Dior Day always brings out the best of the best and this season was no exception as frenzied fans waited eagerly outside the doors to catch a glimpse of the famous faces on Kim Jones’ front row, including Robert Pattinson, Thomas Doherty, Louis Garrel, Micheal Ward, Aron Piper and cktrl. Guests received an invite printed with the phrase, “Dior for all my friends,” in a pouch with a painted pooch on the front, which proved to be a subtle hint at what we could expect to see this season. Taking over the Church of the Val-de-Grâce, once inside the venue guests were greeted by a series of large-scale ceramics by South African artist Hylton Nel whose artworks lay at the centre of Jones’ collection.

The first model hit the runway holding one of Nel’s ceramic creations in hand as Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting blasted through the speakers – perfect for a collection imbued with the same sense of escapism and wonder. Taking Nel’s core motifs and translating them through Dior’s exquisite craft saw Jones deliver tailoring, knits and sweaters adorned with playful prints and constructed with ceramic fastenings. Sleek collarless suiting arrived in charcoal grey and iridescent green, highlighting Jones’ impeccable couture craft. Woven bucket hats sat atop models’ heads adorned with ceramic charms dangling from the rim in a further nod to Nel’s artistic practice and a new iteration of the classic saddle bag arrived in micro form with a chunky chain handle.

Jones indulged in the maison’s streetwear touches, notably in trek-inspired 3D-printed sneakers which stomped down the runway on foot. Tailored shorts paired with sleeveless knits was a staple silhouette, arriving in hues of chocolate brown and canary yellow while outerwear was drawn in rounded silhouettes and workwear-inspired coats offered a heavy top layer. Building on the whimsical world referenced in Nel’s artwork, as models returned for the finale the venue was drenched in a vibrant orange hue as Jones took his bow among Nel’s colourful creatures.