The sun beating down; through squinted eyes, made the blurred colours more vibrant. She put her arm up to shield her face as the houses; each like individual gemstones, came into focus. Taking a few steps forward, the sound of her cowboy boots echoed on the stoney street and silenced her thoughts. Her guide was animatedly describing Puebla as if there were a clock ticking somewhere but to her, it felt as though time was standing still. She couldn’t believe she was here. She was not an adventurous woman and it was a secret she'd held onto well throughout her life (she so admired those who seemed to be free). Her style though, told a different story; as if a love for expression would make her braver. And yet, by some brazen finality, she’d flown to Mexico by herself - the stark realness and morality of life continuing to pass by without the flutter of great experience enough to, in its eventuality, light some sort of fire. The trip had not been easy to do alone. But soon, she’d be in Mexico City standing in front of the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso; where Frida Kahlo herself had studied. Perhaps she’d catch some of the late artists’ gusto. She didn’t know it yet but tomorrow, as she’d stare up at the magnitude of that building, a swell of hope, pride and a gentle flutter in her stomach would have her utter the words, ‘I’m alive’. For now, her attention turned back to her guide who had stopped talking and was staring intently at the Dior butterfly she wore around her neck, ‘this is so pretty,’ the guide remarked, ‘do you like butterflies?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘they remind me I am free’.
Mexico is celebrated at the heart of the Dior Cruise 2024 collection. Maria Grazia Churi was inspired by photographs of Frida Kahlo. The Mexican artist transcended her body through her clothes (a bit like our heroine) which became representation, protest and affirmation. The choice of venue for the show too, the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, is where the iconic Mexican painter studied. And just like the life and emotion that Mexico sparks (to Maria Grazia Churi, 'a place of the soul',), the Cruise 2024 collection is alive with texture and pattern; cotton, hemp and silk lace and butterfly-like jacquards. It is very emblematic of Mexico and to me, conjures joy and playfulness in a way that simultaneously emulates a strength in the feminine (the lace...too divine to describe). And Butterflies populate the toile de Jouy.
Girl in Style x