EXCLUSIVE: Dior Rolls Out New-look Dioriviera Beach Collection With Sailing-themed Pop-ups

PARIS — Dior is setting sail with a new-look Dioriviera line this summer, marking Jonathan Anderson’s first beach collection since taking over as creative director of the house last year. The French fashion house began rolling out the line last week in concept stores and resort locations, and it will eventually be available in 19 destinations worldwide, ranging from the brand’s historic flagship on Avenue Montaigne in Paris to seasonal pop-ups and pop-ins from Saint-Tropez to Seoul.

Drawing inspiration from the work of Christian Bérard, the illustrator who was a close friend of founder Christian Dior, the house has developed a series of patterns that feature on everything from store displays to tableware.

Boats in varying sizes, their sails decorated with bows and stripes, are a recurring motif. Rows of toy sailboats frame window displays of handbags, including variations of the Lady Dior, the Dior Blooming, and a terry cloth version of the Dior Book tote.

Large-scale sailboats are landing in locations including the outdoor spaces of the Dior Gold House concept store in Bangkok, and the indoor garden of the Le Jardin eatery in the atrium of the Paris boutique.

A full-scale boat inspired by the gozzo, a traditional Italian fishing boat, will extend the experience into the turquoise waters off Il Riccio restaurant and beach club in Capri, while guests at Hotel Cipriani in Venice will have use of a Dior-branded motorboat, and an outdoor Fiat 500 cocktail bar car.

The D Maris Bay hotel in Turkey, meanwhile, will have a pool installation with custom furniture and inflatables.

Across locations including Dior’s Seongsu concept store in Seoul, its Sanya Swire boutique on China’s Hainan Island, and seasonal pop-ups in destinations like Mykonos, Porto Cervo and Portofino, elements like plaster seashells, rattan furniture and striped marquees will telegraph the Mediterranean theme.

Bérard’s signature painting style informs the whimsical prints in the women’s ready-to-wear collection, from the floral Dior Arabesque motif featured on items like a maxidress and a pajama set, to the hand-painted bows decorating a white denim jacket and miniskirt, and the vertical brush strokes adding depth to pastel-colored circle skirts.  

Sailor stripe tops, crochet cardigans, frilled shirtdresses and medallion-logo knits round out the offering, accessorized with variations on the Dior Médaillon and Dior Woven mules, and oversize metallic silver or gold hortensia earrings. Raffia versions of the Lady Dior come adorned with bag charms shaped like ice cream cones.

The men’s collection combines flowing shirts with casual shorts, and accessories including Dior Médaillon belts, bucket hats and shoes such as the new Dior Chester styles, including loafers and boat shoes, and Dior Rivage sandals. The signature Dior Oblique motif pops up throughout.

Anderson has also refreshed the brand’s homewares collection, deploying the Dior Arabesque print on plates, cups and notebooks, as well as an embroidered throw and cushion. Garden furniture items, including deckchairs and parasols, also feature the design, replacing the Toile de Jouy Sauvage motif of previous years.

The medallion, which Anderson has made a signature of his collections, appears on mugs and water bottles, while a cannage tray comes in the brand’s trademark pink and gray hues.

The line is completed with four exceptional pieces, including three earthenware designs created in collaboration with the Manufacture des Emaux de Longwy, the historic French masters of enamelware.

Dior began selling a beach collection at a pop-up store in Mykonos in 2018, joining the ranks of luxury brands courting customers in summer holiday destinations with in-season merchandise and convenient temporary locations.