Zara just had celebrated a fabulous Paris Fashion Week debut.
Kim Jones presented his Dior Spring/Summer 2025 menswear collection in Paris, inspired by archival haute couture and ceramics. The show opened with a set of a black studded boxy button up jacket and black studded relaxed trousers, paired with black leather studded shoes. The model carried a ceramic figure with the inscribed writing - An elegant life. It was as if this outfit could summarise a whole show and spare the global pollution of carrying out a full runway show, with the whole debacle of flying celebrities from around the world into Paris, as well as, models and press.
The look that followed, a touch less inspiring than the first - a navy striped suit with a hood and a grey t-shirt.
Kim Jones said "In this collection, I wanted to concentrate on elements of craft, the skills of the ateliers and artisans who work for the house: This is the lifeblood of Dior. There is always a sense of biography when it comes to the house, that of Christian Dior and the succession of designers, here combined with the life of the ceramicist Hylton Nel. This collection is a celebration of work and an expression of who somebody is and what they achieve through work, that legacy and continuity through time. In the case of Christian Dior, Hylton Nel and myself, it's an idea of parallel paths with different stories. It's life-long work in ceramics and paintings and life-long work in fabrications and clothing. There is an idea of and dedication to art and the applied arts shared by all."
One of the more interesting proposals in the collection were these wrap around oversized trousers, styled with a bucket hat, and a white vest with a white bird - a symbol of peace and unity. (The message seems to be making rounds this fashion week).
Another striking aspect of the collection is the revival of an archival Saint Laurent sketch from Autumn/Winter 1958, finally brought to life. The scarf collar motif, depicted across multiple looks, and seen for the first time in look 2, is another Saint Laurent revival from Autumn/Winter 1960.
