Dior and Divinity Arts: Using Tarot to Showcase Spring 2021 Couture Collection
Dior summons its audience into the unpredictable universe of Tarot to showcase its Spring 2021 collection for Paris Couture Week. By using cinematic arts, Dior was able to create an experience of living in a virtual house of cards while being exposed to majestic Dior couture outfits worn by Tarot characters.
The fashion film Le Château du Tarot was directed by Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone who exhibits couture as being the sole focus of experimentation and manifestation. It stars model and actress Agnese Claisse who goes on a journey of self-discovery through a mysterious castle where she comes into contact with some of the Tarot card deck’s main characters. The setting for this film was the Castle of Sammezzano, which is located in Florence. Built in the 17th century, it is well-known for being an emblem of orientalist architecture in Italy.
The divinatory arts is a topic Christian Dior was intensely fascinated in. He discovered Tarot during WWII when his sister Catherine, a member of the French Resistance, disappeared and was imprisoned at the Ravensbrück women’s concentration camp. He turned to Tarot to get some sense out of her horrifying situation and negotiate with the hand of fate.
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With the cancellation of runway shows due to COVID-19, major brands were challenged to think of new alternatives to unveil their collections. Dior decided to use the art of motion pictures to showcase its collection and rediscover creative visions. The collection explores the emblematic magic and diverse beauty of tarot cards once admired by Maria Grazia Chiuri, the designer for this collection.
The film begins with a curious young woman interacting with a fortune teller who tells her to pick a tarot card from the table. The card takes the woman on a journey through a castle revealing infinite possibilities in the Major Arcana, which are the most recognizable cards in a Tarot deck. They illustrate the life lessons and karmic influences that directs your soul's journey to enlightenment.
The film’s protagonist embodies two different figures, expressing both feminine and masculine characteristics. She is faced with completing various tests and overcoming powerful temptations before turning into someone who is capable of combining the attributes of both sexes. This awakening expedition illustrates the reviving of lost traits while exceeding traditional gender stereotypes. The High Priestess, Justice, and the Fool are enriched by the mastery of savoir-faire, the ability to appropriately present oneself in social situations. As a result, the Dior dream is revived as shown in the black velvet Bar jacket that expressed a new perspective in defying the limits between feminine and masculine.
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The majestic castle then transforms into an illusory labyrinth. The final encounter in the film is with the Nameless Arcana, who serves as a metaphor for rebirth. It occurs before the reappearance of the castle’s astronomical chamber with the labyrinth reflecting a gateway. The woman’s adventure comes to an end at the heart of this monumental setting, concluding her journey home.
Divinatory reading is a path that Dior encourages its audience to follow in their own way. The purpose of the film’s ending was to show the illuminated Tarot card deck from the 15th century created by Bonifacio Bembo for the Duke of Milan. Garrone’s inspiration for his film primarily came from the re-edition of the book, which included miniatures replicated to scale, the original colors, and embellished masterpieces enhanced with enamel, gold, interlaced floral and geometric pieces. Le Château du Tarot explores the dialogue between Matteo Garrone and Maria Grazia Chiuri as it reveals the Spring 2021 haute couture collection. In terms of cinematic language, the richness of the Tarot highlights the magical universe of an art form that Monsieur Dior loved deeply.
Strike Out,
Writer: Veronica Polanco
Editor: Cali Robins
Graphics: Daniela Rodriquez
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