Dior’s Savoir-Faire Piece Breathes Life Into Vintage Design

VMAN Exclusive: Dior revamps a classic 60s piece with an intricately embroidered showstopper.

Dior debuted its Winter 2021 menswear collection at Paris Fashion Week, designed by creative director Kim Jones in collaboration with Scottish artist Peter Doig. Drawing inspiration from Dior’s circa 1960s Rosella dress, the collection’s swoon-worthy Savoir-Faire is an intricately embroidered coat.

Jones’ talent for translating Dior’s heritage pieces into modern style is apparent in this show’s pièce de résistance. The hand-embroidered masterpiece brings details from Marc Bohan’s white silk haute couture dress up to date by superimposing its elaborate bead pattern onto a knee-length collared coat in black cashmere.

Crafted for Dior in Paris-based atelier Maison Vermont, 1,200 hours were spent painstakingly embroidering the manteau by hand. Its art deco-style beadwork is composed of faceted crystals, hourglass-shaped coil beads, and gilded long-stitched metallic yarn. In contrast with the Rosella dress, the updated beading pattern features a denser embroidery and more pearls.

For the runway show, the coat was styled on model Thatcher Thornton over an understated black button-down and slacks to let the coat’s exquisite craftsmanship take center stage. “The jacket is insane,” an awestruck Thornton says in a Youtube video describing the Dior team’s masterful design process. “It’s a work of art.”

 

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