Dior Fashion For Spring/Summer 2009 Collection in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - France's ready-to-wear spring and summer shows began in earnest on Monday with Christian Dior's collection, as the world of fashion flew in the face of an increasingly ominous world environment.

Dior's show at the Tuileries gardens marked the start of the main part of the industry showpiece after the annual spring-summer shows began at the weekend with collections from a clutch of younger designers.

"Tribal chic. Studded. Belted. Degrade," read the notes to Dior designer John Galliano's show in which he sent a parade of teenaged models in diaphanous party dresses stalking down the catwalk to a pulsing rock beat.

"It's very young, transparent, light and quite sober," actress Marisa Berenson told Reuters Television after the show. "There were some wonderful mixtures of colors as he always does but I liked the lightness and the transparency."

Models appear on the catwalk at the end of French fashion house Dior Spring/Summer 2009 women's ready-to-wear fashion show by designer John Galliano in Paris September 29, 2008. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Models present creations by British designer John Galliano as part of French fashion house Dior Spring/Summer 2009 women's ready-to-wear fashion collection in Paris September 29, 2008. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

A model presents a creation by designer John Galliano as part of French fashion house Dior Spring/Summer 2009 women's ready-to-wear fashion collection in Paris September 29, 2008. Credit to :REUTERS/Charles Platiau