Right now, Kris Van Assche is probably settling into his new Berluti office. His new role at the menswear maison up and running, closing the chapter to his 11 years of legacy at Dior Homme.
But not quite yet. The Belgian designer’s final collection was shown back in January for the upcoming Fall 2018 season. And in an ode to Van Assche’s epilogue is an emblematic in-between capsule collection: The Dior Homme Gold.
Serving as a prelude to the Fall 2018 offering, the Gold lineup extracts the symbolic Christian Dior Atelier logo, which appeared in January’s show intact with its storied address — 3 Rue de Marignan — as textual heritage signals, on t-shirts and bomber jackets. Though this time for Gold, they come ennobled in 18k gold threads. Yes, you read that right, actual gold.
The rich golden embroidery details form logos on the back of a tee, on a sweatshirt, or dappled as a chaotic beauty of an all-over print on a shirt. While the house’s hallmark bees land smack dab on the pocket of a pair of jeans, on the collar of a tee or peppered on a single-breasted blazer. All the pieces are offset in black — which makes an apt, sleek canvas to the poetic detailing.
Likewise for accessories and footwear. While not done in gold, bee stamps loiter on leather pouches and small bags, or gleaming patent derbies and loafers. The all-0ver Christian Dior Atelier print recurs on classic tennis sneakers.
The Gold capsule brings forth Van Assche’s progressive vision of traversing the line between masculine and romantic, history and modernity. There may be a completely different set of style codes in the making under new artistic director Kim Jones, come Spring 2019. But this indelible fusion of tradition with luxe, street-inspired elements will lavishly tide you over until the next evolution of the Dior Homme man. It’s gold standard tailoring, after all.
The Dior Homme Gold capsule collection is available in boutiques now.
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