‘Kim Jones, that’s it. That’s the tweet,’ was my initial reaction to the DIOR Men SS21 collection.
How did KIM JONES manage to reach such emotional, cultural, and of course sartorial virtuosity?
Well, Dior Men’s artistic director possesses an informed and layered vision of the world.
His nomadic upbringing – he’s spent time in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana – surely attest to it.
Kim Jones is familiar with the continent, its cultures, and its creative resources.
He also surrounds himself with a group of creatives including super stylist Melanie Ward, fashion’s Mad Hatter STEPHEN JONES, and jewellery maverick slash all round cool girl Yoon Ahn.
This season, Jones – who’s an art lover and collector – called upon Ghanaian painter Amoako Boafo.
The collaboration was seemingly in the works since the pair met in Miami in 2019. The collection was released coincidentally at the convenient moment when seeing Black artists praised in such an honest and passionate way is important.
Bear in mind it isn’t a political collection. It isn’t a response to the current social climate. It isn’t paying homage to BLACK LIVES MATTER.
It is on the other hand, premonitory. Such artistic conversation between a renowned fashion designer and a prominent African painter is one-of-a-kind.
It demonstrates that Christian Dior, a symbol of French elegance and craftsmanship, can exist outside the confines of Paris.
It’s the successful encounter of haute couture DNA in the hands of Kim Jones and the unique textured portraiture style of Boafo. The successful union of fashion and art is rare, most of the time it is trivialised. Here, it’s simply stunning.
If this inaugural digital fashion week was particularly excruciating, Kim Jones’s outing will soothe our frustrations.
The clothes are exciting to look at, hold hanger-appeal and are therefore quite inviting. They exude the sort of luxury that starts with the elegance of the mind.
It’s seen in a modern frock coat, in sleeveless suit jackets, or in blousons boasting the technical prowess of the Dior ateliers. The latter feature inlays bordered with passementeries.
Floral shirts with matching scarves to elevate anyone’s summer wardrobe. Items so desirable they’d send one straight to the stores. It’s in the oomph of short shorts, or the discreet charm of a sleek chocolate bag.
The cummerbund and lemon-lime beret are now mandatory to upgrade one’s fashion credentials. But the piece de resistance is a shirt featuring a woven pattern of ivy from one of Boafo’s works, reminiscent of a 1950 evening gown by Monsieur Dior. What else could one ask for?
The way Kim Jones incorporates the work of artists always feels right. There is neither suspicion of cultural appropriation nor valid accusations of Eurocentrism. This collection comes from a place of appreciation. The designer brought to life the portraits of Amoako Boafo instead of taking advantage of them. That’s why it’s authentic. Kim Jones simply doesn’t miss a beat, and we have been left with no other option but to stan. So yeah, that was the tweet.
