Resurfacing Fashions: The 'New Look'

 

As a true Fashionista I become mirthfully captivated when historical fashions resurface with such effortlessness and craft. I am absolutely inspired by everything pertinent to the fashions of the 40s with the advances of the unadorned pre-war rags of WWII to the prosperity of post-war riches. This movement saw rags turn into beautifully rich and flowing silks, wools and duchesse satins. Dominating the 40s with his creation of the hour-glass silhouette, Christian Dior had fabricated a feminine collection which accentuated the womanly curves of the female body, a collection which he called Corelle ‘Flower Woman’ was later distinguished as ‘The New Look’.

We have all thought about it, the coat can be seen as an incredibly sexy item, I even designed my own JacketDress whilst studying Fashion Design at college back in 2011, and last week, Dior’s runway at Paris Fashion Week saw Dior’s Creative Director, Raf Simons’ newly founded creation of the JacketDress come to life on the runway! Reminiscent of Christian Dior’s early creation of ‘The New Look’, the JacketDress is a modern movement, a futuristic yet historical piece, a garment which for many is difficult to define. The authentic piece left fashion fanatics asking the question ‘Is it a jacket or is it a dress? A Dracket? A jacket-dress?’. Raf Simons answered to the backstage natter by saying “I offer the freedom to wear it as a dress, without any other piece, but you can as well wear it with long pants or shorts or a long skirt or short skirt - so then you create a deux pieces look.”