# Elegant Surrealist Couture Maria Grazia Chiuri Design Surrealist-Inspired Dior Haute Couture By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-01-23 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dior-haute-couture References: [vogue](https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2018-couture/christian-dior) & [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dior/?hl=en) The designs from the female Spring 2018 [Dior](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/designer-of-dreams) haute couture collection are compliant with the fashion power house's vision and style. In tune with the [female empowerment movement](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-femininity), Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri pays tribute to surrealist Leonor Fini— a 20th century female artist. Unlocking the subconscious, the fashion visionary sought to produce a powerful and dream-like couture collection that was in line with Fini's artistic vision. The Spring 2018 collection is elegant and suggestive of grandeur, featuring classic Dior feathered designs and haute couture masks. The designer made some bold choices by allowing some dress designs to be more revealing than others. The purpose was not only to bring female artists into the spotlight and to showcase [classic Dior haute couture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-dior-summer-2025). A key motive was to also celebrate the female body and its dominant presence in art. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Luxury Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxuryfashion) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Surrealist-inspired Couture:** The incorporation of surrealistic elements into haute couture presents opportunities for designers to push boundaries and create unique, dream-like fashion. - **Empowering Female Artists:** The focus on celebrating female artists in the fashion industry creates opportunities for collaboration and elevates the visibility of their work. - **Expressive Body-centric Fashion:** The emphasis on celebrating the female body in art and fashion encourages designers to create bold and empowering designs that highlight and embrace diverse body types. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion:** The incorporation of surrealistic elements into haute couture allows fashion designers to offer new, boundary-pushing designs that stand out in the competitive industry. - **Art:** The focus on celebrating female artists in the fashion industry opens up opportunities for art and fashion collaborations and increases the exposure of female artists. - **Body Positivity:** The emphasis on celebrating the female body in art and fashion promotes inclusivity and body positivity, creating opportunities for brands to align themselves with these values. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Politically-Inspired Runway Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selkies-the-libertine-collection.md) - [Whimsical Feminine Runway Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wild-rose-sparrow.md) - [Intimate Spring Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-springsummer-2026.md) - [Whimsical Spring Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Anna-Suis-SpringSummer-2025.md) - [Statement-Making Fall Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-fall-2025.md) - [Whimsical Couture Settings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chanel-spring-summer-2026.md) - [Modern High-Fashion Dresses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/terani-couture.md) - [Luxury Resort Apparel Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteurs-resort-2025-collection.md) - [Contemporary Femininity Fashion Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-femininity.md)