Between Granville & Sussex

Acting as a continuation of the ideas first explored in Winter ‘22, the Dior Men Summer ‘23 collection explores Monsieur Christian Dior’s love for his gardens.

- Manfred Lu

Ambient collections are hard to come by these days. At a time when even the most modest brands are expected to provide captivating concepts and annotated talking points for each collection, Kim Jones’ recent endeavours at Dior Men suggest that the artistic director is slowly receding out of the usual theatrics that is typically associated with most of fashion. A dramatic tonal shift detailing softer, shimmering ideas has been the focus of new releases as he continues to dive deeper into the house’s history — particularly the legacy left behind by founder Monsieur Christian Dior.

Having to alternate between the old and the new, Jones’ work at Dior runs the risk of being tied to its era — either too specific or too naive to resonate in a time of increasingly immediate terror. Yet, the Dior Men narrative remains consistent: albeit intensively progressive in its design, Jones’ creations have never been shocking nor intended to invigorate. The results showcased an invigorating sense of simplicity — achieved through retrofitting the ideas of Monsieur Christian Dior and his original atelier.