Shopping in Paris: Dior

Paris Fashion Week inspires some sensational shopping in Paris. The fashion shows themselves are exclusive events reserved for press, celebrities and buyers. Last week, there was a spectacular show in the romantic gardens of the Musée Rodin. Rihanna was there, clad in vivid red fur, chatting with LA producer Harvey Weinstein. Grace Coddington, creative director at US Vogue, was there with her wild red hair. And the Girls’ Guide to Paris was there with Cindy Jones, a Washington, DC, socialite, to bring you the inside scoop! 

At the corner of the street, far from the museum, uniformed police checked our invitations before letting us use the sidewalk. We dodged umbrellas and anxious fashionistas, walking the gauntlet of paparazzi before arriving at the massive green doors. With our invitations verified, we were on the magic carpet, which protected our heels as we made our way across the grounds, through the mansion, toward the pristine white tent, four magic letters gracing the facade: DIOR. 

Inside, the cavernous space was abuzz with expectation, bright lights and beautiful women, most of them wearing Dior, a remarkable sign of respect for the relatively new creative director Raf Simons. 

The bright, jewel-toned lights that carpeted the ceiling in squares and circles went to black, a hush fell over the crowd and a chill ran up my spine. A flash of bright white, a steady beat of techno music and the show had begun. A steady, solemn parade of 55 outfits, featuring clean, pure lines and bright, bold colors flowed by. 

After the first few moments it was clear that Mr. Simons was presenting us with the power suit of the 20-teens. Solid structure with a feminine flow, noble fabrics in colors that refused to be denied. Lemon yellow, acid blue, true fuchsia and Irish green are boldly thrown together, creating the tone of Dior’s Fall/Winter 2014–15. There was plenty of the prerequisite black for a fall/winter collection, but the use of colors was refreshing and shows that the designer understands where women are headed.

Handbags were worn more like briefcases for women with a purpose. The dresses, coats and suits often had thick laces running up the side or down the back, a bow hanging down, swinging sensually to the rhythm of the modern woman. 

Insider tip: Planning a trip to Paris? Be sure to get the GO-Card, your access to our little black book of resources on how to eat, live, play and stay in Paris. You’ll also get great deals from all of our 250-plus partners.