PARIS, July 3, 2007 (AFP) - It was the hottest ticket in town on Monday, July 2nd night. Over a thousand guests, press and celebrities converged on the Chateau at Versailles for a birthday bash to mark sixty years since Christian Dior founded his prestigious fashion house.

British designer John Galliano with Canadian model Linda Evangelista (L) and British model Naomi Campbell (R) at Christian Dior Fall-Winter 2007/08 Haute Couture collection show in Paris Photo : Francois Guillot/AFP

The house pulled out all the stops for a glitzy gala extravaganza in the Orangerie gardens that was due to last until dawn, despite the miserable, unseasonable weather.



Kicking off proceedings was the latest haute couture collection for next spring-summer from John Galliano, which was a tribute to the artists who inspired the master himself -- Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Boldini, Sargent, Gainsborough, Goya and Velazquez.

A creation by designer John Galliano for Christian Dior fall-winter 2007/08 Haute Couture show in Paris Photo : Francois Guillot/AFP

The model Gisele Bundchen was the opening number in a classic New Look Dior suit with exaggerated hourglass silhouette.



Gruau, who designed the early advertising for the Dior house perfumes, inspired a white dress draped into an enormous rose at the waist, handpainted in magenta.



A harlequin costume was reminiscent of Picasso's blue period, while a long violet apron dress and corset was a homage to Tiepolo and Goya's sombre paintings were evoked with Chantilly lace and mantillas.

British model Lily Cole present a creation by designer John Galliano for Christian Dior fall-winter 2007/08 Haute Couture show in Paris - Photo : Francois Guillot/AFP

The Orangerie was awash with present and past supermodels, from Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista to Stella Tennant.



In the audience for the show were actresses Monica Bellucci, Charlize Theron and Juliette Binoche, alongside film directors Pedro Almodovar and Nicole Garcia, and the veteran designer Pierre Cardin.



Galliano, who is celebrating ten years as the house's artistic director, took his customary flamboyant bow dressed as a matador.

A creation by designer John Galliano for Christian Dior fall-winter 2007/08 Haute Couture show in Paris Photo : Francois Guillot/AFP

He dedicated the collection to his righthand man for 21 years, Steven Robinson, who died suddenly in April 2007 at only 38. Robinson had been described as "a huge engine and realiser at Galliano and Dior" and "the one who made everything work."