Kim Jones and his mastery of marrying art and fashion together is proven in Dior’s Menswear Winter 2021 collection that’s filled with royal suits and color.
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As the virtual show hits play, almost immediately an electro-pop beat puts you in the tone of the show as models march down accordingly on a royal blue patterned floor. The first look that starts the show is what you would imagine how a ceremonial military uniform would look like when mixed with a bit of style and glamour.
The star-buttoned suit paired with an embroidered glitter coat also tells you how the collection will be marrying two opposite aesthetics together –– military and art.
A UNIVERSAL DIALOGUE
Ever since artistic director Kim Jones came into the world of Dior’s menswear, it opened up a gateway to allow artists to make the house’s clothing as their canvas. For the winter collection, Jones collaborates with Scottish-born artist Peter Doig to paint the Dior man for 2021 with the celebratory colors of deep purples, yellows, and bright orange in coats, suits, and jackets. Together, they reinvent the aesthetic of military wear such as the camouflage pattern reimagined with splatters of rich color, while the British ceremonial wear that pays homage to the houses’ heritage is fused with virtuoso embroidery and jacquards. Jones explained that there has always been a link between military attire and art as ceremonial tail-coated attires are required by artists to wear as they’re inducted into the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
THE ARTIST
A different narrative from their pre-fall collection that was clad in graphic prints and intergalactic space styling with Kenny Scharf, Peter Doig’s artistry is the contrary. Known for his figurative art for pop culture subjects, he applies instead his dynamic yet relaxed painterly technique in contrast to the functional form.
Some of the Doig-Dior reference points are the yellow pullover jackets, orange trench coats, and paint-dab patterned sweater that resonates with the painter’s works. Alongside, are the emblems that the collection takes on which are a dog and a lion as seen on the hat and belts of the collection.
STAR-STUDDED ARMY
It’s no surprise that at the front row of every Christian Dior show is some the world’s A-lists stars. Despite the show being virtual, Dior managed to invite some big names to showcase the looks.
This includes the house’s long-time friend Kate Moss and her daughter Lila Moss, model-actor Jérémie Laheurt, award-winning direcotor Ladj Ly, and former boxer turned model Younès Bendjim.
The show was quick and straightforward as it presented an array of draping trench coats, army general berets, piped uniforms, and wide-tailored trousers all in a royal color palette. Easy but bold, it’s a silhouette a man could stand tall and strut in with relaxed shoulders for the new year.
