Dior Couture SS25 – Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Farewell to the House?

Christian Dior kicked off Paris Haute Couture Week with a breathtaking show in the gardens of the Rodin Museum. Dior Couture SS25 collection, inspired by the intricate work of Indian artist Rithika Merchant, could mark Maria Grazia Chiuri’s swan song at Dior. Industry whispers are getting louder, hinting that Jonathan W. Anderson—formerly at Loewe—might be next in line to take over both womenswear and menswear at the Maison.

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Press play to catch all the runway magic and the A-list front row. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Pamela Anderson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Camille Cottin were among the stars soaking up the atmosphere at Chiuri’s (potentially) final Dior show. Also, stealing the spotlight? Instagram’s golden trio—Princess Alessandra of Hanover, Inès de Cominges, and Cleo zu Oettingen—serving head-to-toe Dior realness.

Rithika Merchant: The Artist Behind Dior’s SS25 Couture

Indian artist Rithika Merchant, born in 1986, blends mythology, science, and folklore in her dreamlike collages and paintings. Her works, inspired by 17th-century botanical prints and folk art, explore nature’s role in shaping past and future worlds. Using watercolours and cut paper, she crafts intricate visuals rich in symbolism.

A Parsons graduate, Merchant has exhibited globally, from the Dhaka Art Summit to Stockholm’s CFHILL and Johannesburg’s JCAF. Recognised as one of Vogue’s 100 Creative Voices, she has also won the Prix DDESSIN Paris and the Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize.

Dior Couture SS25: A Dreamworld of Transformation

For her (possibly final) haute couture collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri blurs time, merging past and future into a fantasy where fashion constantly reinvents itself. Inspired by the Trapèze line introduced by Yves Saint Laurent in 1958, the collection plays with silhouettes, contrasts, and movement.

Lace-trimmed tulle culottes nod to childhood nostalgia, while crinolines take on a fluid, modern edge. Petal-like capes and sculpted mini dresses transform models into flower women, while punk-inspired headpieces give a rebellious twist. Feathers, organza, and moiré fabrics add texture, from tailored tailcoats to flowing embroidered gowns.

At the heart of it all? The colour black—majestic, powerful, and timeless. And a long, burnished silver gown, shimmering like a mirage, capturing the ever-evolving essence of couture.

Images courtesy @Dior