The Tamesis
“I believe that haute couture can transcend clothing and embrace bags as a fully realized fashion expression, as long as they have the same prominence, intention and technical ambition. We explored a variety of shapes, materials and techniques for this collection,” said Anderson.
Accessories occupy the first floor. First up are the bags, both in new styles and classic styles like Lady Dior, with endless customization options. 57 more unique piece Featuring 18th century fabrics sourced by Anderson. There are also jewelry made from meteorites and fossils, charms inspired by every dress in the collection, and shoes made from yarn, silk cyclamen petals, and the same 18th-century upcycled fabric as some of the bags.
The few areas of the wall that do not display extraordinary fashion pieces are hung with paintings, also chosen by the designers. In fact, everything in the space was chosen by him—from the color of the walls, to the furniture, antique rugs, and even the glass enclosure.
Within two hours of the show, the team, including Anderson, transported all the looks from the show floor to the villa, ready in time for the cocktail party that followed. At parties, creative directors talk to clients, and from what we’ve heard, clients appreciate nothing more than meeting a designer face-to-face as a way to connect with the brand.
“Our clients, no matter their generation, value our Code so much that they appreciate Jonathan’s talent for elevating and modernizing the Code even more, while honoring them and showcasing our Code. Skill This brings them back to life. Jonathan has the utmost respect for our studio and knows better than anyone that our studio is the best in the world. He was keenly aware that haute couture can only continue to exist if it is truly created and can last. Skill passed down,” Arnault commented.
Anderson’s boutique occupies the ground and first floors, while the second floor is dedicated to Victoire de Castellane’s high jewelry and watch creations. Sketches of jewelry from old collections line the walls of the hallway, which leads to small rooms where millions of dollars’ worth of gems and diamonds are hidden in bracelets, tiaras, rings, necklaces and watches. Castellane’s latest collection for Dior is one of 57 unique pieces called Belle Dior. A personal favorite is a necklace, ring and earrings featuring a moon and star made of yellow diamonds and black opals, inspired by the founder’s fascination with the art of divination.
Inside the room, all curtains are drawn as part of safety protocols, and behind every other fold of the maze-like floor you’ll find private client suites, where Victorians can actually shop in peace. The bespoke client suite is on the third floor and, as you would expect, is much larger. I wasn’t able to sneak a peek because, as I was warned, it was fully booked.
On my way out I received two bags of premium chocolates from Greenhouse Patisserie. It’s an interesting time for the fashion industry – macroeconomic challenges are many, and last year’s creative reset was a big bet for the industry to meet them. In this context, it’s encouraging to see a newly appointed creative director like Anderson reimagine and expand the boundaries of luxury. This is also very interesting.
