Christian Dior ©AFP/Francois Guillot

Christian Dior's Creative director Raf Simons unleashed yesterday his latest haute couture creations to a transfixed audience at Haute Couture Week in Paris.

The show took place in a circular ballroom in the garden of the Musée Rodin, constructed specially for the occasion with 150,000 orchids studding the metallic walls.

Simons opened with a series of all-white looks, with corseted shapes up top, which expanded into elaborate skirts featuring delicately embroidered floral motifs.

These were followed by rivet-belted jumpsuits with asymmetrical details (more embroidery) and air force-style zippers, long double-breasted coats in neutrals worn with coloured trousers, and shorter single-breasted versions in cropped fur.

The show ended with a focus on coloured heels and a neat interlocking ribcage detail on dresses and tops.