Girls on Wheels are “clothes” minded at the Dior Exhibit.
Vicki Baker
It’s been said, “Fashion is about something that comes from within you”. So, tapping into our inner fashionista-ness, Girls on Wheels toured the Dallas Museum of Art’s special exhibit — “Dior: From Paris to the World” – a collection from the creative directors of the storied French fashion house.
The showing covered 70 years of the House of Dior’s legacy and featured almost 200 haute couture dresses, as well as accessories, photographs, original sketches, runway videos, and other archival material. We were surprisingly mistaken in thinking the exhibit would be devoted exclusively to Christian Dior. A legendary succession of house designers brought their own diverse styles to the brand (after he suddenly died of a heart attack in 1957) and carried Dior’s vision into the 21st century. Their collections were also on display in the “Creative Designers” hall.
We strolled through the many galleries featuring masterpieces of fashion – dresses for day, evening, night, and every occasion imaginable. “Office of Dreams” was an arrangement of mock-ups in plain muslin. “Fields of Flowers”, a room of floral dresses accompanied by impressionist paintings. “From Paris to the World” with designs inspired by cultures from around the world including Africa’s Masai warriors, Japanese geishas and cherry blossoms, English fox hunting, and ancient Egyptian royalty. “Ladies of Dior” displayed gowns belonging to Dior’s celebrity fans – Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, and Princess Grace of Monaco. And “Revolutionary New Look” showcased dresses all in black setting the tone for the New York look post-World War II.
After spending several hours exploring this grand exhibit, we lunched on the outdoor patio of the Village Burger Bar, an uptown twist on the burger joint. Looking back on our visit, Girls on Wheels were wowed by the displays of lavish embroidery, luxurious fabrics, and elegant silhouettes. It’s undisputed that Christian Dior generated a revolutionary movement in fashion history. Nonetheless, we realized, fashion is just a trend. And trends come and go. Yet, one thing is always certain – friendships never go out of style.