Jonathan Anderson blended Claude Monet with Dior classics for his AW26 womenswear show
In a corner of Paris’ Jardin des Tuileries, there is Musée de l’Orangerie, home to one of Monet’s most famous works, Water Lilies. The painting consists of eight panels that are each two metres long, filling two rooms – designed specifically to submerge the viewer in water lilies. Jonathan Anderson added a few extra water lilies to the Tuileries’ vast collection, submerging us in a pond of his own, just like Monet did a hundred years ago.
His AW26 womenswear offering marks Anderson’s fifth show and seventh collection for the brand, even though it’s been less than a year since he was announced as Dior’s new creative director.
A modern take on Christian Dior’s New Look, peplum silhouettes have been a mainstay of Anderson’s Dior since his debut show, and this collection included more of it than ever before. Dramatic oversized ruffles mimicked flower petals, while two chiffon evening dresses – one in blush pink, the other in white – resembled the heads of lilies waiting to bloom. Occasionally, additional layered fabric was added around the hips and in the back, giving an almost froggy shape – especially when paired with shades of mossy green. The shoes were a particular highlight, namely the pair of bright green stilettos that featured a water lily and its pad.
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