Today's a big day in the land of couture, a.k.a. Paris: Raf Simons made his Christian Dior debut!
After months of designer musical chairs and the looming question of who would take John Galliano's spot at Dior, Simons presented his first couture collection to the fashion elite this morning. Who showed up? Major designers (Marc, Donatella, Diane, Olivier), major editors (Anna, Carine), celebs (Marion Cotillard, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lawrence) and one very special guest: Princess Charlene!
This isn't the Monaco royal's first time in the front row, having taken in the Akris Spring 2012 collection just one seat away from Anna Wintour. But seeing Charlene hit high-profile fashion events is certainly more exciting these days: since being labeled a "flat pancake" by Cathy Horyn and coming off as nervous and uncomfortable in her Vogue profile last summer, Charlene has revved up her style, chopped her hair and even slicked on some red lipstick to finally secure her fashion footing.
Now she's confident enough to sit next to one of fashion's most powerful individuals. No, not Nuclear Wintour -- Bernard Arnault. Arnault, for those in the know (yay, rhymes!), is the boss at LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton, Celine, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Fendi and a whole lot more. Charlene sat with Bernard on her left and his son, Antoine Arnault, on her right. And with Antoine? Natalia Vodianova, his girlfriend.
Not bad company for a princess working her way through fashion's ranks. Check out the chic crowd taking in Raf Simons' debut in Paris today.
