She was late to be announced and early to leave but the buzz was all about Nicole Kidman’s fleeting presence at the NGV Dior Gala this weekend.
Her dress was Dior of course – look 63 off the Autumn ’17 Couture runway. The froth of smoke grey and shell pink tulle ruffles cascaded out from a ballet dancer’s fitted bustier into an expansive sheer skirt. Kidman, at 50 (how is that even possible? She looks about 17) pulled it off just as it was modelled – belted, with a pair of fashion-granny knickers underneath.
Christian Dior himself designed many beautiful silhouettes but nothing can touch the fame of his classic “New Look”.
With its nipped waist and swirling full skirts, it is still inspiring 70 years later. This was the silhouette favoured by many a fashion star at the gala in Melbourne on Saturday night, which celebrated the opening of the exhibition: The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture.
It girl/blogger/actor Sara Ellen wore Toni Maticevski. The bodice was actually made from denim (although you had to get up very close to work that out) and it featured one of the best skirts of the evening. It’s all about the ruffles, darling.
Bec Judd’s skirts were bigger than Scarlett O’Hara’s in Gone with the Wind. Not Dior but custom-made J’Aton Couture, and the bodice was leather.
Jesinta Franklin bucked the trend in a narrow, embroidered Dior cape dress of black tulle. For the media preview on Friday, she looked polished in a satin Christopher Esber blouse and white pencil skirt. Franklin is on an impressive fashion run.
While the exhibition makes much of the exquisite Stephen Jones-designed hats and headpieces that have been so integral the house’s runway shows for the past 21 years, there were precious few showcased on the guests.
Thank heavens for Melbourne dentist and extreme fashion fan Joe Zhao who went all out in a dragon fly-shaped mask worn with his embroidered Dior coat. And Deborah Quinn – the discrete Queensland-based couture customer with impeccable taste sported a custom-made Jones creation shaped like a tambourine.
The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture is at the NGV until November 17.
For more fashion looks from the gala, check out Clare’s Instagram.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
