Jonathan Anderson has been given carte blanche at Dior.
The Northern Irish designer will take over as creative director of the LVMH-owned French maison, after more than a decade at the helm of fellow luxury label Loewe. The 40-year-old will head Dior women’s wear, men’s wear, and couture, becoming the first sole creative director of the house since Christian Dior himself.
“I have always been inspired by the rich history of this house, its depth, and empathy,” Anderson said in an Instagram post on Monday morning. “I look forward to working alongside its legendary ateliers to craft the next chapter of this incredible story.”
Anderson graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2005, before launching his eponymous brand JW Anderson in 2008. He was appointed creative director of Loewe in 2013, leading the LVMH-owned label for some 11 years before eventually stepping down in March 2025. Anderson is known for creating edgy designs that capture the zeitgeist. He is behind the stunning iridescent gown Ariana Grande wore to the 2024 Met Gala, the iconic red boilersuit that Rihanna rocked at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and the colourful patchwork cardigan Harry Styles sported on stage in 2020, for example. He also helped take Loewe from a small Spanish leather goods brand to a major luxury player.
Still, Anderson has some big Dior loafers to fill. Italian fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was the creative director of Dior women’s wear for nine years (from 2016 to 2025), while British fashion designer Kim Jones was the artistic director of Dior men’s wear for seven years (from 2018 to 2025). By assuming their respective roles, Anderson will be tasked with creating 10 different collections a year. He will also be expected to improve Dior’s financial position. The maison is currently worth an estimated US$9 billion, but was publicly identified as an underperformer in the 2024 financial results by LVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis, according to The New York Times.
Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury behemoth LVMH, seems confident Anderson is the right man for the job, though. The billionaire Frenchman described the Irishman as “one of the greatest creative talents of his generation” while announcing his appointment, the Times reported.
At least we won’t have to wait too long to see what the new creative director has in store for Dior. Anderson will debut his first men’s wear collection for the house during Paris Fashion Week this June.
This story was previously published on Robb Report USA.
