Dior Couture Sans Galliano Gets Negative Reviews (PHOTOS)

On Monday morning in Paris, the house of Christian Dior showed its first couture collection in fifteen years without former creative director John Galliano at the helm.

The result was none too pretty.

Tim Blanks at Style.com called the fall/winter 2011-2012 show "a misjudged effort to impress an alien thumbprint on an aesthetic that, for better or worse, is one of the fashion industry's most clearly defined."

Women's Wear Daily agreed that without Galliano, the famous couture house fared "not well."

The collection, a mixed bag of neon brights, geometric motifs and flouncy silhouettes, was created by interim designer Bill Gaytten, the man behind the recent Dior menswear collection and newly-appointed creative director of the John Galliano brand. But all the confidence Dior executives had placed in Gaytten might be thrown into doubt due to this poorly-received collection.

At least Cathy Horyn seems to think so, writing on her On The Runway blog, "I like Mr. Gaytten. He's a sweetheart, but he is not a designer."

Not a resounding endorsement. Check out Christian Dior Couture Fall/Winter 2012 collection below and tell us -- is Gaytten's couture debut good enough for the famed House of Dior?

Comments

[ki re]

05:29 PM on 07/08/2011

I like the pierrot dresses towards the end.

[Tzaims Luksus FRSA]

12:30 PM on 07/08/2011

OH...NO...DID SOMEONE SAY GALLIANO?...DIOR....GAYTTEN...."DUTCH" DESIGNER....PARIS FASHION WEEK?

[Tzaims Luksus FRSA]

08:29 AM on 07/08/2011

Of course the bottom line is you either love it or hate it..nothing in between. Whether this is the direction best for Dior remains to be seen. With Nostrodamus's prediction of the end of the world on 12/21/2012 this might be what everyone should wear as a final international carnival. I rather like it....a lot of invention...bright for resort...modern baroque... and ....it's a designer's designer's collection...who cares if anyone wears it... it is pure invention...tongue in cheek/fashion pun and only Dior could get away with it. Watch. It will sell! Maybe elegant, discrete, simplicity and dignified is the past. Maybe this is the future!

[Tzaims Luksus FRSA]

08:17 AM on 07/08/2011

Ingenious! Dior on a pitcher of Galiano Alexander Cocktails:
Recipe for: Pairs Couture Punch: The Galiano Alexander Cocktail:
Equal parts:
Galiano Liquor cordial
Hennesey Brandy
Tequila
Absinth
Creme de Cacao
Heavy cream
Shake over ice and serve in a large champagne glass
Garnish with grated Mandrake root
Drink a pitcher of this concoction and you can design a whole collection for lady Gaga at Dior like Gaytten did above.
Cheers Gaytenn...you really showed them! Next time have the models walk on their hands.

[where i stand]

02:53 PM on 07/07/2011

Eek - looks like the worst part of the 80s threw up all over these girls. NOT GOOD.

[dididangerlove]

01:40 PM on 07/07/2011

A handful work - the rest are a disaster. Bring him back. He was drunk and said some stupid things. You've never done that?

[Lisa Shields]

02:00 AM on 07/07/2011

Seriously?

Please find out what the designed was smoking, and take away his stash.
WHY, for god's sake? Cubist confusion and clothing that made me long to cover the models up with tablecloths. I get edgy. I get kicky, fun, or even daring...but these are none of the above.

And number 12 might have worked, had she not looked like she was trying out for the lead in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Serious girl...that far off look belonged in Egypt.

[mushimom]

08:55 PM on 07/06/2011

Oh my

[ughseriously4]

08:17 PM on 07/06/2011

Heinous.

[crayola 08b]

03:07 PM on 07/06/2011

looking through the photos i couldn't help but start laughing thinking of what delightfully crushing remarks Michael Cors would have if any Project Runway designers tried to pass these sad rags off as couture on the show.

[ICarr]

09:50 AM on 07/06/2011

Wow - this was bad. I think I can do better. Can I get the job?

[JJovana]

09:45 AM on 07/06/2011

It tried too hard to be Galliano. Simple as that. I definitely would consider re-hiring him AFTER he completes his rehab treatment and pays his dues to society. His talent should not be wasted.

[shopgirl152]

09:36 AM on 07/06/2011

Christian Dior is rolling in his grave.

[christonabike]

12:51 AM on 07/06/2011

OMG.

[Johnny Fruckles]

09:54 PM on 07/05/2011

so, if i read between the lines correctly, dior cannot survive without the services of a drunken gay anti-semite...by the way, this collection of laughable garbage is fashion's just desserts...

[invirginia]

10:50 PM on 07/05/2011

Not highbrow enough for a sophisticate like you?

[tyrant510]

11:55 PM on 07/05/2011

interesting how you group gay with 'drunken' and 'anti-semite'. furthermore, if you have no interest in fashion, why are you in the style section?