FAUX*PAS.PROJECT: CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE FALL 2012

RAF SIMONS

Behold the RAF SIMONS couture debut in the house of CHRISTIAN DIOR!
It has to be mentioned that he just came from the atellier of JIL SANDER so we could clearly understand WHY the kind of VISION that we can equate from the totality of his show, considering the past couture collections of the house with emphasis on the days when the infamous JOHN GALLIANO was still the ruler and king of the legendary brand.

It could have been the proper stage for him to announce his "ARRIVAL" with an extraordinary 'bang', as hype over his 'first' in CD has been the talk of the creme de la creme of the fashion capitals of the world. The presence of Alaïa, Elbaz, Jacobs, Theyskens, Tisci, Van Assche, Versace, von Furstenberg in the show was an attestation that HE is the MAN of the HOUR.

Reviews were KIND to him. In fact very very "kind" to the point of sounding like the "almighties" behind the signature brand made sure that he was "TAKEN CARE OF" in terms of media 'publicities' with all the powers that they can muster.

Well for this author, with all due respect, there was really NOTHING NEW that we haven't seen already from the past vis a vis the staples of the established houses such as Oscar Dela Renta's ball gowns... to the cigarette pants under dresses of Karl Lagerfeld for CHANEL... to the VALENTINO-esque simple shift dresses... to the tailored black suits and smoking of Yves Saint Laurent.

Galliano must have set the bar high for extravagant presentations and innovative lines that my expectations were so to the heavens level that I considered the CONFIDENT and POLISHED Simons' high fashion numbers as a 'YAWN-FUL' spectacle! Unexpectedly... he gave us, surprisingly, a quite intelligently snobbish lot, yet it has a very bland flavour for a house with recent history of elegant opulence... defined grandeur and exaggerated dramatic runway fashion exhibitions. I just wish he took a couple of risks... however calculated, but at least he could have taken some chances on the innovative side.

Raf declared before the day of his 'entrance' to his new kingdom that "A SHIFT is happening."............. Well, I wish it didn't HAPPEN at all if he meant the Dior haute lines being 'shifted' back to basics!
Let's give him another try though. He might still have a hangover in his stint at Sanders. We know what that house is famous for........... BASIC SIMPLICITY! It seems he's got to shake that up and realize that the shoes he has to fill is kind of not so like JIL's..... but that of JOHN's.