Dior shows cruise collection at Santa Monica mountains

LOS ANGELES - Fringed capes, pleated skirts and bolero hats peppered the runway at the Dior Cruise 2018 collection on Thursday as the luxury Parisian label spun its own twist on music festival fashion.

"Dior Sauvage" drew inspiration from the scenic landscapes of Los Angeles and the show took place outdoors against the backdrop of the Santa Monica mountains at sunset.

"Hollywood, it's about celebrity, red carpet, but I think there is also another side of Los Angeles," creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri told Reuters before the show.

"The natural element, open space ... in some ways, Dior says that California is a new paradise," she said.

Models walked between tents, wearing pleated skirts with horses painted or birds embroidered, wide-legged printed trousers, capes with fringe details and belted furs, accompanied by studded bolero hats and laced boots.

The collection was a modern-day spin on styles of the old West, with a colour palette of dusky reds and oranges that accented earth tones and textured plaid.

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Layering was a key element to the collection that elevated the fashion often seen at festivals such as Southern California's Coachella.

"I want to have a dialogue with the new generation of Dior women, that they can choose the piece, they can mix in different ways," Chiuri said.

Popular with celebrities, the Dior show drew Rihanna, Charlize Theron, Demi Moore, Nick Jonas and Brie Larson.

"It's always a pleasure and a luxury to wear Dior," Rihanna told Reuters.

"For one, it's expensive (laughs), for two, it's always well-made and it's always something that allows you to express your femininity in the highest level."

South African actress Theron said the rustic, rural setting of the show was "somewhat magical. It reminded me of home."

Christian Dior Couture, recently acquired by the world's largest luxury group, LVMH, has 198 stores in more than 60 countries. Sales for the brand have doubled over the past five years.

Dior is the latest luxury label to head to Los Angeles, following Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Tom Ford, which showcased collections in the past two years.

"It's good business, it's good inspiration," Sidney Toledano, president and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, said of Los Angeles.

"You have a lot of people from Europe, from France, from Italy and people coming from Asia, so it's becoming a cultural hub ... there is a fantastic energy," he added.