In yet another sign of the times, with many runway shows cancelled amid an ongoing pandemic, the collection was stunningly unveiled in a 15-minute short film directed by Matteo Garrone, titled Le Château de Tarot, revealing the voyage to the heart of a castle filled with characters embodying the Major Arcana—the card that symbolises life lessons, karmic influences and the big archetypal themes that are influencing your life and your soul's journey to enlightenment—as they question and disorient, inviting the viewer to view the world, and their inner path, from a new perspective.
Such themes translated magnificently in the designs. With haute couture having long been fashion's vessel for unbridled exploration—its very nature a beautiful metaphor for our internal journeys—the symbolism of the tarot comes alive.
A clairvoyant asks to draw a card in a deck designed as a catalogue of possibilities, a cryptic dictionary of the world. The High Priestess, the Empress, Justice, the Hanged Man, the Fool, and the Devil are sublimated through the excellence of savoir-faire, celebrating the art of weaving. Lace is shown inlaid with hand-painted embellishments, golden velvet is brought to life with the signs of the zodiac, and precious jacquard is sprinkled with stars. Illustrations by Pietro Ruffo were featured in several designs, while a cape trimmed in multicoloured feathers showcased an unexpected use of volume.
Timeless Dior iconography is also present in this otherworldly realm, most notably a reimagining of the Bar Jacket in black velvet, its curves reinterpreted to express a new attitude. Moreover, the maison's signature grey makes its appearance in the form of tweed, cashmere and organza on shirts, skirts, pants and capes.
See some of the best looks from the Dior's Spring-Summer Haute Couture 2021 collection below.
