A Fashion Metamorphosis: Inside Dior’s Latest Literary Debut by Robert Polidori
Debris and wires are the latest embellishments to adorn Dior’s most recent book by famed photographer Robert Polidori
Rubble and disarray aren’t uncommon for the house of Dior. After all, its founder fought in the South of France and played a pivotal role in reviving Paris to its post-WWII, haute couture capital glory. So naturally, when the house renovated its fabled headquarters, on 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, it turned to Canadian-American photographer Robert Polidori. A man famous for finding beauty in chaos and revered for the images he captured of Chernobyl and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The result is the new coffee table book Dior Metamorphosis, published by Rizzoli. It is an exciting journey into the past, present and future of the French luxury house, which was gutted and restored into an expansive complex that today includes a café, a private suite, a museum and Monsieur Dior’s private office.
For over two years, the iconic hôtel particulier underwent a radical transformation spearheaded by architect Peter Marino, during which Polidori was granted exclusive access to the site for the entire duration – documenting the original state, the demolition phase, and the reconstruction of Dior’s home, with iconic Dior designs in the foreground. “Between the cables, debris and dust of this raw work ambience – the light and beauty of these unique images shine through. In accordance with this reinvention, the emblematic models of the house, such as the iconic Bar jacket, are staged within the very building site; an artistic choice highlighting the soul of the founding couturier and the aura of Dior style,” said the house.
The book echoes legends of the past, including the moment Christian Dior stumbled on the Parisian townhouse, originally built in 1865 by a son of Napoleon. “It had to be 30 Avenue Montaigne. I was going to settle here and nowhere else!” the designer is said to have exclaimed at the sight of it. A series of serendipitous events ensued, and he later aggrandized it into a seven-storey hub with 27 workshops that were, for decades to come, busy with fittings, meetings with global VIPs and fashion shows.
Alongside Robert, the book was co-produced by Emanuele Coccia, an Italian philosopher and associate professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. The 304-page tome hit shelves late last month and features neon printing and hand-tipped images on crystal paper.
Images courtesy of Dior. Photography: Robert Polidoriw.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2023 issue.