Standing tall

From the toile de Jouy pattern fabrics which nodded to the wallpaper which lined M. Dior’s first boutique, to the men’s version of its signature John Galliano-designed Saddle bag, artistic director Kim Jones infused his debut menswear collection for Dior with emblems and motifs of the French maison. Its founder took centre-stage at the brand’s in-the-round runway space too, with Jones erecting a 10 m toy-like effigy of M. Dior, designed by the American designer and artist Kaws. Christian Dior was fascinated by the natural world, his passion for flowers stemming from the gardens of his childhood home Granville. Jones nodded to this affection, covering the wood and polystyrene sculpture with a magnificent bed of 70,000 peonies and roses. The surrounding circular grey runway evoked a blank artists’ canvas, and acted as a symbol of a new menswear chapter for the house, flourishing like gardens surrounding M. Dior’s childhood home. §