[UPDATE: I have added more (and better) images that show the details, which are exquisite, but I'm still underwhelmed by the shapes and several of the color ways.]

Well that was underwhelming. Raf Simons’ debut show for Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2013 just happened in Paris and I can’t say I’m thrilled. I know it’s easy to say he’s no Galliano, but um, yeah.

It was for the most part, pretty refined. Classic Dior, but streamlined for today. None of the drama or over-the-top romanticism of the Galliano days. Not that we expected that. This definitely was going back to the roots of Christian Dior, the now classic 50s shapes, his love of flowers (each of the rooms were covered in a different color flower). It was all just kind of prim and proper.

For such a high-profile show, I’m bored. I wanted more. This is Raf’s first stab at couture, so maybe he didn’t have enough time? I’m curious to see what he’ll do for ready-to-wear. It’s really too soon to say, but after seeing this show I can’t help but think Raf is a better fit for Jil Sander than Dior. Today’s Dior. It was just all pretty and fine.

What did I like? I liked the more Raf feeling stuff, the tie-dyed dresses, the bold yellow, strong blue. The color-split dresses were interesting, one of them closed the show.

Something that I think could be a new shape trend? Peplums over capris. Although there’s a fucshia pink dress over black pants that should be burned. I should stop before I get even more bitchy.

Notables in attendance: Marc Jacobs, Sharon Stone, Alber Elbaz, Jennifer Lawrence, Riccardo Tisci, Carine Roitfeld, and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

More key looks after the jump (and some pics of the different rooms too).

[Via Grazia Daily]