Dior mashes up laid-back ‘indie sleaze’ with elegant luxury | Dior
Fashion brands monitored weather forecasts in Paris ahead of this week’s menswear shows and were aware temperatures would reach 40C on Wednesday. A decision was made this weekend: The Christian Dior fashion show, originally scheduled for the afternoon, would be moved to 9 a.m. to avoid the heat of the day.
The change in time definitely made the experience more palatable; as are the cool towels given to guests upon arrival (probably for the first time at a fashion week), sun-blocking umbrellas and personalized fans on the seats. Located on the grounds of the grand Musée Nissim de Camondo, which is under renovation to reopen in 2030, those in the garden even benefited from the occasional breeze.
The show’s music was by DJ and producer Fred Again, who pioneered a new wave of dance music, inviting a black disco ball and a corresponding – obviously luxurious – hedonism to the collection.
There were pants covered in holographic sequins, ripped jeans, and oversized metallic brooches. Some suits have been reconstructed and re-designed with chiffon to give an ultra-comfortable feel. The mixed approach (a coat worn with metallic shorts, a monogram quarter-zip, and a bow tie) felt like an elegant waste of the wardrobe of someone with deep pockets who makes going out after dark central to his lifestyle.
Jonathan Anderson, wearing a blue shirt after the show, said his observations of young people’s lifestyles were part of the direction. “There’s a whole new kids’ movement right now, especially in London. The rave culture is starting up again; you see it in the suburbs, you see it outside the city as well. I see it on the Seine at seven in the morning. Things are changing; it’s looser in terms of approach.”
When asked who his client is, Anderson’s answer says a lot about his position at Dior, one of the world’s biggest fashion brands since he became the first creative director of menswear and womenswear in 2025. “I have an interesting job because I have to talk to an existing customer and a loyal customer, and I have to recruit customers,” he said. “For me, in a weird way, I enjoy dealing with that because that’s where you find the tension within the character.”
This is Anderson’s third menswear outing at Dior, and he’s already shown how he uses pop culture to maintain that balance. While her first collection featured plain-knit sweaters and jeans, January’s collection reflected the popular indie sleaze look. Since then, the brand has held a show in Los Angeles and opened a restaurant in Saint-Tropez, ensuring a presence in the hotspots of affluent customers everywhere. This collection is another part of that master plan, and one that will undoubtedly have an impact that extends from the heatwave-influenced Paris fashion week to the clothes worn across the wider world.
Anderson’s ability to create designs that are both innovative and sell has earned him a proven track record across the board, whether at Uniqlo, where he designed collections, or LVMH, which owns Dior. In his previous role at Loewe, also in the group, he increased revenue fivefold during his 12 years as creative director. one in february HSBC report He suggested that it would have a similar effect at Dior, forecasting 10% growth overall by 2026.
