Oh, Dior! Kim Jones is leaving, is Maria G-C next?
It’s official. After weeks of speculation, it’s been confirmed that Kim Jones is leaving Dior menswear after seven years.
I’ve really liked most of what Kim has done at LVMH (apart from Fendi – sorry!) and have routinely posted his Dior menswear shows here as he’s been an early adopter of using traditionally ‘feminine’ tropes in his collections, like certain couture techniques, styling tricks (brooches!), not to mention repopularising the women’s 1990s saddlebag for men.
His influence on contemporary fashion and pop culture from a wider perspective is indisputable. From art collabs (I’m still not over the Raymond Pettibon knits, below) to high-low fashion (Dior x Nike) and the overall celebrification of fashion, he’s certainly earned his recent Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. His AW25 collection just shown in Paris was superb and classic Kim for Dior.
Below: Dior men winter 2020 x 2
Below: Dior mens AW19-20 Raymond Pettibon detail
Below: Dior Mens Resort 2022
Along with the ‘Kim Jones is leaving Dior’ rumour, we’ve also had the ‘Maria Grazia Chiuri is leaving too’ narrative from insiders. This fuelled by further rumours that Jonathan Anderson is slated to exit Loewe to take over from both.
Dra-ma!
TBH, I don’t love all the public rumour discourse. (Yes, I get the irony.) I always feel it must add to the stress of designers trying to produce existing collections to know that the whole world knows they’re applying for a job. Does this not jeopardise their performance?! I guess you need balls of steel for this job. Kim Jones is rumoured to be going to Burberry next. I’d quite enjoy that, but I also like the idea of him and Jonathan taking a nice, long holiday. They both look like they could do with one.
To Maria G-C. I’d agree that her work at Dior has become somewhat repetitive. Some might call it consistent, and the consistency of those bestsellers served up every which way – book totes, logo slingbacks – is what has kept tills ringing quite nicely over the past few years. Dior’s revenues have nearly quadrupled under Chiuri, from €2.7 billion in 2018 to more than €9 billion in 2023.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed the ‘garconne’ moments the most, I’ll never get bored of boyish Bar jackets, socks and sandals and classic outerwear …
Below: Dior AW17 couture
Below: Dior pre-fall 24
Below: Dior AW23
WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Dior mens AW19-20; Dior men winter 2020 x 2; Dior mens AW19-20 Raymond Pettibon detail; Dior Mens Resort 2022; Dior AW17 couture; Dior pre-fall 24; Dior AW23
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here
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