American State of Mind

Dior releases new images from the pre-fall 2024 collection, inspired by her recent mood embracing New York activism of the 1960s. Second-wave feminism, racial justice and anti-Vietnam war protests all contributed New York energy permeating the Dior show at The Brooklyn Museum last April.

Photographer Tess Ayano [IG] captured the images, styled by Delphine Danhier.

AOC considers Maria Grazia Chiuri to have platinum-grade design and merchandising instincts. But even Anne thought Dior’s stars and stripes ‘tracksuit’ was Chiuri’s rare flat tire, with its unabashed celebration of stars and stripes Americana. We considered it a marketing piece.

After watching night one of the Democratic Convention in Chicago on Monday, I was probably dead-wrong. More tears and overt displays of Democratic, Independent and anti-MAGA Republican patriotism were on display last night, than America has seen in years.

If that stars & stripes Dior top [above] was a kimono jacket, I would wear it. Hillary Clinton would probably drown in it, but she would wear it.

Texas loves all fashion stars & stripes — to a fault, says snotty Anne. Plus, they wear stars & stripes at NRA conventions, to buy their assault rifles.

Given my recent attitude adjustment, I now see Chiuri’s track suit as perfect for Democrats’ young Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett [IG], who has represented major parts of Dallas since 2023.

After the eloquently hell-raising speech Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave in Chicago Monday night, AOC would probably wear the Dior Americana tracksuit, too.

AOC wrote on Monday, sharing key images from the latest Anthropologie ‘I Love Antro’ NYC campaign:

Now — for the first time in AOC’s memory — there is a massive wild card entering the advertising and marketing space.
It’s centered on Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate ‘Coach’ Tim Walz. It speaks to joy, love and an overwhelming connection to our best-selves as voters and as the American people.

Where all this energy and emotions are going, none of us knows. We do know that November 2024 election volunteers are breaking all Democratic party records. And led by women, of course.

So Anne was right-on in her analysis of an American state of mind unknown since 2008 and maybe not even then. WE are taking back patriotism — and with pride. But I was dead wrong with my haughty-woman response to that Dior stars & stripes tracksuit. Good work Dior — even if it was essentially a marketing image. ~ Bad Anne