Didn’t he once say “Black and white may be enough, but why deprive yourself of color?” Firmly anchored in the universe of the designer, the Dior VIII is made up entirely of symbols, starting with its name. Eight is a recurring number, bringing to mind the fashion house’s date of creation, October 8th, 1946, their first collection called “En Huit” (“huit” being the French word for “eight”), as well as Paris’ 8th arrondissement, location of Dior’s headquarters on the avenue Montaigne. Finally, it becomes part of an infinite circle when the number is turned on its side, symbol of an eternal timepiece for the Dior woman.
The design also tends toward reminding us of this haute couture house’s most decadent years, with the pyramid chain link motif as a souvenir of the “tailleur Bar”, the emblematic silhouette of the New Look and a revolution in its own right during the post-war years. Moreover, a harmony between creations of today and days gone by is suggested by this dynamic duo of watches that appear in neon colors as an homage to Raf Simons’ female wardrobe. From there, its reverse side is treated with just as much exigence as the lining of a dress. Made of metallic blue leather paired with pink crystals, there’s a clear contrast in shades; the black ceramic dial reenforced with stainless steel tones down the vibrant explosion so as not to stray from the classic elegance characteristic of the esprit Dior. Available in only 188 copies each, the audacity of the design combined with all the elegance of yesteryear makes for a rare flower to behold.
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