Dior's Morocco-inspired fashion

The peacocks are not the only ones strutting their stuff tonight here in this little olive grove.  In fact, I am so proud, I feel like a Moroccan auntie.

Because while designer John Galliano's 2008 Cruise Collection for Christian Dior may have been sent down the runway in New York, its heart was in Marrakesh.  And you can just imagine how I feel about that. 

The Fashion Wire Daily described the Dior show in the following way:

The sounds of "Marrakesh Express" opened the show...and Galliano sent out a seemingly endless parade of souk looks injected with some serious glamour a la Talitha Getty, Swinging London's unofficial poster child for North African boho-chic and perennial fashion muse, starting with Yves Saint Laurent in the late 1960s.

If only, oh-if-only, I were in the front row, rubbing elbows with the celebrities.  Of course they would all be immaculately dressed (Eeek, what could I possibly wear?  And what about my unmanicured fingernails?).  But I would have been the one who lived in Marrakesh.  And that would have counted for something.  Right?

I must say, the collection is seriously fun with vibrant colors, enormous sunglasses, over sized paisley patterns, huge earrings, intricate embroidery, and bouffant hairdos.  The hair jewelery slays me. I love all the little Moroccan touches.  And if some of the designs border on the slightly kooky, frankly, that only makes me like it more. 

I always loved dress up as a little girl, if you must know....

See the full collection at Style.com.  Images by runway photographer Don Ashby.

Many thanks to my African blogger friend of the Anansi Chronicles for the heads up.

Comments

[Vanessa V]

I love it....I would have loved to be with you sneeking in on that front row....People whispering, "hey, who are those two that squeezed in there..." then another would say, That is Maryam, From My Marrakech, duh," hee hee heee.....Oh, and that "Fanciful Nutcake..." One day....xxo

[constance]

You deserve front row access Ms. Marrakesh! I like the fashions you posted.

[susanna]

Very glamorous! And yes, of course you could pull the look off, Maryam! Don't worry about your nails. Everyone would be too fascinated with the shiny earrings and bling of the tiara to notice whether or not you had squeezed in a manicure beforehand. I, on the other hand, would be holding onto the souk's walls (with unmanicured hands no less) for dear life if I wore those heels! I'm up for wearing the tiara and a paisley shawl, though. Can't you just imagine Catherine Deneuve wearing the blue outfit?

[tracey]

Wow. Think I could pull that look off at the local WalMart?

Me neither.

:)

[Kstyle]

Absolutely fabulous. I'll have to see if Youtube posted the show. k

[cream]

I'll just have to get my old jellabah out to keep up, eh?

[Theresa]

Very colorful and glamourous! I hope they'll bring that look over here soon. But what I really like about Moroccan fashion are those lovely beaded and embroidered silk shoes, they make you feel like a princess. When we were in Granada I bought several pairs, although I had trouble finding them in my size.

[Akelamalu]

Love it.

[talage]

Fabulous! I love the hear jewelery!

[stilettoheights]

so beautiful, normally I find the cruise wear season to be a bit dull, but those are so rich.

[homeinkabul]

I was hoping that they would use those pretty multi-colored scarves.

Maryam, what made you decide Marrakesh over another part of Morocco? Such as Essaouira, my favorite stop on my short trip to Morocco.

[Britt-Arnhild]

So peacocks are The Thing this year :-) Way to go Marocco!

[cruststation]

Oh my goodness, I am smitten with the cute shoes! Would you say that this kind of fashion is influenced by Moroccan street fashion or a stereotype?

[almost crunchy alicia]

Very, very Cleopatra...

[Janet Spicer]

That was a fantastic collection!
Great blog-funny I should find you as I just finished reading Tahir Shah's In the Caliph's House about renovating a family home in Morocco.

[Intisar]

Congrats to Dior for using this place we love for fashion inspiration.. lol I love when big designers realize Morocco is "where it's at!"

The second one is my favorite, now if only I could pull it off....

[Merisi's Vienna]

Oh, yes, please send me that last little number right over. I'll wear it to the end of my days, each and every time I am in need of a little pick-me-upper. There's this great Opera bar in Vienna. They are indeed located only steps from the opera house, but the name hints of the Opera Videos they are showing nightly - good excuse to get some culture, you know, at the ... bar, with la Callas enveloping you with her voice in that tragic love story, all you can do to not faint of empathy, is ordering a Double Martini, please, shaken (the only correct version in such tragic circumstances). I am gonna cry, thinking of that little number I am wearing, and how la Callas will be devastated not only be the sheer heartlessness of that scoundrell of a lover, but by the beauty of my dress.
Another martini, pleeeease!

[Marcos]

I just love it when you say 'the hair jewelry slays me'. hot.

[amisha]

love this collection!! what beautiful designs... so glam and fun! xo

[Paz y Amor]

As lovely as the clothes at fashion shows are, I've NEVER seen anyone walking down the street wearing flashy stuff like that.

[Aimee]

You loved to dress up as a girl? SHOCKING!:)

[lady macleodl]

What fun! How nice to be on the cutting edge of fashion. Thank you for posting all the lovely photographs.

[Paris Parfait]

Well of course you thought of it first! xo

[99]

Why is the third model´s purse open? Did she spend all her money in hair jewelry? Just joking.... - I would have! -
I adore every single thing!

[Julie]

Make your mark! :-)