Taking place just outside Paris at the Musée Vivant du Cheval à Chantilly, Dior’s Cruise 2019 show was hit by a rainstorm, but even the weather couldn’t halt proceedings. And while Chanel’s Cruise 2019 show featured an actual cruise ship, Dior had horses walking the runway alongside models.
The historic venue, which was built in the 18th century for Louis Henri de Bourbon, saw the show take place in the open air, which meant that Dior’s models literally walked in the rain. Guests were given umbrellas as they entered, and a combination of bad traffic and weather delayed the show’s start time by almost two hours.
The show’s display by Mexican rodeo riders was emblematic of the collection, as the “fearlessness of the sport taps right into Maria Grazia Chiuri’s love for strong women.” A publication described Dior’s Cruise 2019 collection as combining “the finest of Latin American and European equestrian tradition.”
Dior’s press release about the show noted that Maria Grazia Chiuri was “inspired by the Amazons and more particularly the escaramuzas: Mexican female riders who practice an art traditional reserved for men while asserting their femininity, wearing full skirts and imposing hats.” The collection featured a plethora of embroidered bags and purses:
Accessories included a selection of hats, and animal-themed bags:
The models were unperturbed by the unfavorable weather:
Despite the journey to the rural location, and the slightly problematic open air setting, celebs also flocked to watch the show:
If anything, the inclement only added to the show’s atmosphere. Here, Maria Grazia Chiuri walks the runway:
