DALLAS, May 3, 2007/ FW/ --- John Galliano celebrates his 10th anniversary at Dior this year, hence it is only fitting that he paid homage to the founder of the house and bring us back to the 1950s, the Christian Dior era.

Fashion history students already know that the 1950s is of fundamental importance to high style. During that decade, style is a conscious choice and the social function of aesthetics is personal.

Galliano brings us back to that era for Fall 2007, when women dress up just to go shopping or visit with neighbors. Nothing is left to chance. And, following that train of taught, the British-born designer made sure that everything was perfect.

It was prêt-a-porter at its best, with a lot of haute couture artisanship from the laser cut graphical motifs on the sleeves, to the tiny pin tucks of the torso of a blouse that ended like a peplum on the hemline, and the origami folds used on the collars and pocket flaps.

A green monastic coat with baby collar and crocodile skin suit jacket with fur sleeves were proposed as outerwear. Luxury is not just a state of mind. It is flaunted and seen.

There was a thin line that divided daywear and eveningwear, like the beige pencil dress with a tiny belt on the waist, its shoulders and sleeves adorned with embroidery encrusted with semi-precious stones.

Yet, it was in the evening gowns that romance was truly seen, like the one-shoulder pink ensemble that was ruche from the torso to the hipline, the ruching actually ending to a floor length train.

And there is the all white long-sleeved gown, ‘simple’ in the sense that there were no adornments on it, the drama created with origami folds that actually formed the whole bodice.

This collection is not for the faint of heart or a shrinking violet. John Galliano made sure that the Dior woman is noticed and that she would never be a wallflower.

So, who cares if the current atmosphere is about restraint and that overt opulence is frowned upon. This is Christian Dior and it is John Galliano designing. He follows his own beat, and truth be known, like a pied piper, everyone follows him.

Dior by John Galliano

Dior by John Galliano

Dior by John Galliano

Dior by John Galliano