The unerring ability of Christian Dior men’s artistic director Kim Jones to reference and revise from the French maison’s archives to deliver details that speak to contemporary aesthetics should be studied. It’s a skill that many attempt but fall short of fulfilling.
Case in point: the Summer 2023 collection that featured the iconic CD diamond motif first introduced by former artistic director Marc Bohan. The elegant motif a twist on the founder’s initials became a part of Dior history in 1974 when Bohan revealed them during the maison’s Spring/Summer ’74 collection.
The graphic became emblematic of Bohan’s time at Dior, a reflection of his inspiration from the art deco period of the 1920s but also his specific chapter of the Dior story – known for its “haute couture aesthetic” that made its way into elevated ready-to-wear.
Today, Jones reimagines their angular simplicity across the surfaces of the Summer 2023 collection. The natural heir to Bohan’s blend of luxury in the everyday, Jones has been progressively weaving elements of couture and tailoring into his creations in the Dior men’s universe since his the beginning of his tenure.
Appearing in layered shades shade of grey, the favourite colour of founder Christian Dior, Jones incorporates the CD into key men’s pieces and accessories including the B27 sneakers, iconic Saddle Bag and across the surface of silk shirting.
Paying homage to the modernism of Bohan’s original design, Jones reveals that he is as much a historian and archivist as he is a designer with an eye to the future of menswear. It’s a circular method of creativity that celebrates the achievements of those who came before him – an increasingly rare trait among designers today where too often we’re seeing the complete eradication of the past to make way for the the ego of the new.
