Unless you are extremely lucky, you probably won't get your hands on Raf Simons' Dior Resort collection, which was shown in Monaco at the weekend. I'm a big fan of what Simons is doing at Dior but I think this new Resort offering is particularly fresh; it has that underlying current of being formal which seems integral to Dior but there's also a strong sense of Raf being experimental and fun. In the time-honoured FEAL fashion, I have put my own big head onto some of my personal favourite looks and published them here, along with sound reasons why they should feature in your shopping dreams, or lists if you do so happen to be that lucky.
EVERY WOMAN NEEDS A TROUSER SUIT
It is an apt time for trouser suits which play into the matching thing around a lot right now. The traditional styling boundaries are also being altered all the time. These suits might be worn with the slick heels they were in show but they would be equally right with sharp brogues or even something really casual like Converse. There is something just slightly relaxed in the cut of these jackets (bracelet length sleeves, slightly looses etc) which I think hints that they aren't just for dressing up
IT'S ALL ABOUT SEPARATES
Brilliant looks in themselves, with the requisite crop top for those who think their abs are hard enough. But also very pick-apartable. Imagine those silk culottes with a bikini on holiday. Or the tee crop top with one of those huge ballgown skirts from Raf's first Dior ready-to-wear show. Or the slouch trousers with a huge cosy jumper on a Sunday afternoon
A ZIP DRESS IS AN INCREDIBLY USEFUL THING
There has been much Twitter chatter about the viability of the series of zip dresses which came towards the end of the show. Here, the dress is like a top with a train but in 2 minutes it might become a lovely dress with a little spilt. Plus if you have great shorts, legs or even knickers to show off then this dress lets you do that in quite a new way. If you're a "nothing-above-the-knee" girl then zip up and you're good too.
FOR THE SHEER SHEERNESS OF IT
Are you a work of art? Are you parading your underwear? Did you leave your petticoat at home? Who knows, but you're wearing Dior.
