Raf Simons' New Look

It was inevitable. With the footsteps of the first model to walk at Dior's Fall Couture Show in July, bets were settled and it seems we all made a pretty penny.

True to media speculation, Raf Simons' debut collection for the fashion house took a walk down memory lane, reviving classic silhouettes from where it all began,

but with a spritz of his signature sense of chic simplicity.

 

And how could he do otherwise?

 

(Left) Marilyn Monroe in Dior, Bert Stern for Vogue, 1962, (Right) Saskia de Brauw in Dior, Ruth Hogben for Another, 2012

 

In the wake of John Galliano's turbulent departure from Dior, a reference to its unforgettable 'New Look' seems all too apt. After all, the birth of the brand in 1946 ensued scandal of a different kind. Dior emerged from post-war Paris amidst a landscape of sunken Couturiers, who, to the distaste of the rationed wider world, had continued to produce under the Nazi occupation.

Christian Dior was a designer clear from controversy.

 

What Simons has done here is take that same breath of fresh air to wipe the slate clean.

It was a necessary interlude before his own voice can be heard.

 

Throughout this echo of the past, however, is the heartbeat of recent Jil Sander collections. Slicked hair bowing to the command of a centre-parting and a slick of neon-red lip added a much missed element of minimalist drama to the renowned extravagance of a Dior show.

And, oddly enough, a touch of Christopher Kane crept in...or maybe that's just me?

 

(Left): Christian Dior FC12, Christian Dior FC12, Christopher Kane RST11, Christopher Kane SS07

 

 

To give Simons the credit he rightly deserves, the short flushes of originality that made their way onto the runway this season were beautifully executed.

A personal highlight was a wonderfully structured dress and trouser combination, that managed to be both opulent and understated..

 

 

I only anticipate Simmons' collections to follow will develop on a similar note.

 

Though couture may not be wearable - not to mention affordable - to the average woman, I have selected a couple of high street items to channel your inner 'New Look'...

 

 

 

 

Lace Roll Neck Top - Topshop, Bronze Jacquard Skirt - Asos, (Right): Christian Dior FC12

Hello.

I feel the need to explain myself.

My name is Rebekka (Bekki) Ayres.

 

B + Ayres = Bears.

 

As I like fashion, add 'wears' to your answer.

 

In all honesty, I am a thoroughbred geek, and plan to trawl through the catwalk trends of the season with a fine-toothed calculator...

 

Think of these as my fashion sums - simple formulas that equate to a nice runway look.

 

Now, an introduction seems in order, but boring basic facts about myself send me straight to sleep. I'd prefer to take the approach of a certain type of person that everybody will have had either the pleasure or misfortune of meeting at one point in their life. I'm referring to the kind of person who sits unsettlingly close to me on the bus, even when the rest of the seats are empty, and takes a cat out of their bag. For all its eccentricity and invasion of personal space, by the time I have to get off at my stop, I somehow manage to get to know these people on a level that I haven't even achieved with the longest-running of accquaintances.

 

So let's give it a go..

I sleep on my side, I have porridge every day, I am fantastically shy and perfectly happy just to observe, rivers make me happy, I like ugly colours and ugly things, sometimes my dreams run entirely in rhyme, I would say I like to read but truthfully I just look at the pictures, often there are no thoughts in my head - just one line of a song on loop, I like being on my own, je parle français - I'm working on Dutch, wondering around Soho is my favourite, I would describe myself as painfully in love with Jarvis Cocker, coffee is better than tea, cats are better than dogs, when I'm away from home I miss the people who work in the shops I go to, I somersaulted out of the bath when I was 2 years old and landed on my feet and now I feel like nothing I do can match up to this kind of success.

 

But I will try.

 

Thank you for having me.

xxx

 

P.s this is my face: