Out-of-this-world architecture once again united with high fashion for Dior’s 2016 Cruise collection, set within the bulbous terracotta surrounds of Pierre Cardin’s holiday home ’Palais Bulles’.
Perched above the Bay of Cannes, the awe-inspiring abode was designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag and constructed between 1975 and 1989. The Cote d’Azur property was bought by Cardin in 1992 and provided an epic encore to last week’s Louis Vuitton show at Bob Hope’s Palm Springs casa.
The 12,900 sq foot residence, which includes 26 interconnected pods (inspired by Inuit dwellings), offered a compelling utopian setting for Raf Simons’ resort vision for Dior. ’In many ways it is a form of architecture you cannot connect to another,’ he said of Bubble Palace. ’It is more human than rational; individual and playful. It is a place that I have been fascinated by for a number of years.’ Simons first learned of the site when he was studying industrial design, while its location also neatly ties in with Dior’s long affiliation with the area - Monsieur Dior’s home stands in the South of France village of Montauroux.
Not surprisingly, the event’s architectural focus extended right onto the show’s snaking runway, which saw Cardin seated in the front row. (The iconic designer worked besides Christian Dior from 1946 as his head of tailoring.)
Opening with clashing checks (cue silk gingham shorts and Lurex kilts), the trans-seasonal collection mixed high-tech fabrics with resort classics like knitted tennis dresses and sailor’s shorts. Inspired by the Mediterranean landscape’s hues and textures, ’Collection Crosière’ saw homespun textiles united with a burnt colour palette and a sporty playfullness. Silhouettes were abbreviated to mid-thigh length - even on new, deck-worthy Bar suits - and were teamed back with leather flip-flops or less beachy, pointed ankle booties. The knitted ’swimsuits’ and mismatched earrings were also no doubt destined for more action than the boardwalk.
