Greece

The Métiers d’Art series of watches pay tribute to great civilizations. Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin
It was a night at the museum to go down in history. This week, special guests were delighted with a private tour of the Louvre in Paris. The occasion was the reveal of four Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art watches stemming from a partnership with the Louvre and inspired by great civilizations of Antiquity—Egypt, Persian, Greek, and Roman. Years in the making, the limited-edition timepieces (five per theme) featured a miniature interpretation of a historic artwork representative of one of the four eras on the dials. Created in the form of gold appliqués is the Great Sphynx of Tanis from the Ancient Egyptian Empire (2035—1680BC); the Lion of Darius from the Persian Empire of the Achaemenids (559—330BC); the Victory of Samothrace from Hellenistic Greece of the Antigonid dynasty (277—168BC); and the Bust of Augustus from the Roman Empire of the Julio-Claudians (27 BC—68AD).
Following an haute cuisine buffet lunch at the private men’s Automobile Club—open to all Vacheron Constantin invitees for the occasion, guests retired to their rooms at the Crillon hotel where, notably, Lebanese architect Aline Asmar d’Amman collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld to renovate its most exquisite suites. After changing into gowns and black tie, guests reconvened at the Louvre—again exceptionally void of people save for a quartet playing mystical music composed for the evening. After walking through the grand courtyard, past flag bearers, guests entered the I. M. Pei.-designed pyramid and descended for a dinner prepared by three-starred Michelin chef Frederic Anton.
Aligned with the theme, each of the four dishes was inspired by one of the aforementioned great civilizations. Green asparagus, poutargue, candied lemon, virgin olive oil with elder flower, and caviar was a nod to Egypt. Seabass, fennel salad, mariniere sauce, and truffle savings was inspired by Greece; Bresse rousted poultry, Roman style artichokes, curry powder and greasy juice pointed to the Roman empire; while honey, light mousse, crunchy sugar, grenade sherbet, and raspberry coulis was inspired by Persia. Adding heightened drama to the soirée, each dish was preceded by a musical highlight also touching on one of the four civilizations. After dinner was served, a curtain dropped, and a full orchestra revealed itself to the enchanted crowd. The Swiss maison offered a gala evening very much aligned with its ethos of niche and authenticity; undeniably, this night was one of not many.

A closer look at the inspiration and processes behind the four new timepieces:

The Buste d’ Auguste looks back at th Roman Empire of the Julio-Claudians (27 BC – 68 AD). Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin
The Ancient Egyptian Empire (2035-1680 BC) is honored with a timepiece that depicts the Grand sphinx de Tanis. Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin
The vibrant art of the Persian Empire of the Achaemenids (559 – 330 BC) comes to life via the Lion de Darius. ​Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin
As a tribute to Hellenistic Greece of the Antigonid dynasty (277 – 168 BC), Vacheron Constantin presents the Victoire de Samothrace ​. Photo: Courtesy Vacheron Constantin

Photo: Courtesy of MK by Marios
Distinguished Greek fashion designers, international designers and infamous fashion brands all made their feature at the Xclusive Designers Week in Greece. The biannual event took place at the Zappeion Megaron this spring, which is an important national heritage site of Greek Civilization. Designers who made a feature ranged from Rami Kadi to Daphne Valente.
Scroll to see some of the highlights by seven iconic fashion designers.

Rami Kadi
Photo: Courtesy of Rami Kadi
This season, Athens Fashion Week hosted Rami Kadi as the guest of honour, featuring 43 of his dresses from his Spring/Summer 2022 collection, titled, ‘Lucid Algorithms’. His show displayed novel and unseen couture designs as exclusive custom pieces handcrafted for Athens Xclusive Designers, featuring bold colors and juxtaposing rhythms.
Vassilis Zoulias
Photo: Courtesy of Vassilis Zoulias
Vassilis Zoulias demi couture Fall/Winter 2022 collection titled ‘The Swans’ featured black and white pieces inspired by Truman Capote’s book, The Swans. The book harkens back to the 50s and 60s and speaks of the vivacious beauty of women like Marella Agnelli, Gloria Vanderbilt, Babe Paley and all members of prominent American and European families. The collection was rife with taffeta, faille, organza and satin and matched with fine lace and trimmings, all hand-made to perfection.
Paris Valtadoros
Photo: Panoulis Photography
Paris Valtadoros presented its collection, titled ‘Anasa’, transforming the Peristylion of Zappeion into a V-shaped runway with white decorative balloons. The collection consists of colorful creations combined with an eye for design. Particularly intense colors include yellow, fuchsia, green and rouge, symbolizing optimism. Wide sleeves, a variety of shoulder designs, metallic prints and dresses embellished with stones particularly stand out in this collection.
Daphne Valente
Photo: Panoulis Photography
Daphne Valente presented its ‘Summer Night Dream’ collection inspired by the famous William Shakespeare’s act Midsummer’s Night Dream which takes place in Ancient Greece. The impressive finale was the highlight of the show when the models appeared holding placards with socially-conscious messages such as “stop racism”, “say no to fast fashion” and “no bullying”. Designer Valente closed the show holding her own message with the quote, “All we need is love” and won the audience over.
Kathy Heyndels
Photo Courtesy of: Kathy Heyndels
Kathy Heyndels’s ‘Spectrum’ celebrated the Earth and its colors including sun yellow and sea blue. The collection featured romantic and feminine dresses as well as suits.
MK by Marios
Photo: Courtesy of MK by Marios
MK by Marios presented its ‘Luna Park/ Dark’ collection rife with metallic fabrics, colorful sequins. The prints were some of the most unique features of the collection, accentuated with their theatrical style, alongside rare headpieces.
Irene Angelopoulos
Photography: Panoulis Photography
Irene Angelopoulos presented her collection ‘Road-tripping to Freedom’ SS’22 abundant with vivid colors, airy dresses, cool combinations but also unique haute couture creations that characterize the workplace of the designer.
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Dior’s spring 2020 couture collection was inspired by Greco-Roman peplos. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Athens, Greece is gearing up for the unveiling of Dior‘s Cruise 2022 collection by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri tonight. The “Croisière 2022” collection will be showcased on a runway at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, also known as the Kallimarmaro, to some 400 international guests. Besides being broadcast live worldwide on television and via social media, Dior is also planning to also broadcast the event live in public areas in Soufli and Kalamata. The two Greek towns have inspired the fashion house and connected it to local textiles and materials. In Athens, the event will be broadcast in Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

Dior has a long, beloved history with Greece. The French house’s first step onto Greek soil was 70 years ago for its photoshoot for the French-language weekly news magazine Paris Match. Set at the Acropolis of Athens, it featured the fall 1951 “Longue” haute couture collection captured by photographer Jean-Pierre Pedrazzini.
“Greece is a country that has been always close to my heart,” Chiuri told WWD. “From mythology to the ‘Odyssey’ and from architecture and philosophy to priceless crafts, Athens for me represents a dream destination for staging a show and celebrating, more than ever, the magic and the transmission of cultures,” she added.
Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Photo: Getty
Blending tradition and modernity, the Dior Cruise collection will highlight the ancient Greek aesthetic values of light (phos) and beauty (kallos). Dedicated to the ongoing bicentennial celebrations marking the Greek 1821 War of Independence, “Dior Celebrates Greece” will depict Greece as the birthplace of civilization and promote Greek traditions, craftsmanship, and expertise worldwide with fashion events and ten photoshoots at major famed Greek archaeological sites, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Agora of Athens, the temple of Poseidon, and the temple of Zeus.
The grand couturier will pay tribute to Greece with a week full of events until June 22, promoting works of local artists, craftsmen, musicians, and technicians. The maison de couture will further join forces with Greek creators specializing in the arts of weaving and embroidery with local textiles and materials, as well as in pottery and jewelry.
Stay tuned and make sure to follow @VogueArabia for more updates straight off the runway.
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