Artistic Collaboration: Elena Bellantoni and Dior’s SS 2024 Collection

In the Spring/Summer 2024 Collection for Christian Dior, the Creative Director of Dior women’s lines, Maria Grazia Chiuri, collaborated with artist Elena Bellantoni to craft an immersive, colorful scenography in Paris. This served as a striking contrast to the prevailing black-and-white theme of her latest ready-to-wear collection.

Throughout her career, Maria Grazia Chiuri has consistently delved into the connections between the human body and fashion, as well as the interplay between femininity and feminism. Much like Elena Bellantoni’s monumental art piece, “NOT HER,” Chiuri’s designs defy conventional stereotypes. The walls were adorned with split-flap displays, featuring a succession of female figures, including the artist herself, challenging sexist advertisements.

For this particular collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri drew inspiration from the concept of the witch. As the creative director, she envisioned a wardrobe fit for full-moon nights, characterized by intensely radiant whites and profound blacks. The iconic Eiffel Tower made cameo appearances as a recurring motif on architectural pieces, while a bewitching rendition of the Plan de Paris wove a mysterious pattern onto skirts and protective coats.

The fabrics displayed lacerations, tears, or traces of combustion, drawing parallels to the work of Italian artist Alberto Burri. Stars adorned embroideries, including the emblematic Mille-fleurs, which received a darker reinterpretation. Medicinal herbs, fantastical creatures, and swaying fringes reminiscent of charms all contributed to an enchanting, imaginary world.

Knitwear gracefully embraced the contours of the body, occasionally revealing undergarments, while off-shoulder tops cast their own spell.

Timeless flowers shared space with darker blooms, adorning portraits of independent women who boldly asserted their individuality and kept their secrets hidden.

RUNWAY