Vogue India July 2016

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136 VOGUE INDIA JULY 2016 http://www.vogue.in

STYLE

HRH Princess Grace of Monaco, the

Duchess of Windsor, Diana, Princess

of Wales, and actors Charlize Theron,

Elizabeth Taylor and Jennifer Law-

rence all play a role in a new tome

Women In Dior: Portraits Of Elegance

written by French fashion author and

journalist Laurence Benaim, who

delved into Dior’s archives for anec-

dotes, sketches and insider secrets.

What, for you, was the most

exciting part of putting together

this book?

What is absolutely wonderful is the re-

search; this accumulation of material,

of real stories, moments lived, unique

documents, almost 70 years after the

house was founded. In an era when

fashion is self-decomposing into short-

er and shorter moments, the time for

research—which is a time of silence,

exchanges, encounters and real discov-

eries—equates to an ultimate and gen-

uine luxury.

What was the most surprising

insight into Dior’s history that

you had?

Certain characters, even if they belong

to history, remain ultra contemporary,

such as Carmen Colle (a

friend of the label); while

through their strength of

character others, such as

Mitzah Bricard (a long-

time Dior muse), estab-

lished their roles in a very

radical way, outside the

strictures of fashion and

convention. What I love

about Dior is the variety of

women this house

has been able to

attract, from prin-

cesses to silver-

screen goddesses...

thanks to the

vision of one man

who sought to

bring back to fashion the idea of

real put-together presence, the taste

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of femininity.

In many ways, Dior represents

French fashion. Yet it’s global...

Without the house of Dior, Paris would

never have reclaimed its title as the

capital of fashion. Dior has its own mu-

sic, there’s a spirit woven into

the very structure of the

clothes themselves, which are

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structured compositions, and

for which a phrase by Chris-

tian Dior continues to act as a

motto: “Fashion exists to

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Available at Dior boutiques

DIVE IN

For her first ever swimwear collection, Stella McCartney went straight to her style signature

Felicity Jones

at the Golden

Globes in

2015

Jackie Kennedy

in Caracas,

Venezuela, 1961

A sketch for

Jones’s blue silk

and faille Golden

Globes 2015 dress

Citrus-print

strapless

one-piece

Navy striped rash

guard with bottoms

The making of the

dress for the fi lm

J’Adore (2014)

Since 1947, the world’s most sophisticated women have been

dressed by Dior. Now, a book celebrates nearly six decades

of women and style. Vogue has an exclusive interview with

writer LAURENCE BENAIM. By PRIYANKA KHANNA

There are many things Stella

McCartney is known for. Besides

being rock royalty, her namesake

line focuses on empowering,

sophisticated clothing that is also

animal-free. It’s no wonder that she’s a

favourite with Hollywood’s It girls.

Now with her fi rst ever swim

collection, be prepared to spot her

styles on beaches from Cannes to

Cabo. “It’s inspired by all types of

women,” says McCartney on the

seven stories she’s created.

In addition to bikinis and one-

pieces across moods—from the

Olympics-inspired stripes to the

‘Miracle’, which plays on the label’s

body-illusion designs—the collection

also includes apparel and accessories,

such as rash guards, as well as

sustainable beach totes made in

Kenya. “The idea of it is also tied to

the desire to fi nd swimwear that will

make us look and feel the best.” Q

AN ELEGANT

TURN

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