Maria Grazia Chiuri’s collection at Drummond Castle combined historical depth with modern flair, with the enchanting setting perfectly highlighting the intricate designs.
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Cruise 2025 collection was a fashion spectacle that masterfully blended historical depth with contemporary style. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Drummond Castle in Perthshire, Scotland, the event merged fashion with heritage, with the stunning locale and meticulous details perfectly enhancing the standout clothing. Chiuri, as Dior’s creative director, crafted an experience that was visually and emotionally impactful, ensuring the clothes remained the focal point amid the event’s grandeur.
Fashion shows, especially those for the Cruise season, are renowned for their lavishness and opulence. These events often captivate a global audience with their extravagant settings, high-profile guests, and extensive social media coverage. This grandeur can sometimes overshadow the fashion itself, but Chiuri expertly avoided this with her latest Dior collection. The Cruise 2025 show at Drummond Castle showcased a perfect balance, where the clothes were accentuated by their remarkable surroundings.
Drummond Castle, a 17th-century estate with stone staircases, pebbled pathways, and manicured gardens, served as an ideal backdrop for Chiuri’s vision. Steeped in history, the locale echoed the past when Christian Dior held fashion shows in Scotland in the early 1950s, including at the nearby Gleneagles Hotel. The castle’s timeless beauty added depth to the show, creating a cinematic ambience that transported the audience to a bygone era infused with modern sensibilities. Celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Anya Taylor-Joy attended, but the focus remained on the fashion and the scenic splendor.
Bagpipers opened and closed the show, setting the tone as models walked the sprawling runway through the castle grounds. The traditional Scottish music paid homage to the locale’s cultural heritage, further grounding the collection in its setting. Chiuri drew inspiration from Scotland’s rich textile tradition, prominently featuring tartans and embroideries. She collaborated with local artisans such as Harris Tweed and Esk Cashmere and enlisted Le Kilt, known for modern takes on the classic kilt. This blend of traditional craftsmanship with modern design resulted in a collection that felt both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
Chiuri’s design ethos often centers on a single thematic focus, interwoven with multiple narratives. For the Cruise 2025 collection, she incorporated elements like black-and-white photos from Dior’s 1955 Scotland show, feminist slogans on corsets, and a shawl blanket embroidered with a map of Scotland. These references enriched the narrative without overwhelming it, ensuring the clothes remained the stars of the show with their intricate detailing and thoughtful design.
The collection was a study in contrasts, mixing whimsy with punkish ferocity. Rich velvet corsets and embroidered full skirts conveyed regal opulence, while intricately beaded tunic dresses paired with shorts added rebellious modernity. Victorian mutton sleeves were reimagined with contemporary silhouettes, and corsets featured lace-up details and embellishments suited for today’s empowered women. Delicate sheer lace and open-weave gowns, cinched with black leather belts and paired with rugged country boots, embodied the collection’s theme of bridging past and present, making a powerful statement about fashion’s transformative power.
Chiuri’s Cruise 2025 collection for Dior was a triumph, seamlessly integrating historical references with modern design. The magical setting of Drummond Castle enhanced the narrative without overshadowing the clothes. Through meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful storytelling, Chiuri created a collection that celebrated fashion’s enduring power to evoke emotion, inspire change, and transcend time.
