Paris Fashion Week: how Dior married 70s power dressing with 16th century chic – its spring/summer 2023 runway show delivered drama and playfulness, with Blackpink’s Jisoo and Cha Eun-woo attending

Sep 30 , 2022

A model presents a creation for the Christian Dior spring/summer 2023 fashion show during the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week, in Paris, on September 27. Photo: AFP

Outspoken feminist Maria Grazia Chiuri went with corsets, crinolines, knee-high socks, platform heels and midriff-baring tops for her new collection, dubbed ‘ironic power dressing’

French queen Catherine de Medici provided plenty of inspiration, with her love of structured silhouettes, while celebrity VIP guests included Maggie Gyllenhaal and Elle Macpherson

Women have spent centuries trying to liberate themselves from heels and corsets, but the latest Dior collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, September 27, presented them as a sort of “ironic power dressing”.

For the spring/summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection of Christian Dior, presented during the Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, on September 27, the brand went for an “ironic power dressing” concept. Photo: Xinhua

Christian Dior’s spring/summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection, presented during the Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, on September 27, was inspired by 16th century style, including crinolines. Photo: Xinhua

An outspoken feminist, Dior’s womenswear designer Maria Grazia Chiuri said the corsets, crinolines and other historical items, inspired by 16th century French queen Catherine de Medici, remained modern and functional despite their appearance.

A black lace look from the spring/summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection by Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Dior fashion house during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, on September 27. Photo: EPA-EFE

The presentation of the women’s collections runs from September 26 to October 4 at Paris Fashion Week. Photo: EPA-EFE

“The idea that amused me was that there are elements in the clothes that create a regal imagination,” Chiuri said ahead of the show.

She presented the spring/summer 2023 collection against the backdrop of a grotto in the Jardin des Tuileries on the second day of Paris Fashion Week.

Midriff-baring tops and knee-length socks featured in the spring/summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection by Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Dior fashion house presented during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, on September 27, paired here with a floral print. Photo: EPA-EFE

With dancers twisting in the background, the show sought to bring a “baroque party” atmosphere, reflecting the key inspiration of the collection.