Fashion lovers have been waiting with bated breath for Jonathan Anderson’s first collection for Dior since it was announced in April that he would helm menswear at the fashion house. The anticipation grew when it was revealed in June that Anderson would lead womenswear, couture and accessories as well, a historic level of power for one creative director at the brand. Adding to the excitement is the fact that it comes on the heels of Anderson’s stunning reinvention of Loewe. On Friday at Paris Fashion Week, his eagerly awaited inaugural, Spring/Summer 2026 collection debuted, giving a taste of what’s to come for the brand in the Jonathan Anderson era.
In approaching the Spring collection, the designer thought deeply about Christian Dior himself. As he told The Cut, animating his process were the questions “Who was this person, and why did he make all of these decisions?” The Cut also reports that the fabrics Anderson used were based on swatches from the first two Dior collections. Christian Dior was fascinated with the 18th century, so Anderson explored that era, in addition to incorporating more-modern references, like Andy Warhol’s portraits of Lee Radziwill and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The looks have the same blend of humor and grace that characterized Anderson’s designs for his own JW Anderson brand and then for Loewe. The iconic Dior Bar jacket appeared conceived in a Donegal tweed and paired with a pair of voluminous cargo shorts with draping folds that recall the fashion house’s 1948 Delft gown. It may take Anderson several seasons to fully settle into his role at Dior, but he’s made a very promising start.
