From Paris, where it was first revealed in 2017, to London, Shanghai, Chengdu, New York and Tokyo, the exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams continues to enjoy unprecedented success, from one dream stopover to the next. Of late, it has touched down in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, to reveal itself in a new light and recount the story of the ties, connections and passions forged between Dior and this singular country. Orchestrated by the curator Florence Müller and set designer Nathalie Crinière, this fresh narrative once again places the House’s symbols and its patrimony into perspective. The prism of the Middle East’s infinitely rich cultural heritage provides another captivating look at a fabulous destiny in perpetual motion. 

The visit begins with an enchanting walk through 30 Montaigne, the cardinal point of Christian Dior’s desires and women’s happiness: the “kingdom of dreams” where the House’s haute couture collections are born. A foray into the heart of the Dior legend, and an invitation to an extraordinary journey through time. 

From 1947 to today, the House’s successive Creative Directors are highlighted in portraits by the artist Yan Pei-Ming. In a refined atmosphere, the painter’s poetic images are superimposed onto Christian Dior’s successors – from Yves Saint Laurent to Maria Grazia Chiuri (since 2016), and including Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano and Raf Simons. Among the odyssey’s highlights is a tour through the creative effervescence of the Sixties. On September 11^th, 1967, a new page in Dior’s history was written when, at 11 bis rue François-I^er, the House unveiled its very first ready-to-wear line, Miss Dior, designed by Philippe Guibourgé. That revolution comes back to life in a unique space with a resolutely Pop spirit that transcribes the freshness and energy of the new fashion. The ardour and femininity of “Miss Dior” translates olfactorily in the delightful notes of the eponymous perfume, whose origin story and multiple facets are celebrated and showcased in an installation by the artist Eva Jospin. 

Seguing from one Dior code to the next, the House’s cherished themes unfold in turn – from the excellence of the Ateliers to the aura of the emblematic J’adore, from the Palace of Versailles to sumptuous balls – while the Colorama, a wonderful cabinet of curiosities, underscores the essential role of Dior accessories in a living fresco that dialogues with artwork by Joël Andrianomearisoa.

Christian Dior’s steadfast love of art is illustrated in the heart of a dream gallery, where flourish multiple iterations of the must-have Lady Dior, created over the course of nine editions of the Dior Lady Art project, a creative laboratory for wonderful artistic collaborations with talents from all over the world, among them the Saudi artist Manal Al Dowayan. 

Reflecting a shared fascination for the splendours of nature, an enchanting gallery, a tribute to the authentic and well-preserved beauty of the Al-‘Ula oasis – an ancient treasure in Medina Province – presents a series of dresses in hypnotic hues evoking the sun as it illuminates the desert. As a final surprise, a delightful stroll concludes the visit and illustrates Christian Dior’s infatuation with the plant world – a subtle nod to the meaning of Riyadh (“gardens” in Arabic) – in a selection of looks elevated with delicate ornamentations or romantic prints. A unique experience that resonates with more than seventy years of creative audacity initiated by Christian Dior’s pioneering vision and his passion for world cultures.