Dior and I

Overview

If you have any interest in fashion, you’ll love Dior and I. If you’re not interested in fashion, I dare you to watch Frederic Tcheng’s documentary on the fashion bigwig, Dior, without developing a slight crush on haute couture. Tcheng is known for his filmic insights into the fashion industry, after his works on Diana Vreeland and Valentino, but Dior and I comes across as more than a documentary to further educate those already hooked on fashion’s line, it is a complete story, with a beginning, middle, end and compelling climax that provoked a few tears amidst the audience. It’s powerful stuff considering the subject matter.

Raf Simons, known for his tendency towards minimalism and simplistic designs, steps up as Dior’s new artistic director. For those unfamiliar with Dior, minimalistic it is not. There was a lot of wonder and confusion surrounding the designer’s appointment at the label in the fashion industry, but even during the introduction of the film Simons manages to convince us that he is fit for the job.

Throughout the story, Simons demonstrates his talent and dedication, winning over not only his team of collaborators at Dior, including the talented seamstresses of the atelier, but also audiences, who find themselves rooting for the Dior newbie to succeed. Success, however, is not all so likely when Simons is thrown into the deep end, having never designed couture and being given just eight weeks to comprise a line that would take even the most experienced art directors six to eight months.

There are complications with deadlines, issues with designs and language barriers galore, all of which add to the obstacles faced by Simons throughout his mission to carry on Dior’s flawlessly fashionable legacy. But the final product of the designer’s labours are heart warming. You’ve never seen anything like the catwalk Simon’s conjures up, with multicoloured flowers lining every inch of wallpaper of a regal looking mansion. It’s surreal. And call me fashion obsessed, but I’d take the look on Simon’s face as he watches the model’s flaunt his designs to the audience’s utter awe, over any romcom Notebook-style reunion kiss anyday. It’s a feel-good flick, an investigation into haute couture, and a catwalk show all in one. Sorry fashion haters, but prepare to become a convert.