Fall marks a period of deep contemplation for Maria Grazia Chiuri as she navigates the ever-changing landscape of fashion collections. Each season brings a fresh exploration of construction, cuts, materials, and creativity to meet the diverse needs of women.

With this Dior line, she pays homage to New York, drawing inspiration from the city’s iconic Statue of Liberty, gifted by France in the late 19th century. In Christian Dior’s autobiography, the chapter dedicated to his Paris-New York trip opens up a dialogue between the style capitals that is highlighted by Maria Grazia Chiuri in two key prints: the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, flourishing in large format on numerous models.

The bridge between both cultures is Marlene Dietrich, a charismatic, contrarian actress, attached to Dior, in life and on screen. Maria Grazia Chiuri drew inspiration from her to build a collection that fuses the Dior silhouette with the diva’s phantasmagorical presence and boyish allure. The tweeds used came directly from a selection of English menswear fabrics. In his Petit Dictionnaire de la Mode, Monsieur Dior wrote: “In the last few years, tweeds have extended their use even for dressy suits. I think they are extremely elegant. To wear them in the country is a ‘must’. At one time, you could only get tweeds in a rather heavy weight but now you can get them in all weights and qualities and colors.” Marlene Dietrich’s masculine suits provoked scandal, asserting, let us not forget, a woman’s right to choose her attire as she pleases, a tie or a sleeveless vest, for instance: so many emblems that complement each other. Jackets are paired with wide-leg pants or below-the-knee pencil skirts.

The collection features a juxtaposition of masculine tailoring and feminine delicacy, with jackets paired with wide-leg pants or pencil skirts. Dresses reminiscent of the 1940s showcase lingerie as an integral part of the ensemble, crafted from luxurious fabrics like hammered satin, crushed velvet, and crepe. Lace-encrusted slip dresses peek from beneath oversized coats, while quilted nylon with the cannage motif adds a contemporary twist. Embroidery motifs pay homage to Dior’s signature symbols, such as the star, lily of the valley, clover, and bee. Knitwear demonstrates a virtuoso level of creativity, showcasing the versatility of different techniques and textures.

The Dior Fall 2024 collection, unveiled on April 15, 2024, in New York, embodies a range of possibilities that celebrates the meeting of cultures. A conversation about freedom that gives shape and substance to whatever each woman chooses to be.