Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior has everyone talking at Paris Fashion Week (and globally). Hosted at the Jardin des Tuileries, this debut was one of the most anticipated of the year—and rightfully received a standing ovation from attendees. 

What prompted this response was a reinterpretation of the House’s language, incorporating heritage-inspired motifs into a bold new vision. To achieve this, archival references were revisited and became central to the collection. 

Photos courtesy of Dior.

Appearing across various styles, symbols like bows adorned lace dresses and Cigale top-handle bags. Shrunken bar jackets embraced sculptural volumes, and sleek capes swept down the runway. Bold, oversized hats conveyed grandeur, reflecting the House’s textured legacy. Together, these elements created a compelling tension—where the past meets the present, giving rise to an exciting new era.  

Photos courtesy of Dior.

The elements collide to display the colourful mosaic of the Dior language. With a focus, as outlined in the show notes, on ‘an invitation to dream big,’ it demonstrates how fashion can turn each day into a dreamscape. Here, dressing becomes a way to step into a new character ‘on the stage of life.’ It’s about self-expression—an evolution from one side of the self to the other through the medium of clothes. 

Photod courtesy of Dior.

This merging of worlds continues and extends into the interiors. The space itself symbolized a fusion of digital and physical realms. Images commissioned by documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis appeared on an inverted LED pyramid, showcasing the House’s history to guests before mysteriously collapsing into a Dior shoebox. 

Feature Image: by Adrien Dirand.

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