Dior brings art to Paris fashion for sculpted men’s show

PARIS — Dior brought art to Paris Fashion Week Friday as designer Kim Jones used a monumental plaster sculpture on the runway to inspire his architectural show.

Guests including Kate Moss, Lily Allen and Kelly Osbourne marveled at the giant artwork by American artist Daniel Arsham — which spelled out “DIOR” in broken up plaster with jewels surreally glimmering beneath.

Here are some highlights of spring-summer 2020 menswear shows, including Berluti.

DIOR’S GOES BACK TO PAST

“It’s quite incredible,” exclaimed Osbourne. “The artist puts real crystals inside his work.”

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The metaphor of the jewel hidden inside the sculptures provided Dior Man with its theme: Beauty unearthed from the past.

It was the starting point of a collection that went back to the past of Christian Dior, who revolutionized the global fashion industry after World War II with his sculpted, couture styles. These were evoked throughout the 49 looks.

Softly sculpted suits — single and double-breasted, and in pale shades — sported long contrasting silken strips that cleverly evoked the shading of the real sculptures on the runway.

Stiff, sanitized coats that were A-line and in white, meanwhile, referenced the house’s popular saddle bag by using the item’s curves here as storm flaps.

Elsewhere, the newspaper print first used by former designer John Galliano two decades ago featured on socks, saddle bags and sheer shirts.

The overly-referential designs are a frequent downside for Dior — but Jones ensured he didn’t lose his own identity.

Indeed, the collection’s strongest looks — like a simple T-shirt with a whoosh of blue watercolour on one shoulder — looked just like Jones exploring his own artistic self.

BERLUTI’S COLOR VISION

The scent of flowers that seemed to float into Berluti’s venue — the resplendent Luxembourg Gardens — was so intoxicating it had fashion insiders guessing that the perfume was, in reality, artificial.

The show itself by designer Kris Van Assche, which seemed inspired by the bright colours of a tropical forest, had a similar problem.

There is courage in putting men in bright hues — a point which should be duly credited to the Belgian who’s been at the helm of the Berluti house one year.

He’s certainly succeeded in bringing a new esthetic to the storied 19th-century brand, a former Italian shoemaker, since arriving from Dior.

But the yellow citrines, vivid blues, electric oranges and electric reds that were chosen for the spring-summer looks were so eye-poppingly industrial they seemed to distract from all else.

The dazzling hues came on suits and long, loosely flowing sleeveless jackets.

And instead of being broken up with more neutral colours, for instance, or used sparingly, they were sometimes splashed across “total look” ensembles. It looked rather heavy-handed.

Still, the show had some great one-off moments — including one from model, Gigi Hadid, who closed the show in a verdigris pant-look speckled with matching diaphanous embroidered feathers.

ECOLOGY ESCAPES PARIS FASHION

The art of the chic invite is still very much a staple of Paris fashion.

Houses compete to produce the most eye-catching, inventive and flamboyant show invitations delivered often by gas-guzzling courier to each guest’s personal or professional address with little thought for ecology.

The little works of art sometimes provide a hint as to what the collection has in store. Often, they are just plain wacky.

The invite to Louis Vuitton’s boyhood-themed show was a giant box containing a complete kite construction kit.

The edgy it-brand Vetements sent out an actual condom in a plastic packet that some fashionistas opened in the belief their seating placing was contained inside. They were wrong.

While, the house of Berluti sent out a chunky wooden block, as was historically used in the construction of classic footwear, with their show details on top.

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JUUN J.’S VARIATIONS

Korean designer Juun J.’s spring collection was called “Module,” a term that describes independent units used to construct a more complex structure.

The units in this show of oversize designs comprised: Huge utilitarian pockets, triangular hoods, sharp shoulders, cinched segmented waists on voluminous pants and some gargantuan, statement fanny packs.

They were all used like a puzzle across the 40 looks in varying rates and intervals. It produced a diverse, yet coherent, series of variations — or modulations — on a theme that worked well.

Juun J.’s go-to colour palette of black, white and khaki began the show — moving into some space-age sheens of silver and pink that were on female models. Their billowing skirts seemed to melt down the body, artistically.

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BALMAIN’S DEMOCRATIC FASHION PARTY

Balmain’s show is being billed as part of Paris’ annual all-night music celebration, la Fete de la Musique. The event_as much concert as runway_is being held inside the French capital’s historic, 384-year-old Jardin des Plantes.

For the final moments of sunshine on the longest day of the year, it will take place outdoors and will be followed by musical performances, kicked off by Gesaffelstein.

Earlier in the month, 1,500 free tickets to the event were available, free of charge. Designer Olivier Rousteing said it was his way of “democratizing” fashion. Money is being raised for (RED), a charity that helps fight AIDS.

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Thomas Adamson can be followed at www.twitter.com/ThomasAdamson_K

Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press