Marion Cotillard, Dakota Fanning, & More Hit the South of France for the Dior Fashion Show

The trend among the resort fashion shows lately is to travel. Chanel had Seoul. Louis Vuitton took Palm Springs. For Dior’s 2016 Cruise Collection on Monday night, the famed French label corralled over 500 writers, editors, and celebrities to be wined and dined in the south of France. “This is an exciting atmosphere,” said an elated Dakota Fanning before the show began. “I don’t speak French so everything sort of blurs together, but I’m starting to get my bearings.”

One couldn’t blame Dakota for being a bit awestruck. The runway show took place at a hilltop estate called the Bubble Palace which was created in 1975 by renowned habitology architect Antti Lovag. (It is currently owned by legendary designer Pierre Cardin who made a rare appearance on Monday evening.) Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the house looked like something that a Snorkel might inhabit with its pools, portals, and maze-like utopian setting. It was a selfie haven for the fashionista in attendance who quickly whipped out their phones upon entering the space. But they weren’t the only ones who were inspired. In his show notes, Dior’s Artistic Director Raf Simons confessed that this collection was informed by the colors of the scenic Cote d’Azur as well as the Palace itself. “In more human than rational; individual and playful. It is a place that I have been fascinated by for a number of years and I am so happy to be able to show here.”

“I thought that this was the perfect setting for this show,” agreed E!’s own Brad Goreski. “The super light fabrics, that beautiful woven mesh, the delicate beading, some barely there moments. We love a barely there moment! And those shoes, you know, it was the perfect mixture of modern, what you would want to wear in the summer with that very specific Raf [Simons] mix with the interesting textiles, mixing of fabrics with the most beautiful colors and beading.”

There were 53 looks in all, from plaid jackets with gingham shorts to knitted mixed fur dresses to modern interpretations of the house’s famed Bar jacket. All more exquisite than the previous incarnation.

Actress Marion Cotillard, who is a face of the brand’s Lady Dior handbags, said it was among her favorite collection yet. “I think Raf [Simons] is more and more free in this beautiful house,” she told Yahoo Style. “His first show was already so beautiful but this mix of architecture and poetry…I thought it was absolutely stunning. And the bit of rock n’ roll in the shoes, they were amazing.”

Cotillard is gearing up for the Cannes Film Festival where she will be awash in designer gowns and the eco-friendly jewelry that designed with Chopard, but this wasn’t always the case. When asked which Dior pieces she owned before becoming a spokesperson she admitted that, “I didn’t have any Dior before! I didn’t really know much about fashion and they really taught me. In working with them, I realized that it was an art. Art and love for women, which is good.”

Cheers to supporting art, architecture, fashion, frivolity in the south of France!

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