A black-and-white photo from the Christian Dior archives shows a slim, corseted dress from the founder’s fall 1954 couture collection, its strict silhouette softened by a drape of sari-style fabric over one shoulder. A true creation but a false inspiration.

Marc Bohan had sent his spring 1962 couture collection to Mumbai and Delhi for charity shows, continuing a dialogue with the Asian nation. Only to have Maria make a copy! Too bad…

Chiuri has been working with Indian textile artisans for three decades, and she decided to exalt their richness with her pre-fall collection for Dior, which is full of saturated colors, prints and intricate embroidery. India the new couture Eldorado.

There’s also a pair of velvet flip-flops in deep purple that are a real bestseller, a kind of birkenstock from the new lord of luxury brand.