While all eyes are now on Shanghai as it hosts an expo that has been a universal conversation topic, Dior made its own contribution by reopening their boutique. After extensive renovation work, the boutique opened as the Shanghai expo celebrations commenced and just in time for creative director John Galliano to debut the 2011 Cruise collection to the world. The collection encapsulated a variety of designs that referenced both the film tradition of Nouvelle Vague and contemporary Parisienne chic-by Galliano's definitions. The collection included some very beautiful dresses in styles that were perhaps exaggerated. But not all were successes. A boat-neck pink summer jacket with two decorative bows on each shoulder is perhaps a stereotypical image of what it means to be chic in Paris but I doubt any young woman would succumb to such a look. It is outdated in its sense of practicality and has no relevance to current styles or way of dressing. But Galliano was more successful with other pieces in the collection in portraying elegance and glamour. A striped trench coat is gorgeously sophisticated, as is a black leather jacket paired with white pants; but there's something incongruous about leather and heavy jackets for a cruise collection. Galliano incorporated a lot of leather in the collection, using beautiful colors for tops and shorts and adding a visual softness to the leather by puncturing pretty patterns in the manner of embroderie anglaise. Frills, lace, gingham pattern and layers of tulle were also present, and the result is a very feminine notion of what it means to be dressing casually. It's very sexed up, and the model's hairstyles reflect the idea that women's lib had yet to take place. But there were some great outfits relevant to modern trends like nice slim legged white pants cut well to be worn with a black and white striped blazer. Also, perhaps the strength of the collection lay in the eveningwear, particularly the cocktail length dresses in beautiful shades of coral, mint greens and baby blues. Although I found some of the eveningwear pieces to be too formal and embellished for a collection intended to be worn for holidays, some of Galliano's designs are so beautiful, they should be worn at red carpet events to break the tedium of ugly dresses that have been spotted on recent red carpets.
