Christian Dior Autumn Winter 2008 Paris Haute Couture

This collection was an interesting re-imagining of the fashion house’s origins, and a glamorous mish-mash of styles from the 1920s to the 1950s.  The 1946 Dior’s New Look peplum was exaggerated into balloons of fabric beneath belt-cinched waists. Circle skirts, blouson sleeves, oversized coats, wasp waists and tea dresses were all in the mix. Cloche style hats and pencil-thin arched brows gave a nod to the 1920s. Corsets were occasionally sighted beneath sheer gowns, and a 1950s hourglass silhouette was fairly ubiquitous, save for a few slimmer 1930s styles. Patent leather, sheer fabrics and dark lipstick gave the whole show a more modern – and risque – feeling.