Dior welcomes the wonders of Spring with the Gardening capsule collection dedicated to the founding couturier’s love of flowers.
Christian Dior’s love of flowers and gardens is an established affair in the history of the storied Maison. His passion for flora was nurtured on the grounds of his seaside home, Villa Les Rhumbs, in Granville, Normandy, where his mother cultivated the lush landscape of her botanical sanctuary with over 20 different species of roses. “A passion for flowers inherited from my mother meant that I was at my happiest among plants and flower-beds,” wrote Monsieur Dior in his memoirs. He would later create his own gardens at Le Moulin du Coudret situated in Milly-la-Forêt and at Château de La Colle Noire where he found respite in the beauty of nature’s delicate blooms, away from the city.
But his passion for gardens and flowers were not just confined to the grounds of his private haven, often finding their way into his feminine creations. This materialised as detailed embroidery that conjured images of abundance of a fertile garden, in swirls of fabric that evoked the delicate folds of roses, and bottled essences that housed the dancing fragrance of sophisticated floral notes. In fact, the couturier was also known to stitch his favourite flowers, lily of the valley, “to the hems of his dresses for good luck” and wore a sprig of the dainty flower in his buttonhole at every presentation.
So evident and devoted was his love of flowers that his successors too, found inspiration in his life’s passion and continued the narrative during their tenure at the House. This season, Maria Grazia Chiuri pays homage to his fascination with a capsule collection that embodies the spirit of Spring in full bloom. Offering an expansive selection of whimsical pieces that are “imbued with boldness and poetry”, the Dior Gardening capsule collection takes us on a floral escapade into the bucolic tranquility of the outdoors. In particular, the “Dior Petites Fleurs and Dior Birds prints—created by the Manufacture Tassinari & Chatel par Lelièvre Paris—flourish on the House’s ready-to-wear items and accessories”.
The Dior Gardening Capsule Collection
Romanticism takes centre stage throughout the Dior Gardening capsule collection in the form of delicate innerwear, shorts, dresses and skirts that are made from wispy fabrics, and are decorated with intricate floral embellishments and lace. The blooming motifs branch and cascade throughout the collection, punctuating practical and sporty looks that exemplify the joys and charms of gardening. Elsewhere, iconic accessories including the Dior Book Tote and Dior Lady D-Lite are also decorated in a profusion of flora and fauna while charming rain boots make a splash, offering both comfort and style for the everyday.
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All images courtesy Dior.
Ellen Von Unwerth for Dior.
This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR April 2023 issue.