Andy Warhol (1928-1987), was an American artist who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as Pop Art. His work explore the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became a renowned and sometimes controversial artist.
Although best known for his silkscreen paintings, Andy Warhol was also an excellent draughtsman. Drawing was a constant part of his artistic practice. It was just this, his 'early work', the subject that, current creative Dior designer, Raf Simons chose like a leitmotif for his Fall 2013 Ready to wear collection, and that he did under an agreement with the artist's foundation.
The Andy Warhol Museum in his native city, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, holds an extensive permanent collection of art and archives. It is the largest museum in the Unite States dedicated to a single artist.
Parker Tyler, the American author, poet and film critic, in
Art News, December 1956, pointed out that Warhol’s shoes were fetishes. Shoes
are one of Warhol's most frequently used motifs. Even before he began his
illustrious career in Pop art, Warhol loved shoes and much of his early work
was drawings of shoes. He did a whole collection of Diamond Dust shoe pieces.
Hand and Flowers, ca.1957. Offset lithograph and watercolor on paper Sheet Size 14 1/4 x 10 inches.
Dior Collection:
Against a dreamy futuristic background of cloudy blue skies and silvered spheres mirroring the idea of artistic clouds hanging across the room, that reflected models as they walked by the backdrop, Christian Dior presented their stunning Fall/Winter 2013/ 2014 Ready-To-Wear Collection.
While still respecting 'the codes' (Dior codes), Raf Simons with his particular surrealist style showed off a mix of reflective silhouettes, accentuating the waist, evoking the 'Bar' suit, but without neglecting the rectangle silhouette characteristic of the 20s.
Silhouettes that were moving between elegant tailoring, remembering the 'corolla line' (1947), but more morbids, and with less obvious construction, in the cloth coat dressing with the tuxedo style black lapels, and coats with a sash tie, very...very Dior, passing by a fully crocheted outfits, with winding peplum, and mix of textures like crochet with houndstooth, where the strapless neckline is the protagonist, in the surrealist bodices, touching leather textures, up to get a series of beautiful and very wearable languid chiffon dresses.
The predominant neutrals colors palette: black, gray, and white are beautifully contrasted with tones and tints like red, pink and ivory.
A focal point are the monochromatic high heels, in contrasting or prints, to underscore a very cool indented/reverse/half heel, complemented with monochromatic hand bags decorated with Warhol's shoes.
In this collection I saw Simons, more belonging to a Dior house.
Enjoy the collection...
