Artist Isabella Ducrot’s installation, “Big Aura,” graced the walls in the Rodin Museum gardens for the spring-summer 2024 Dior haute couture collection.
Twenty-three oversized dresses, some towering at five meters, adorned the space, arranged on a composition of irregular black stripes reminiscent of weft and warp. Drawing inspiration from Ottoman sultans’ attire, Ducrot abstractly symbolised the garment’s power that transcends the body.
For Maria Grazia Chiuri, the Creative Director of Dior women’s lines, “Big Aura” embodies the essence of haute couture—a perpetually fertile ground for contemplation. The uniqueness and authenticity of each piece, adapted to the wearer’s body, reflect Walter Benjamin’s concept of aura, connecting it to collective memory.
Exploring the House’s haute couture history, Chiuri traced aura through iconic pieces like the “La Cigale” dress from 1952. The moiré fabric, in a striking palette of shades, reproduces geometric lines, creating an architectural elegance in contemporary looks. Velvet dresses, feather capes, and embroidered organza dresses showcased the collection’s diverse textures, invoking a powerful, contemplative, and performative experience—a metamorphic spirit of the imagination. “Big Aura” becomes a vivid testament to the ever-evolving, chromatic, and constructive presence of elements in haute couture, transcending mere contemplation to offer a transformative journey.
The front row of the show was adorned with celebrities and Hollywood stars. Our favourite looks were delivered by Elizabeth Debicki, Kelly Rutherford and Natalia Vodianova.
Rihanna
Natalie Portman
Natalia Vodianova
Kelly Rutherford
Glenn Close
Elizabeth Debicki
Carla Bruni
Anya Taylor-Joy
Ali Wong
