Kim Jones brought a taste of the English countryside to Paris yesterday afternoon. Green fingered, like Monsieur Dior himself, this season Jones built his own mini oasis which blended the blooming landscapes of Granville, where Dior was born, and Charleston in Sussex – with two houses dotted either side of the set.
The designer was thinking about the artist Duncan Grant, who alongside Vanessa Bell, owned Charleston Farmhouse; a property long associated with the Bloomsbury Group. (Jones’ debut couture collection for Fendi also celebrated Bloomsbury’s legacy.) He was thinking, in particular, about private spheres; insulated artistic communities – like the Bloomsbury Group – where just being amongst fellow creatives can spark creativity and formulate distinct style tribes.
In a romantic palette of rose pinks, dusty blues and cream, Jones transported Grant’s artworks to couture-level knits, paired alongside wide-cut trousers, boyish shorts, and summer hats designed by Stephen Jones. Signature Kim Jones tailoring met elevated activewear in an attractive cocktail of contrasting styles which felt slick and modern. Like sharp-shouldered suit jackets paired with woolly socks and climbing shoes. Or ankle-length wellies and plaid anoraks which felt elegant and equipped for an expedition, all at once.
That’s where the beauty in Jones’ Dior lies. He creates the most beautiful pieces, yet his design lexicon feels firmly grounded in the everyday.
Photography courtesy of Dior.
