Entertainment

Josephine Baker and the Roaring Twenties Celebrated by Dior

From cabaret feathers to sleek suits and velvet robes, Dior celebrated Josephine Baker and the wild freedom of the Roaring Twenties in a celeb-packed show on Monday to kickstart haute couture week in Paris.

A parade of stars were in the front row, including Anya Taylor-Joy, Kirsten Dunst, Rosamund Pike and K-Pop’s Jisoo, to see Chiuru’s homage to the American icon who made Paris her home and recently became the first woman of colour to gain a place in the Pantheon, where French greats are buried.

Singer, dancer, activist and member of the French Resistance, “Baker was a great artist… who used her clothes to establish herself and her position,” Maria Grazia Chiuri, head designer for Dior womenswear, told AFP ahead of the show.

Baker was a client and muse of Christian Dior himself — her athletic body and short hair representing a different femininity from the slim-waisted figure of his iconic “New Look” of the 1930s with its famous bar jacket and corolla skirt.

Baker came to Paris in 1925 to perform in the Revue Negre at the Champs-Elysees Theatre where she was expected to play up to the racial stereotypes of the day.

But rapid success freed her to radically change her look, becoming an Art Deco style icon and later embracing modern suits.

Chiuri’s collection paid tribute to each of her manifestations, with feathers and silver fringes evoking her cabaret day, through the flowing sleek suits of her later style, and the more masculine suits evoking her swinging sexuality.

Baker fled France during World War II after the Nazis became (rightly) suspicious that she was helping the resistance, but she returned to Paris after its liberation and dressed in a military uniform to help the rebuilding effort.

“The images of her in uniform are extraordinary. She had an incredible awareness of what she could do with her notoriety, how to put it to the benefit of other women,” said Chiuri.

The collection also took inspiration from one of Baker’s contemporaries, and another friend of Dior, actor Marlene Dietrich.

Together, they “represent young women far ahead of their time,” said Chiuri.

The Roaring Twenties was “a particular historical moment,” she added. “Especially in Paris where women had a great deal of freedom, silhouettes were simplified, corsets disappeared. Their way of dressing was comfortable while remaining feminine and very glamorous.”

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

IGP Orders Investigation into Death of Ilorin Detainee Jimoh Abdulquadri in Police Custody

IGP Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into Jimoh Abdulquadri’s death in police custody, promising justice…

9 minutes ago

Trump Dismisses Claims That Elon Musk Holds Real Power Behind US President-Elect

Donald Trump has rejected suggestions that Elon Musk is the true influence behind the newly…

15 minutes ago

Tiger Woods’ 15-Year-Old Son Charlie Achieves His First Hole-in-One

Tiger Woods' son Charlie has achieved his first golf hole-in-one during the final round of…

17 minutes ago

New Zealand Rejects Cook Islands’ Bid For A Separate Passport

New Zealand has rejected the Cook Islands’ proposal for a separate passport, requiring full independence…

40 minutes ago

Honda, Nissan Eye Major Merger, Aim to Finalise Deal by 2025

Honda and Nissan plan a merger to create the world’s third-largest automaker, aiming to finalise…

41 minutes ago

Trump Chooses Ex-Bank President As Latin America Envoy Despite Alleged Affair Scandal

Trump has selected ex-bank president Mauricio Claver-Carone as Latin America envoy, despite past misconduct allegations…

44 minutes ago