MILAN, ITALY — Deepening the ties that unite Dior and Italy, the House is unveiling a House of Dior on Via Monte Napoleone, an epicentre of luxury and creativity. Both intimate and open to the city, this new address brings together French art de vivre and the Milanese spirit.
Set within a historic building, the House establishes its distinctive tone from the very first window displays. Entirely crafted from fabric offcuts sourced from Dior’s ateliers, joyful animated vignettes form a landscape inspired by the gardens of Milan.
Dior Flagship in Milan. Photograph: Jonathan Taylor
Looks created by Jonathan Anderson are revealed beneath wisteria and lemon trees, while a charming menagerie – an owl, a flamingo and squirrels – playfully makes its way into the boutique. Nature and the beauty of gardens, essential sources of inspiration for Christian Dior, infuse this three-storey space, conceived by architect Peter Marino, with a profound sense of harmony. This guiding thread finds luxuriant expression in living walls, terraces and inner courtyards designed by landscape architect Peter Wirtz.
The interior enters into dialogue with the exterior through numerous windows that welcome natural light and open a wealth of views and perspectives. Around a central glass roof, the Women’s and Men’s universes radiate. Through light-toned materials and pared-back lines, the codes of the historic 30 Montaigne encounter the elegance of Italy’s capital of fashion and design: couture without ceremony, heritage without nostalgia.
Dior Flagship in Milan. Photograph: Jonathan Taylor
Accessories, shoes, leather goods and Men’s ready-to-wear are presented on the ground floor. Two majestic staircases lead to the first floor, home to the Women’s collections created by Jonathan Anderson. Shoes are displayed alongside signature bags – including precious editions of the Lady Dior – and high jewellery creations by Victoire de Castellane. The Men’s wardrobe is likewise renewed, from ready-to-wear to made-to-measure, spanning tailoring and formalwear. Fragrances from La Collection Privée, together with a selection of decorative objects for the home, complete this exceptional offering.
Dior Flagship in Milan. Photograph: Jonathan Taylor
On the second floor, mouldings inspired by Parisian apartments frame private salons and a beauty room, creating a more intimate, hushed atmosphere. True to Christian Dior’s discerning eye as a gallerist, this address makes art a living presence, never merely decorative. It thus resonates with Milan and its energy, where inventiveness and the arts in all their forms converge. Echoing this creative vitality, artworks punctuate the space, including a portrait of Monsieur Dior by Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Dior Flagship in Milan. Photograph: Jonathan Taylor
Also conceived by Peter Marino, the Monsieur Dior by Enrico Bartolini restaurant offers a delectable interlude in a light-filled setting enhanced by a painting by Francesco Clemente – an ode to the natural world. Two Italian perspectives in dialogue. Deeply attached to his Tuscan roots and at home in Milan, Italy’s most Michelin-starred chef presents a culinary interpretation of the House’s symbols: traditional yet inventive, meticulous yet effortlessly natural.
Conceived as a bespoke experience, this virtuoso menu explores the art of layering, drawing on the flavours and colours of a sun-drenched country to bring gastronomy and couture into dialogue. Silhouettes, motifs and textures are transformed into wondrous creations – dreams to be savoured.
by Chidozie Obasi