Dior shows its artistic and animal side for men’s fashion in Paris

The motifs of animals and nature that refer to childhood in the ceramics of the South African artist Hylton Nel (1941) inspired the spring-summer 2025 collection for men that Dior presented last Friday, June 21 in Paris.

A fashion that stands out for loose garments, such as printed jackets, as well as bags, one of the firm’s most successful products.

Its creative director, Kim Jones (1973), delved into the work of a conceptual artist he knows and admires. If his previous collection was inspired by the dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nuréyev and, specifically, by the photographs taken by his uncle, Colin Jones, in the 1960s, on this last occasion Nel’s ceramics were the source from which drank his fashion.

In the complex where the Val de Grâce church is located, near the Luxembourg Gardens, the models paraded on a wide catwalk, next to six large sculptures inspired by the work of Hylton Nel.

Among them was that of a cat, on whose back one could read in Spanish: “Our Lady of the Cats.” [sic]”.

In addition to comfortable three-quarter-length jackets, coats, suits – in some cases with closed collars with oriental reminiscences – and pants above and below the ankle were seen, along with flared shorts.

Prints with natural motifs were also present, with a dominant theme, nature, which, like flowers, captivated Christian Dior (1905-1957), the founder of the brand. Once again, the combination of materials was visible, although without stridency.

Autumn colors, soft tones

Most of the colors that the British designer used, rather than spring-summer, could refer to autumn. There was an absence of life, except for one yellow. Not so black, gray, brown, green or navy blue. Soft, relaxed tones, like those that reign in the work of Hylton Nel.

A “Dior for my true friends” read in English on the back of the invitation to the show, as well as on different clothes and accessories that were shown.

In the accessories section, the king was once again the bag: practically all of the models – 48 paraded – carried one in their hand.

Among the bags to highlight, a revisited Saddle model, whose shapes are reminiscent of a horse saddle, and which was seen in three sizes. On the other hand, in terms of accessories, the heads of most of the models showed a simple hat.

A ceramics collector, the first thing Jones bought from the South African artist was a plate with a dog motif that reminded him of Dexter, his own. And that he rescued to “print” it on one of the clothes that were seen.

The Dior show, the highlight of the fourth day of Paris Men’s Fashion Week, seduced as a whole, with proposals, above all, for the different stages of the day, rather than the night.