The Dior Narrative

When looking into the narrative and the dream behind Diorissimo, there are many connotations which jump out of the product, and for me there is a very strong story which unveils. Dior is an incredibly sophisticated and well developed brand, which enables a strong sense of control within the brand; however for me, the dior fragrances are more than just smells, they work together in synergy to create a family like feel. J’adore, Miss Dior and Les Creations de Monsieur Dior are three sisters, and when you unravel the product identify within each fragrance you gain an understanding of the audience, smell, bottle aesthetics, and the feel of the perfume. These factors enable the consumer to learn more about where the product fits within the Dior Fragrance ‘family’. 

J’adore is a very sleek, sexual perfume, which is incredibly feminine and independent. The woman behind the fragrance is heavily beautiful and someone how has confidence within herself, she knows what she wants and how she is going to get it. This very confident and forward figure which appears in the family of Dior is an older sister, and is a well loved, appreciated yet strong smell, and is well developed to the perfect amount.

Next you have Miss Dior, who is the youngest of the three, sisters within the Dior fragrance family; she is cheeky, flirty and incredibly girls; the smell is flowery and pink which is displayed strongly within the packaging colour and bow on the lid. Miss Dior is the youngest and although she is confident in herself she has changes to make to herself, and is giggly. If she were to be drawn, she would too be very beautiful, but younger, and she is fun; which is the most important element which can be taken from the fragrance.

Finally you have the strong family of Les Creations de Monsieur Dior, which are almost the cousins of the Dior family, as they themselves make up 6 of the Dior fragrances, meaning there is a strong bond and collection within the brand. Diorissimo, Diorella, Dioressence and Diorling are almost quadruplets, the smells and the looks which carry the Dior fragrance forward are so similar, the bottle shapes are all identical and the look and feel which can be captured from the fragrance are identical. 

I personally see Diorissimo as an interesting family member within the fragrance market. The bottle itself is very bland, there is very little shape and outstanding factor of the bottle, however this inputs an element of mystery within the product, implying that Dior may have put all their efforts into the smell and left the packaging and bottle plain to allow a sense of the unknown into the product. The sell is so floral and fruity, almost a younger smell, however it was one of the first created which leaves the element of surprise when the scent is smelt as you see the movement behind the smell throughout the years. The Diorissimo woman is incredibly elegant yet simplistic, it leaves a lot to the imagination and allows a true mystical element to her; she too would be incredibly beautiful, old fashioned in her beliefs yet her rebranding makes her young in age. In my opinion, Diorissimo is the most interesting of the Dior Fragrance Collection, and although she isn’t the most famous, this adds the element of surprise to her, which is her unique selling point within the market. 

The GRANDE-Mère of couture

There is one woman who has stood out to me over the years as one of the leaders of Couture, a woman whose work was so different and unique at the time, and even though art and poetry was the route in life she wanted to take, fashion took over and snatched up her talent and brought her into the ever-moving industry. Forty years after the death of Elsa Schiaparelli, her life has come back into the light as her work is reviewed and looked at again by many. Her passion and determination for doing something special with her life was such an inspiration, to not only her family, but young photographers, designers and fashion followers. From Giacometti designed ashtrays, to Dali dressing her windows, Schiaparelli was one of the most glamorous, genuine and loved designers of her time, and her mark has been left after all these years. 

‘Elsa Schiaparelli was the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. She was the first to use the art of her time in a provocative dialogue with fashion, and hoovering up elements that caught her fancy from all over the world.’

– Meredith Etherington Smith

There has recently been a book released about the life of Elsa Schiaparelli and her personal photographic collection of her family, lovers and the house she once lived in; which have all been selected by her granddaughter to bring her name back into the light and teach those about just how incredible she was. She is a name that I will always follow, and a book which I have ordered and am more than excited to read.

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DAVID BECKHAM – Haig Club

The famous model and football player David Beckham has recently tken his career up a notch when he created his own whiskey – Haig Club; as a No-Age-Statement. As whiskey has connotations of an old man, Beckham is trying to bring the age down and make it more fashionable and realistic in the eyes of the younger generation. 

Within the advert, here are so many factors which work in synergy to create the very personal yet deliberate advert. To start off with, Guy Richie is the director of the advert, as well as shooting for David Beckham’s H&M advert, meaning that the two have worked together and have created this bond. Beckham has recently published a programme about him riding a motorbike around the country, as this is something he personally enjoys; which is why he enters the advert on a bike; the very personal elements makes the product authentic, as you are seeing the real Beckham. There is such a strong narrative and marketing strategy behind the whole filming. 

‘The Sell: Sumptuous Scottish Scenery and Soccer Star’s Sex Appeal’

Next, part of the group of friends, you will see the familiar face of Jimmy Choo, who is indeed a friend of Beckhams. All of these work together to create such a thought out advert. Also, you see the famous selfie moment; the sharded self, it is the modern world and what the target audience know. As well as the selfies being taken around the world at famous landmarks, meaning that there is a global push to the product. The whole advert is so incredibly developed and one which I think is incredibly effective.

SWOT of Dior

STRENGTHS: Dior itself has so many strengths, but those which have drawn the company out the ground is the individuality and strong sense of narrative and the creation of ‘the dream’. Over the years Dior has created such a passion for the brand, and the need for it, which is why, 60 years on the company is still ever moving with the fast paced industry. 

WEAKNESSES: Although the company is very well developed, it has only a few downfalls, due to the change of designers over the years, at points there has been very little stability within the business, and the change of the personalities being injected into the brand has meant that in some cases there has been a large change in style and designs of certain pieces. 

OPPORTUNITIES: Dior is very aware as a company, and keeps up to date with all events. The Dior Harrods event in 2013, promoted the brand once again and allowed a whole range of audiences to view the garments and styles. The experiences which Dior choose to exploit are perfect opportunities for sales, and for the audiences. 

THREATS: Along with threats comes strong competition within the industry, and in this case, the threats lie with Chanel, and the fact that there is such a strong connection between the two brands. However, threats also lie with the designers, as in the short stay of the designer Bill Gaytten in 2011 for Dior, this can cause threats as it can have a lasting effect on the brand essence. 

Young at Heart

There has become a sudden increase in the Flat-Agers, who are defined by being over 60 and having no input within the fashion industry. However, this has now changed, and instead are becoming more of the targeted audience due to the money that the consumers have, as they are no longer working and have the necessities of the modern world. The money is therefore able to be spent on meaningful connections to them, such as family or friends, as well as adventures, experiences and products which they are yet to have consumed themselves. 

People are now living longer, which is something that is becoming more of a reality within our culture; people are retiring later, and are becoming healthier due to the accessible resources. A prime example of this is the wonderful Anna Wintour, who is indeed 64 years of ago, however she doesn’t wear an anorak and comfy plat shoes, nor does she stop looking stylish and keeping up to date with technologies and the fashion industry; so why should all of the other older generation nor follow in her footsteps?

‘Something exciting is in the air. Forget everything you thought about being old, or age even. In the society of the future, age isn’t just a number – it’s flat.’

There was once a gap between age and beauty, yet Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Daphne Selfe, Alexandra Shulman and many other inspirations within the industry have proven that you can re-adventure into the new world, and that within that age gap they’re increasing becoming more adventurous, beautiful and willing to try new things; which is what you’d expect the younger generation to do. This creation within the industry hs driven to older models, such as Bernhard Wilhelm, and the rise in technology blooming within the flat-agers. 30% of American’s between 50-64 years old own their own tablet or iPad, proving that you’re never too old for a new adventure.

The work behind a Campaign

• First of all, a press release is pushed to the audience to announce campaign a year in advance – making the product desirable, making them realise just what is coming and to inform the press. 
• Then, the company will tip off fashion magazines and press so it gets around to everyone; causing excitement.
• Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are also key to promoting the campaign. conversation about the brand. 
• The press are therefore interested in the designer to make the product, then get  photographs of it, then it gets sent to PR enabling them to have physical products to show, then exclusives are pushed again with pre released images. 
• The, all of this information reaches the media, the interest to the customer and is given to the audience in sections: 1 glossy, 1 weekly, 1 cover, 1 sunday newspaper. 
• They then pick the images, no one has the edge to the other they all have to have the images at the same time – 2/3 months before hand, a teaser. 
• Possibly an interview with the designer, something to tell, the story is then told about the collection or product. 
• Beginning of November more images are released to all medias, final push – billboards on oxford street, placements are then chosen and bought for maximum promotion.
• Then when the product is realised, a follow up story is created, and normally the words ‘SOLD OUT’ are used – meaning a sense of exclusiveness.

THE COMPETITOR

The biggest competition of the Haute Couture world, Chanel, has just released their new Chanel No.5 advert; created by Award Winning Director Baz Luhrmann including the beautiful Gisele Bundchen, it is such an interestingly passionate new promotional element to the brand. Let alone it is set in the beautiful, dreamy land of New York’s Queensboro Bridge, the whole setting, theme and narrative of the advert is beauty, as well as the luxury in living somewhere so beautiful. Adverts such as these cause such a threat to Dior as it has pushed the opposing brand into the publics eye, which is exactly the opposite of what Dior would have wished for, however this is so common within the industry.

‘In the end, it’s about romance and passion – and I want to spend weeks in the Chanel archives!’

Luhrmann wanted to create something desirable, something that all women wanted; a successful career, a luxury house, a beautiful daughter and the lifestyle which was portrayed, meaning that women will buy into the dream to have their own journey that Bundchen is displaying, they want success, and having the perfume will bring this. 

Now, we simply need to wait to see how Dior reacts, as J’adore and Chanel No.5 will now be the two main adverts to watch this Christmas, as the final push for promotional aspects of the perfume industry begin.

Diorskin Star Foundation

With this month’s issue of Vogue, amongst Taylor Swift, Jamie Dornan and Zoella, there is a hidden gem in regards to Dior’s cosmetics promotions. In this months issue, Dior is mentioned or shown 8 times throughout the magazine, but a whole page is designated to Dior this month, which is such an incredible feature to find. With Diorskin Star Foundation being the main attraction, it is so important that Dior finds it’s name in THE fashion magazine. 

The article is based around Dior’s new piece of technology; the Diorskin Star Foundation Analyser: which is a perfect shade match to the customers skin. Although this has been created by other brands, it is important for Dior to be up there and publicising their technology too. The light weight foundation comes in 14 different shades, and the customer is able to mix two foundations together to create the perfect blend. This very personal experience is exactly what keeps Dior ahead of competitors, as well as they’re exclusive cosmetics and their tool kits. The need for flawless completion is so vital, and with connections to backstage makeup links, this is such an incredible product to be selling; as well as being so widely publicised to the target audience.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/brand/christian-dior

My Burberry

When looking into perfume adverts, and the way they are created and the narrative behind them, My Burberry the new fragrance is a perfect example of this. The very traditionally British advert is such an incredible advert to represent the British brand: it is raining, the mac and the British models. Burberry have really thought about the message they want to send out to their audience, and it is such a strong one. Both Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne work perfect together to create the dream of Burberry; an incredible perfume advert, and one that I will destruct and look at in much greater detail for the project.