We Step Inside Dior’s Atelier For Jonathan Anderson’s First Fittings

Dior’s Ready-to-Wear S/S26 collection was a dialogue between eras — a love letter that revered the past while hinting at a whimsical new future

“Do you dare enter… the house of Dior?” — the message that flashed across the screen at the beginning of Jonathan Anderson’s debut, set the tone for one of the most anticipated moments of the season — eagerly awaited by fashion insiders and enthusiasts alike. Having witnessed what the creative director achieved during his tenure at Spanish fashion house Loewe, as well as through his own label JW Anderson, we were all left wondering how he would captivate us at the helm of one of the world’s most influential fashion maisons.

With great legacy comes great responsibility — not only to preserve heritage, but to take on the creative task of translating its message for current and future generations, ensuring it continues to speak the language of today.

Stepping behind the scenes, we take a look inside the Dior atelier during the fittings of this dreamlike collection.

The archival references span not only Christian Dior himself but also the creative legacies of those who followed — Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, and more. The inspirations draw from shapes, materials, and techniques: lace, twisted pleats reminiscent of the Tourbillon (1956) and Zerline (1957) dresses.

The bow from Curacao (1954) reappears, reframed as a pair of draped jersey trousers, while others — from Torsade (1957) and Sans Souci (1957) — make their own subtle returns. Shoes from the 1960s walk once more, while lilies of the valley — unmistakably Dior — bloom anew as brooches, hats, and shoes. The Cul de Paris, the Bouillonné, and the reimagined Bar and houndstooth silhouettes together form a love letter to the maison’s iconic heritage.

One thing was certain: the accessory game reached an entirely new level. The Cigale bag — inspired by the archival dress of the same name — stood out as a future icon. Together with Nina Christen, Dior’s Head of Footwear Design, Jonathan delivered a shoe for every imaginable occasion: from ladylike mules adorned with oversized rosette buttons to the perfect black leather loafers, sleek and subtly twisted.

Perhaps this is what truly sealed the collection — the quiet whimsy that defines Jonathan’s creative universe. The play on proportion, the unexpected accents and stamps, bunny ears, clover leaves, miniature ladybirds — all coming together to tell a story of Dior’s past, present, and future lives — one we’ll gladly sit and watch unfold.

Images courtesy of Dior. Photographed by © Angèle Chatenet.