“Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together”: Dior Autumn-Winter 2024 Haute Couture Collection Celebrates the Female Athletes

On the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris, Maria Grazia Chiuri dedicated her newest Haute Couture collection to all the female athletes, who, according to her press notes, “have overcome prejudice and obstacles to ensure a level playing field in sports contests”. The message was about sports, but in some way, it was also universal: women should support women globally, and should have equal rights and opportunities as men.

“This défilé represents an extraordinary opportunity to combine couture and sportswear with classicism, rebellion, collective energy—and, above all, the political value of the female body. A woman who performs just as well as a man,” the press notes explained the message behind the collection.

This season, Chuiri played with the notion of the peplum dress, a popular dressing choice in Ancient Greece, a tunic tied at the waist that Maria Grazia celebrated in her Greek Cruise 2022 collection back in 2021. She also used a lot of jersey in white, gold, bronze and silver tones: never considered a stricto sensu couture fabric, it gives the body the freedom of movement and thus an opportunity for women to achieve whatever they strive for.

Then, there were also goddess dresses in black and white: hanging from one shoulder they unveil transparent metallic tank tops. Other highlights included draped skirts that reveal a pair of pants, gladiator sandals, bathrobe coats embellished with sequins and sparkling bodysuits (the golden one adorned with thousands of guilded feathers is a true show-stopper).

The show was set against an impressive wall of mosaics depicting Olympic athletes as ancient warriors by the late African-American artist Faith Ringgold. An activist and advocate for diversity and inclusion, the artist inspired Maria Grazia Chuiri tirelessly, so she wanted to pay an hommage to her. They worked together on the project for two years (this is how long it takes to produce a show installation), but unfortunately Ringgold suddenly passed away in April at the age of 93. This show is dedicated to her.

Courtesy: Dior

Text: Lidia Ageeva