Dior show in Mumbai: Things that disappointed us

The much-hyped Dior pre-fall 2023 show finally took place at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of the brand, took the final bow in the presence of a bevy of movie stars, a few influencers, some royalty and, of course, the Ambanis. It was a celebration of Indian culture and its women. And the most beautiful part of the fashion show was the classical music being played live as the models sauntered down the ramp. Maria Grazia Chiuri invited tabla virtuoso Anuradha Pal, who is acclaimed as the first female professional tabla player in the world to perform during the fashion show. She left the audience spell bound with her soulful music. But there were a few things about the Dior show in India that left us with mixed feelings. We pen down a few pointers for you.
Felt like another Bollywood shindig


We were elated to see the ever-so-graceful Rekha, but that's all. While we do understand the presence of a fashionista like Sonam K Ahuja being a part of the Dior showcase, there were a few other celebrities we wouldn't want to name, who looked a little out of place on the guestlist. This again proves a sordid point here, that fashion in India can't survive without film stars in attendance.
Celebrated Indian designers conspicuous by their absence


We wonder whether they were invited in the first place! We missed seeing the likes of Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal or Sabyasachi attending the Dior show. All we had were Bollywood celebrity stylists, who dressed up their stars in Dior for public appearances and photoshoots.


The guestlist could have been more diverse

We could have someone from the Textile Ministry of India or Khadi and Village Industries Commission to attend the show. Moreover, there could have been more names from the field of sports, politics and culture to be a part of this historic event. Perhaps the PR agency Longform, coordinating the show, could have suggested the brand for this.


Handful of Indian models walk the ramp

The only welcome respite was that Dior did have Indian models walk for the brand, but there were only a handful. If you are celebrating India's diverse culture, why would you take international models for the show? Wish we had more more Indian models walk the ramp for the showcase.

India is not just about marigold flowers

The flower Rangoli did look awe-striking and the beautiful Toran on display showcased our rich heritage, but was that enough? Why do we always have marigolds symbolising the beauty of our culture?


The good part about the show was ofcourse the alluring dresses. Maria Grazia Chiuri successfully managed to show it to the world the incredible knowledge India has in the field of embroidery. The collection included outfits made of silk, coats and sari inspired skirts. We adore the bold purples and pinks seen on the runway. Not to mention the beautiful craftsmanship and embroidery work which made the collection a treat to the eyes.