look' throughout both ready-to-wear and couture collections. She fleshed out the tailoring aspects and embraced unique aspects of the house's DNA, like Dior's connection with ballet and devotion to tarot cards (Monsieur Dior designed costumes for the ballet and had a personal affinity for tarot cards). Not to mention, Chiuri's released accessories that ascended to cult-favorite status—remember the J'adior kitten heels?—and handbags like the Book tote, whose massive sales fueled the business side of the legacy brand. Over the last decade, Chiuri also staged theatrical, imaginative runway shows in Paris and abroad. She's known for embracing the heritage of each place she travels, be it Morocco or Mexico City, to stage her larger-than-life resort and pre-fall shows, employing local artisans and feminist creatives to add to the Dior dialogue. In addition to immaculately constructed clothing, her Paris shows often featured the unique work of artists, choreographers, and performers. On the red carpet, Dior ambassadors, from Jennifer Lawrence to Charlize Theron to Natalie Portman, bolstered the brand's iconography on a global platform. Here, we've highlighted the most iconic moments throughout Chiuri's celebrated tenure to celebrate her her feminist side, Grazia Chiuri referenced Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'We Should All Be Feminists' essay on t-shirts in her debut released with the spring 2017 collection, Chiuri's J'Adior kitten heels quickly ascended to cult-favorite Hadid wore the standout look from Chiuri's debut collection at a Dior Beauty party in New York in 2016, spawning a new transparent Spring 2018 collection witnessed the launch of the iconic Dior Book often enlisted model Ruth Bell, with her signature short hair, to open shows and front her re-released the house's iconic Saddle bag in house of Dior has a history of intertwining with the ballet—Monsieur Dior designed costumes for performances in Paris. Chiuri expanded on that, as seen in the Spring 2019 Resort 2020 collection, shown in Morocco, utilized wax printing, a technique authentic to that part of North the 2020 Oscars, Natalie Portman wore a cape embroidered with the names of female directors who failed to be nominated that her Spring 2020 Haute Couture show, Chiuri reimagined the Greco-Roman goddess with billowing pleated skirts and twisted Spring 2021 couture show featured Renaissance-inspired silhouettes in the form of iconic Tarot Shahidi wore a spectacular Chiuri creation to the 2021 Met continuously found new ways to riff on Dior's iconic bar jacket like this double-breasted number from Spring '22 the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, Dior Beauty ambassador Natalie Portman wore a Dior couture gown inspired by the iconic 'Junon' dress designed by Christian Dior in showed her Pre-Fall 2023 collection in closed the Dior Resort 2024, shown in Mexico City, with a parade of white dresses featuring red embroidery of artist and activist Elina Chauvet and a collective of female Lawrence wore a charming Dior polka-dot number to the 2024 recently, Chiuri re-released the iconic J'Adore Dior T-shirt in the Fall 2025 wore a new rendition of the iconic 'New Look' at the Cannes Film Festival in Dion wore Dior for her performance at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Maria Grazia Chiuri exits Dior, capping transformative era for the Paris fashion behemoth
PARIS (AP) — Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman to lead Dior's women's collections, announced Thursday she is stepping down as creative director after nine years at the storied French fashion house. The Italian designer confirmed her long-rumored departure in an Instagram post, capping a transformative era defined by bold feminist messaging, record sales and industry-defining collections. 'I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and the ateliers. Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women's fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists,″ Chiuri wrote. 'Together, we have written a remarkable and impactful chapter, of which I am immensely proud.' Chiuri, 60, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped Dior's creative direction and broadened its global appeal. Since her arrival in 2016, she steered Dior through a golden era of commercial and cultural success. Revenue reportedly rose by nearly $8 billion from 2017 to 2023 as Chiuri's vision of empowered femininity resonated with a new generation of clients. The house itself credited Chiuri with nothing less than redefining "the identity and femininity of the Dior woman, celebrated and reimagined the iconic heritage and savoir-faire.' Delphine Arnault, the LVMH executive who oversees Dior, paid tribute to Chiuri's 'tremendous work with an inspiring feminist perspective and exceptional creativity, all imbued with the spirit of Monsieur Dior.' Chiuri, Arnault added, not only designed 'highly desirable collections' but 'has written a key chapter in the history of Christian Dior' — a chapter that will forever be marked by the milestone of her being the first woman to lead the women's collections. Chiuri's debut for Spring 2017 made headlines with 'We Should All Be Feminists' T-shirts, declaring a new era for Dior. She brought activism to the runway, collaborating with artists like Judy Chicago and Faith Ringgold. She revived icons such as the Saddle Bag and made space for women's voices, drawing on Dior's past while rewriting its aesthetic. Chiuri departs as the first woman to lead Dior since its founding in 1947, having redefined the house's codes and left the door open for a new chapter at one of fashion's most influential brands. Her exit comes amid a broader series of creative shakeups across the industry. Pierpaolo Piccioli, her former co-creative director at Valentino, was recently named artistic director of Balenciaga. Meanwhile, Matthieu Blazy, who stepped down from Bottega Veneta last year, will debut at Chanel this fall, succeeding Virginie Viard — whose unceremonious departure shocked the industry. The moves reflect a period of transition for major fashion houses as they adapt to shifting consumer expectations, slower luxury growth, and the demands of a digital-first market. At least half a dozen top houses have changed creative leadership in the past year alone in a sign of the mounting pressure on designers to deliver both artistic vision and commercial results in an increasingly unstable landscape. Her shows spanned continents, from Mumbai to Kyoto, each celebrating craft and community. But for her final collection, Resort 2026, Chiuri returned home to Rome — staging the show at Villa Torlonia, enveloping her guests in ritual white, and invoking the spirit of Italian cinema with a film by Matteo Garrone. The choice of her native city, paired with the all-white dress code, signaled a deliberate full-circle moment; an intimate farewell and a subtle hint that Chiuri was preparing to close her chapter at Dior.
5 days ago
- Entertainment
Maria Grazia Chiuri exits Dior, capping transformative era for the Paris fashion behemoth
PARIS -- Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman ever to lead Dior's women's collections, announced Thursday she is stepping down as creative director after nine years at the storied French fashion house. The Italian designer confirmed her departure in an Instagram post, capping a transformative era defined by bold feminist messaging, record sales and industry-defining collections. Chiuri, 60, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped Dior's creative direction and broadened its global appeal. Since her arrival in 2016, she steered Dior through a golden era of commercial and cultural success. Revenues reportedly rose by nearly $8 billion from 2017 to 2023 as Chiuri's vision of empowered femininity resonated with a new generation of clients. 'I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and the ateliers. Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women's fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists,″ she said in the post. 'Together, we have written a remarkable and impactful chapter, of which I am immensely proud.' The fashion house said Chiuri ″redefined the identity and femininity of the Dior woman, celebrated and reimagined the iconic heritage and savoir-faire.' LVMH executive Delphine Arnault thanked Chiuri for her 'tremendous work,' saying she had 'an inspiring feminist perspective and exceptional creativity, all imbued with the spirit of Monsieur Dior." Chiuri designed 'highly desirable collections (and) has written a key chapter in the history of Christian Dior,″ Arnault added, noting she was the first woman to design the women's collections. Chiuri's debut for Spring 2017 made headlines with 'We Should All Be Feminists' T-shirts, declaring a new era for Dior. She brought activism to the runway, collaborating with artists like Judy Chicago and Faith Ringgold. She revived icons such as the Saddle Bag and made space for women's voices, drawing on Dior's past while rewriting its aesthetic. Her shows spanned continents, from Mumbai to Kyoto, each celebrating craft and community. Chiuri's last collection, Resort 2026, was staged in her native Rome at Villa Torlonia, evoking the spirit of Italian cinema, and accompanied by a film from director Matteo Garrone. Dior has not yet named a successor, but speculation centers on Jonathan Anderson, who recently took over Dior's men's collections. Chiuri departs as the first woman to helm Dior since its founding in 1947, having rewritten the rules and opened the door for a new chapter at one of fashion's most influential maisons. Her departure is part of a long string of creative shakeups at major fashion houses, that includes Pierpaolo Piccioli's recent appointment as creative director at Balenciaga. Chiuri and Piccioli were for a time co-creative directors at Valentino.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maria Grazia Chiuri Is Bidding Farewell to Dior
It's official: Maria Grazia Chiuri is leaving Dior. The announcement came shortly after the maison's cruise show in Rome earlier this week, a collection that felt like a nostalgic tribute to her time at the house. In hindsight, the show served as a quietly reserved finale that garnered warm acceptance and appreciation within the comfort of her home city. Heavy speculation surrounding the details of her departure has been building since December, but fashion's rumor mill aside, it's bittersweet to see the tenure of one of the few female designers at a major luxury house—and the only woman to ever lead Dior—come to an end. It remains to be seen if former Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson, who was officially appointed to Dior Men in April, will be her replacement. Born in Rome to a military father and seamstress mother, Chiuri was exposed to clothing ateliers at a young age. After completing fashion school, she spent nearly 30 years working alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli (who was recently confirmed as the creative director of Balenciaga, effective July 10)—first at Fendi, where they birthed the iconic Baguette bag, and finally as co-creative directors of Valentino before Chiuri departed for Dior in 2016. In her time at Dior, Chiuri built a world dedicated to local artisans, female empowerment, and skilled craftsmanship. Her collections were often filled with overt messaging, ranging from her viral spring 2017 'We Should All Be Feminists' T-shirt to the 'Miss Dior' graphics in the fall 2024 collection. Chiuri told ELLE in a 2020 profile that these principles were representative of the feminism instilled in her by her liberal parents while growing up in an Italy where female liberation and reproductive rights were remarkably taboo—and are increasingly so again. 'She has written a key chapter in the history of Christian Dior, greatly contributing to its remarkable growth and being the first woman to lead the creation of women's collections,' said Delphine Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, in a statement that also hailed the designer's 'feminist perspective and exceptional creativity.' Chiuri took to Instagram to commemorate her time at the house, writing, 'I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and ateliers. Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women's fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists. Together, we have written a remarkable and impactful chapter of which I am immensely proud.' Chiuri's legacy at Dior will undoubtedly be defined by her dedication to exploring craft and her emphasis on the unspoken history of hidden female labor, particularly within the domestic sphere. In 2023, the house traveled to India, in honor of the Indian-inspired ensemble in Marc Bohan's 1947 collection, which spurred a dynamic relationship between the country and the brand. The collection highlighted the work of the female-run Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai, with which Chiuri formed a long-lasting partnership over the course of her career. 'To be a creative director means to work with a big community. And I want this community to be visible,' Chiuri told ELLE just before the show. More recently, Chiuri took to Kyoto to stage the brand's pre-fall runway show underneath the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Always reverential to the legacy of Monsieur Dior, the collection paid tribute to the house's longstanding relationship with Japan. As of now, Anderson is set to officially debut during Men's Paris Fashion Week on June 27, but there remains no official word on Chiuri's successor. You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)
