PARIS–Yesterday felt like a steamy hot summer day rather than early fall day in Paris. At the entrance of the tent at the Musee Rodin, a swarm of photographers stood in a semi-circle waiting for their next prey to descend the steps in the courtyard. Just a few meters behind them, the Chinese singer Laure Shang (the Lady Gaga of China) appeared in a white slouch silk blouse, high waisted black pants, a Dior tan leather purse and a velvet beret. One of her assistants straightened her collar. For a moment, in the sumptuous courtyard, it seemed the drama over the firing of Dior designer John Galliano last March had died down and it was business as usual.

On the runway, white bulbs mounted along the walls flickered to form the outlines of the molded wall panels of Dior’s headquarters, transporting the audience to the Avenue Montaigne salon. As the press documents on our seats noted, the collection that followed “reworks the codes that define the house to the present a modern silhouette inspired by the iconic Basque of the Veste Bar Dior. Elegant proportions are revisited and refined to create a new contemporary luxury.’

The entire show was composed of familiar Dior silhouettes over the ages, like the white elbow sleeve boatneck jacket and black and white knee length skirt or the navy Bar jacket with khaki pants. The collection felt safe and comfortable within the Dior universe.