Galliano in Dior revolution

John Galliano never forsakes creativity for practicality on his catwalk events, and this week sent out models in skirts splashed with fake blood and painted skeletons to the sound of whips and clanking chains in a dramatic opening to Paris fashion week on Monday. "Red is the new libertine ... Dior is the new erotica", read the blood-red information sheet handed out at Christian Dior's spring-summer 2006 haute couture collection. The models had bleached white hair and dark rims painted round their eyes. One had 1789 tattooed on her neck, the year of the French revolution.

Even Galliano himself can't help but mesmerise his audience when he takes his bow at the end of the show. The eccentric British designer appeared dressed in black leather and flaunting a fencing sword. American Vogue's editor at Large Andre Leon Talley dubbed the show as Several outfits were see-through or revealing to show off the structure of the dresses and the detailed embroidery which take skilled French fashion workers days to sew and stitch.

25 January 2006

Sharon Stone fronts Dior perfume

Christian Dior yesterday presented sulphurous Hollywood actress Sharon Stone as the face of its new Capture Totale line, set to launch in the spring of next year. The Oscar-winning beauty joined Parfums Christian Dior ceo Claude Martinez at LVMH's Paris headquarters yesterday to make the announcement in front of an international press gathering attended by over 250 journalists

No details on the Capture Totale line have been released. “She's not chasing her 20s because she knows her age is sexy,” said Martinez of Stone, who sat next to him, decked out in a ruby velvet Dior dress. This is Stone's first deal with a beauty brand.

5 October 2005

Dior exhibition

For those who love Christian Dior, there is an exhibition from May 15 to Sept 25 in France, to mark a century of the late great genius' design.The show explores Dior's designs and influences, featuring early fashions and the artwork that inspired him. Also on show will be original garments from the 22 haute couture collections that Dior presented in the decade before his death in 1957, and creations by his successors, including Yves Saint-Laurent and John Galliano, the house's current creative director.

"Christian Dior had a very strong influence in all categories of life," says Jean-Luc Dufresne, the exhibition's curator. "He was not only a leader of fashion in the '40s and '50s, but he was very influential in artistic life between the wars." Dior started off as an art gallery owner, exhibiting the work of Neo-humanist and Surrealist painters such as Christian Bérard and Salvador Dalí. For more on this summer's fashion hot spot, tel: (44-20) 7 712 0172; www.musee-dior-granville.com.

www.dior.com
25 April 2005

It's Dior baby

June 8 sees the opening of a new Dior Baby store in Knightsbridge. For the occasion, the House of Christian Dior has created miniature versions of some of its greatest designer creations.Fur, logos galore and handmade dresses abound, but there also on offer is a range of items that won't break the bank - unless you feel compelled to buy more than one piece. There are small empire-lined cashmere dresses with matching undies, floral tiered dresses, combat trousers for the boys, cashmere hoodies and tiny ski suits. Prices start at GBP 15, so there is something for everyone.

The store will open with a garden party hosted by the face of Dior, Liberty Ross, who is also a new mother. Furthermore, John Galliano has designed an ultra soft toy bear that will be on sale for the first month of the store's opening. Proceeds of the sale will go to the CLIC Sargent charity.

www.dior.com
26 April 2005

Dior celebrates anniversary with parfum

Christian Dior has reinvented a legend with Miss Dior Chérie, a modern take on the renowned original Miss Dior fragrance, created in 1947 by Christian Dior himself. Dior often described fragrances as being "an open door to a closed world", and the company hopes that the scent will serve as a door to the luxury world for today's fun youth.

The brand describes the scent as sugar and spice. It will be embodied by Galliano's newest muse Riley Keough (Elvis Presley's granddaughter) in a print campaign to break globally along with the launch in May, with a television ad to follow.

The launch of Miss Dior Chérie coincides with the summer festivities taking place in Dior's hometown of Granville, France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. An exhibition called Christian Dior…Man of the Century will be held at the Christian Dior Museum from May 15 through September.

www.dior.com
24 March 2005

Christian Dior Centenary Celebration

This year the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary French couturier Christian Dior will be celbrated with a series of events, kicking off in May in Normandy. The main event will be a major exhibition at his childhood home in Granville - which has been turned into a museum - which will runs from 15 May to 25 September.

Christian Dior was born on 21 January 1905 in Granville, on the northwest coast of France. He started his career as a gallery owner, and spent time with famous friends like legendary actress Marlene Dietrich and composer Francis Poulenc. In 1946 he opened his fashion house on the exclusive Avenue Montaigne in Paris and died of a heart attack only a decade later, in 1957, at the age of 52. In that brief time, however, Dior managed to leave his indelible imprint on the fashion world.

His first collection earned him rave reviews and compelled Carmel Snow, the then editor-in-chief of the US Harper's Bazaar magazine, to speak of the "New Look". Dior had made it onto the fashion map.

Last week the fashion house put a number of representative Dior creations on display, including the 1947 Bar suit, which symbolized the New Look, and the long skirts that sparked major controversy in a post-war France suffering from shortages. The Dior look was completed by fitted waists and slim shoulders.

Pierre Cardin and former Dior assistant Andre Levasseur, both witnesses to Dior's meteoric rise, attended the news conference at the Dior headquarters last week to help unveil the celebrations. Cardin was Dior's first employee and worked with him for three years. "With him, I learned what true elegance was. Without him, I would not be Pierre Cardin," he said.

Dior's creative director, John Galliano, said in a statement: "He is still very much present. I wish I could have met him, and sometimes I still ask for his advice. I think we would have had a lot in common."

www.dior.com
21 March 2005

Dior's Hedi Slimane Creates Homeware

Christian Dior menswear director Hedi Slimane is more than just a fashion designer. After renovating the label's Paris atelier, he set about designing new Dior Homme stores in Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai - all the while wowing boys with his catwalk collections. His architectural ambitions then extended to the home, for which he created 'Archaism- a ten piece modular system in black epoxy-coated stainless steel and ebony intended for use as desks, seating or storage.

Each module is handmade and engraved, and inspired by furniture from Hedi's favourite epochs - to its most minimal form. He compares creating the smooth, streamlines pieces to 'making a made-to-measure tuxedo. In both, you are dealing with volume, proportions and materials, and both have a strong relationship with the body and posture.' For him, the essence of the furniture was to encourage sociability: 'You can sit and talk tête-à-tête about politics or gossip, just like people did in 18th century salons du the'.

But no matter how popular his furniture becomes, Hedi will never give up his day job. 'The furniture is a hobby. Not working in fashion? I couldn't imagine it!' The 'Archaism' range is priced from £2,900 to £4,600, from Dover Street Market, W1 London (020 7518 0680).

www.dior.com
1 February 2005

Growing sales at Dior and Richemont

Christian Dior and Richemont have shown demand for luxury goods has not been hit by flagging consumer sentiment like other retail sectors. Christian Dior - parent of the world’s biggest luxury goods group LVMH - said its 2004 sales were up six per cent to £9.17 billion. The firm - which comprises both LVMH and the Christian Dior haute couture label - also expected that business would continue on an upward trend, with forecasts for a 25 per cent growth in operating profit at its couture arm to £34.8m.

At Christian Dior couture, whose collections are designed by John Galliano, Hedi Slimane and Victoire de Castellane, sales rose 12 per cent in the fourth quarter, helped by strong growth in Asia and the United States. That took full-year turnover growth at the couture label - which sells goods at 184 worldwide boutiques - to 18 per cent on an underlying basis, to £414.5 million.

Meanwhile, Richemont’s sales rose nine per cent during the key Christmas quarter on fresh customer interest for expensive gems, as jewellery and watch sales shone, the company said. Stripping out the effects of exchange-rate movements, sales rose 13 per cent in the October-December period, the Swiss group said. The group’s jewellery brands, including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, saw a seven per cent rise in sales in the October-December period.

www.dior.com
25 January 2005

Dior excels in Japan

Ever since its conception following World War II, the French couture house Christian Dior has made an impact on the world. Women gravitated towards the post-war cinched-waist look, which was a novelty after the war. Dior's first fashion show - which took place in the wake of the devastating war - was proclaimed a fashion revolution.

The house's new look, propagated by Dior's top designer John Galliano, also attracts the necessary attention. Galliano's outlandish and extravagant designs never fail to inspire. Both Hollywood and royalty enjoy his creations and the house is also known for designing custom-made bridal gowns for royal weddings.

Dior first appeared in Japan with a fashion show in 1953, with the cooperation of Daimaru Inc. The show is believed to have been the first fashion show ever to be held in Japan. Later on, Kanebo Ltd. acquired Dior's domestic production license. However, when the French government strengthened its regulation policy on brand-name goods in 1997, Dior turned to selling imported goods only.

Sales in Japan now account for 15% of Dior's global sales. Dior boutiques have been opening in Japan in rapid succession in a bid to double sales by 2007. The fashion house opened boutiques in Tokyo's up-market district Omotesando in December 2003, in Kobe in August 2004 and in Ginza in October 2004.

www.dior.com
18 January 2005

Catty Cardin

Fashion is not always known for its kind nature, and critics are always lurking around the next corner. However, Dior's head designer, John Galliano, had the fashion world rallying around him when legendary designer Pierre Cardin critiqued his designs in an interview with Reuters.

Cardin referred to Galliano's designs as "a spectacle". "You can't walk in shoes like that or hats like that - to go where? You go to dinner and you need three chairs to sit down", he told Reuters. Cardin previously worked for Christian Dior from 1946 to 1954, and was known for his futuristic designs in the 1960s. "It's very beautiful," he continued, "but it's not fashion, it's something else. It's costume."

The fashion world was in an uproar at Cardin's remarks and was quick to defend l'enfant terrible, Galliano. Indeed, Galliano's shows for Dior are famously extravagant and eccentric, however, these are supposedly very good for the business. They draw the necessary attention to the couture house and provide fodder for the fashion press. However, once the collection actually hits the shops, the individual pieces are wearable and practical.

As the outlandish milliner, Philip Treacy, said: "People understand that what you see on the catwalk is not what you see in the shops. It is there to make you dream."

What Galliano's defenders say is true; catwalk creations are there to inspire the public rather than instruct them. This is a common misconception. Many people misunderstand the message that couturiers like to send. They try to recreate a beautiful, imaginary world that serves as a backdrop for their exquisite pieces. However, the individual pieces are rarely impossible to wear. And if ever there was an industry that welcomed flamboyant creativity, it has to be the fashion industry.

Designer Bella Freud summed the situation up beautifully: "Just because he doesn't understand something doesn't mean it's not relevant. It's sour grapes."

www.dior.com
17 January 2005

Gate crashing, anyone?

The only way to make the attendance of an haute couture fashion show even more desirable is to slash the guest list in half. This is what enfant terrible of the fashion set, John Galliano, has done for his upcoming Christian Dior show.

According to Dior it was not its intention to increase the level of exclusivity of the show. The cut in invitations is reportedly due Galliano's decision to choose a new show configuration and décor, allowing a limited amount of bodies inside. Previously, 1,200 lucky fashionistas were allowed to witness the popular shows, but the guest list is now been shortened to a mere 500.

www.dior.com
10 January 2005

Dior exec moves to Gucci

Gucci Group today said Valerie Hermann will be leaving Christian Dior to be the new chief executive of the Yves Saint Laurent brand. Hermann, who will start at YSL in the second quarter of 2005, has headed women's ready-to-wear at Dior since 1999.

She replaces James McArthur, an executive vice president of Gucci Group who has been filling the YSL position during the recruitment of a new chief executive. McArthur has been the interim chief executive since October, when Mark Lee left YSL to head up the group's star Gucci brand.

The YSL post was the last major hole in Gucci Group's new management team, following the departure of many top executives after Ford and CEO Domenico De Sole left the company.

www.dior.com
>> more Gucci at FashionUnited
>> more YSL at FashionUnited
5 January 2005

New Dior Watch

The brand new Chiffre Rouge Dior wristwatch for men, designed by menswear designer Hedi Slimane is now on sale at Dior Homme stores. Slimane, who has been creative director for Dior's ready-to-wear and accessories, is a Swiss national and lived in Geneva for a number of years. He is therefore no stranger to the art of watchmaking.

The new watch incorporates the automatic mechanical movement "el primero" by Zenith, which is by all accounts the most precise movement in the world. The date indicator is red for enhanced visibility, and there is a small diamond hidden on the reverse side. The watch comes in three models.

www.lvhm.com
11 November 2004

Fine Art meets High Fashion

When Christian Dior's new flagship store opens in Ginza, Japan, next week, it promises to be a true feast for the eyes. Creations by John Galliano, Hedi Slimane and Victoire de Castellane will be sharing space with masterpieces by Renoir, Klimt, Van Gogh, Picasso and Andy Warhol.

All this beauty will be shared with famous faces such as Lou Doillon and Milla Jovovich, who both attended the Dior show in Paris this month, and will witness the Ginza opening firsthand.

www.dior.com
20 October 2004

Through Dior's Eyes

Christian Dior insists this season's must-have is a pair of its contact lenses, stamped with a CD logo. Dior claims the initials are practical because you can see if the lenses are the right side up. Could clever advert-eye-sing have something to do with it?

www.dior.com
15 October 2004

Schoolboy New Face Of Dior

A 15-year-old schoolboy talent-spotted by a model agency while at a music festival has beaten a host of established male models to promote clothes for fashion giant Christian Dior. Johnny Hood, from Brechin, Angus, is being tipped for stardom after featuring in an advertising campaign for Dior's new denim jeans.

Dior's head designer Hedi Slimane flew Johnny from Scotland to London for the photoshoot. "We see a very bright future for Johnny as a male model," said Dean Clear-Patterson, of Oxygen Model Management in London. Oxygen's Vicky Heath spotted Johnny at the Guilfest music festival in Guildford, Surrey.

www.dior.com
11 October 2004

Dior Report Profit

Groupe Christian Dior, which controls the Christian Dior Couture fashion design business and luxury product giant LVMH, reported on Monday that first-half profits had surged by 58.6 percent. Net profit after minority payments was 157 million euros from 99 million euros in the same period of last year. Operating profit rose by 14.0 percent to 1.006 billion euros from 880 million euros and net current profit by 36 percent to 217 million euros from 159 million euros.

The group said that it expected Christian Dior Couture to achieve a strong increase in operating profit in the full year after a very strong performance in July and August. Trends for Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) were also highly favourable and the group stood by a forecast that operating profits for the year would rise strongly.

www.dior.com
22 September 2004

Dior Couture going strong

Christian Dior Couture, the fashion and accessories division of Christian Dior, enjoyed a very profitable first half, with operating profits climbing 37%. This despite a stock dip of 0.10% for the company.
Christian Dior Couture sales rose by 20% at constant exchange rates for the first half. The strength of its sales figures was largely due to the succesful collections by designers John Galliano and Hedi Slimane.
Women's accessories also did particularly well, especially John Galliano's "Rasta" bags and shoes, edged in red, green and gold.
Bernard Arnault, Chairman, plans on developing sales locations to support sales growth. This year shops will be opening in cities like Prague, Houston, Taipei and Waikiki. The Dior label currently has 172 shops worldwide.

www.dior.com
22 september 2004

Dior Recruits Charlize Theron

Actress Charlize Theron is to be the new face of Christian Dior's sensual perfume J'adore, pitting her against fellow Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who will launch a similar campaign for Chanel.

Theron is due to star in print and television advertisements for J'adore starting in the autumn, a spokeswoman for Parfums Christian Dior told Reuters last week.

www.dior.com
16 August 2004

Dior Fit For Museum

Haute couture designer John Galliano awed the celebrity crowd at Paris' Dior Show with fashions reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Europe. The detail and craftsmanship of Galliano's designs at this week's show made the fashions instant museum pieces in the first history couture show the noted designer has done since his Belle Epoque show seven years ago, the International Herald Tribune reported Thursday.

www.dior.com
9 July 2004

Swedish Actor Discovered By Dior

He may not have won an Oscar, but Swedish actor Andreas Wilson didn't leave the Academy Awards empty handed. Instead, the actor from the film Evil was awarded a modeling contract for Christian Dior, to be directed by no one other than David Lynch.

The young actor made his first film appearance in Evil, which was nominated in the best foreign film category. Wilson was not even supposed to attend the Oscars, but got a ticket at the last minute. At the event he was discovered by Dior.

The new advertising film will be out this May.

www.dior.com
15 May 2004

J'Adore Dior

Christian Dior opened its first stand-alone store in travel retail at Heathrow airport on November 11. The 35m2 Studio Voyage store is located in the main concourse of the airport's terminal four and forms part of the retailer World Duty Free (BAA).

The store will focus primarily on exclusive travel-retail line Dior Voyage, and will host a 'play station' area, where customers can test products. "We see this as an opportunity to express the brand in a broader way, by testing new concepts and highlighting categories such as travel-retail exclusives, as well as capturing an additional market. The standalone comes in addition to our presence in the [terminal's] main cosmetics and perfumes store," Parfums Christian Dior international director travel retailing André de Bausset recently stated.

Although the company has no plans to open additional travel-retail standalones, it reveals it is keeping an eye out for suitable airport locations. Having experienced a tough first half, Parfums Christian Dior now expects its worldwide travel retail business in 2003 to be flat against last year.

27 November 2003
www.dior.com

Dior Fashions Up The Slopes

Looking fabulous on the slopes has never been easier. No longer do fashion conscious skiers have to worry about coming down the mountain looking like giant snowballs. Not, according to John Galliano at Dior, who aims to send his customers down the slopes in style.

Launching his ski range this Friday, Galliano promised to make women look chic both on the piste and off. "I wanted the line to be feminine, luxurious, and sexy. The challenge was to mix creativity with practicality."

Sexy bomber jackets with zip-off sleeves and quilted down coats are waterproof and softened up with fox-fur trims. The ultimate in function and femininity. Accessories include signature apres-ski boots, ski masks and goggles in bright snow-white, red, black, and Dior Jean logo blue.

The collection will be sold at Dior boutiques worldwide, including Courcheval, France, and Aspen.

30 October 2003
www.dior.com

Christian Dior Profits Rise

Christian Dior has posted a 34 percent rise in first-half net profit and reaffirmed its goal for a significant rise in operating profits for the full year.

Net profit for the French luxury goods group rose to 159 million euros from 119 million, thanks to lower interest payments on its debt, which it said dropped by more than one billion euros from a year earlier.

Operating profit pushed up to 880 million euros from 844 million, with the company citing market share increases at its leading brands, including Louis Vuitton and its wine and spirits businesses.

Christian Dior Couture, the company's small fashion arm, saw sales rise 10 percent to 236 million euros -- a 20 percent gain at constant exchange rates.

Operating profit at the couture house increased 27 percent, thanks to the success of the John Galliano and Hedi Slimane collections and the brand's strength in Japan, the company said.

Overall sales at the Dior group, which includes luxury goods giant LVMH and the Dior couture house, fell to 5.46 billion euros from 6.03 billion. LVMH reported first-half results on Friday.

September 16, 2003
www.dior.com

Dior on the Rise

John Galliano and Hedi Slimane are turning out to be the fashion world's dynamic duo, as sales at Christian Dior rose 10 per cent to 236m Euro.

The results are bound to put a smile on the face of Bernard Arnault, the luxury goods tycoon who controls Christian Dior, and by extension LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. LVMH is expected to report earnings this week.

By contrast, rival Pinault-Printemps-Redoute said yesterday that second-quarter sales fell 9.7 percent, while sales at Gucci Group, of which PPR owns 64.5 percent, fell 6.7 percent for the February-to-April period.

21 July 2003
www.dior.com

Haute So Beautiful

It's the time of year again when the haute couture shows hit the runway in Paris. Opened by Dior and Versace, each house made a return to the roots of its inspiration. Dior was back to his magnificent self with Galliano taking us on a journey to dance culture, taking in Charleston, cha-cha, tango and hip hop. The show opened with a group of flamenco gypsies dressed in flounced skirts and corsetry and fluidly turned into a ballet with beautiful dresses exploding with ballroom ruffles a la Swan lake.

Versace left the hard-edge glam look to rock-and-roll on its own, and instead opted for a lighter and airier femininity in chiffon and feather embroidery. No more metallic colours and chains and studs, it was a focus on all things graceful and delicate with layered ruches of silk tulle and organza.

The couture shows in Paris highlight the fashion doldrums of summer, when the shops are emblazoned with sales, and shopping becomes a mad fight for that Prada handbag you've been eyeing all season, but could not justify to purchase. On the other hand, the Parisian shows have a knack of inspiring us what creative fashion is all about and to have seen a John Galliano extravaganza is to know that fashion isn't all bland and commercial. While most budgets do not stretch to include the cost of a GBP 30,000 couture dress, the thrill of the new season underway coupled with seeing designers in their best of elements is haute so beautiful.

8 July 2003
www.dior.com

Dior Goes Higher

LVMH-owned Parfums Christian Dior is to capture a new market with its Higher fragrance. Launched in the UK this September, Higher energy is the new men's fragrance, created for a younger consumer.

A young, urban image will be communicated through a major advertising campaign including press and tv spots, posters and sampling.

The company hopes Higher energy will reach the top 10 worldwide.

4 July 2003
www.dior.com

Christian Dior reports record year

Christian Dior Couture achieved operating income in 2002 of EUR 33 million, representing very strong growth over 2001. Sales for Christian Dior Couture in 2002 grew by 41 per cent to EUR 492 million.

In a difficult global environment, this exceptional performance can be attributed to the great success of collections from John Galliano and growing acclaim for those from Heidi Slimane for Dior Homme.

The opening of 28 new stores in 2002, brought the Dior network up to 144 stores. In 2003, the creation and launch of new products along with the expanded store network will allow Christian Dior Couture to achieve further tangible growth in both sales and operating income.

www.dior.com
March 8, 2003

Dior Homme in NY

Dior Homme is slated to open a 2000 sq. feet boutique in the LVMH mega-store on 57th street in New York, later this year. It will be the first time since Hedi Slimane took over design duties at Dior Homme, that the men's and women's divisions of the fashionable company will be housed under the same roof. However, it's doubtful that this initiative will facilitate his and her shopping trips for rich Manhattan couples. Galliano's girls and Hedi's hommes are an unlikely match.

February 27, 2003
www.diorhomme.com

Dior and the City

Christian Dior has launched a new range of make-up products which are a must have for the urban woman. Dior terms this collection as 'glamourous, whimsical and wonderful'. The collection is a 'must have' for the fashion conscious woman. Very much in vogue, the new Christian Dior, new look make-up, is for the adventurous urban woman who is always on the move.

It's an unconventional, contemporary palette with two mysterious iridescent shades, with the make-up surface created with the magic of laser technology. The other additions offer a change of scene with added formulae to eye shadows and polish, that change colour when seen in different angles, in different light.

The lipsticks come in dominating colours of red and brown. There are shades of chocolate, and provocative and bewitching reds. Two colours that stand out are the Diorific Plastic Shine and the Rouge Diorfic. The former is maybe mistaken for a lip gloss, as it comes with a shiny and classy look.

January 4, 2003

Dior changes Addict campaign

Christian Dior has confirmed that it is making changes to its controversial Addict campaign. Insiders claim that the cosmetics giant has finally bowed to pressure from drug and alcohol dependence groups over its explicit creatives.

The offending image, which features mannequin Liberty Ross, with a Dior Addict bottle and the tag line Admit It, caused campaigners much worry as they felt it glorified addiction and undermined their recovery programs. The company has now pledged to drop the tagline from the Dior website, upcoming promotional material and forthcoming adverts.

January 31, 2003
www.diorhomme.com

Great results for Dior Couture

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA last Friday said that profits at its Christian Dior Couture fashion house grew fifty per cent in 2002 to nearly 500 million USD. A spokesman for the world's biggest luxury goods company said that the brand LVMH is seeking to turn into its second sector powerhouse after Louis Vuitton had "good profitability" in 2002, leaving it in the black at the operating level for the first time after years of hefty investment in the brand.

LVMH mogul Bernard Arnault acquired the Dior fashion house in 1984, four years before buying a controlling interest in the luxury goods giant through the Christian Dior SA (F.DIO) holding structure. In 2001, Dior's fashion operations generated 350 million euros in revenue, and LVMH said the division was close to break-even at operating profit level.
The numbers don't include figures for Dior fragrances, reported separately as part of LVMH's cosmetics and perfumes division.

January 22, 2002
www.diorhomme.com

Dior Homme unveils new jeans and accessories

Dior Homme has unveiled its own extensive collection of haute denim, wanting to move into the growing market of luxury jeans. Woven on a traditional Japanese wool loom, the denim canvas takes on a ring effect, which is then finished with a variety of treatments, from classic rough indigo or black, to burnt and painted versions, as well as grilled or lustré gabardine in gray or white. This 'haute couture' treatment creates one of a kind pieces in a limited edition.

The Dior line is designed by Hedi Slimane and will be available in two different cuts. The Jeans, priced from 180€ to 420€, will be available in European boutiques, and multi-brand stores, as of January 2003.

For the ultimate cool look, Dior has also released a new line of Back Tie Eyewear, exclusively in black with dark gray lenses or clear 100%UV-protective lenses, that can be worn as either sunglasses or optical frames. The Dior Homme footwear line has also recently been augmented. The shoes are already available in the European boutiques, and should hit multi-brand stores beginning in January.

www.diorhomme.com
11 december 2002