On Saturday evening, Christian Dior presented its Resort 2014 collection in Monaco. The principality has held special meaning for the house since 1956, when actress Grace Kelly wore a Dior gown to celebrate her engagement to Prince Rainier of Monaco.
The return to Monaco was both an homage to the house's heritage and also meant to signal a new era in how (and where) the label stages its Resort collection, with plans to always take the collection abroad going forward. But this wasn't the only poignant moment to come with Saturday's showing. For the first time, Raf Simons incorporated lace into his pieces, working the fabric into everything from sheer blouses and fitted crop tops to modified coat dresses and relaxed sheaths. "I thought it's kind of old, and too romantic and too tragic. And suddenly I thought, it's a challenge to make it modern and edgy and kind of futuristic," he said.
Although Simons's impeccable tailoring was on display, it felt less strict, and more fluid than in previous collections. Dresses came down the runway adorned with sheer racer stripes, revealing colorful bras and briefs; jolts of orange, rust, and cobalt blue proved to be a brilliant contrast to the assortment of pale pinks, whites, and icy lamé hues; and the midriff-baring motif presented itself under pantsuits and flyaway capes, and paired with trousers. Now, a look at the complete collection, here in the gallery.
Employees of the hotel from which $1.4 million in 
