Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Men Debut Is Sooner Than You Think

During the annual LVMH shareholders call on Thursday, Bernard Arnault confirmed the news that the fashion world has been anticipating for months: Jonathan Anderson is the new artistic director of Dior Men.

The LVMH kingpin also disclosed an unexpected scoop: Anderson’s debut is only two months away. The designer is set to unveil his vision for Dior Men at Paris Fashion Week in June. June 27 at 2:30 p.m., to be exact, according to a subsequent press release circulated by Dior.

Anderson’s next move has been the talk of the industry since last September, when he took a tearful bow at a Loewe runway show that had the emotional weight (and aesthetic crescendo) of a grand finale. Though designer-swap rumors are a dime a dozen these days, it’s fair to say that Anderson’s career has taken on a genuine importance inside and out of fashion.

In his 11 years at Loewe, Anderson—funny, whip-smart, boyish, and a little nerdy—followed his taste in art and knack for imaginative silhouettes to turn a once-obscure Spanish leather label into a “cultural brand” that charmed casual shoppers and wowed elite tastemakers. All while continuing to evolve his language of humorous, conceptual menswear at his London-based JW Anderson label.

By the time the designer departed Loewe in March, it was clear that if we were in for a men’s fashion vibe shift, it would be led by Anderson, who has real modern range: he has made audiences look at the men’s suit in a new way, and has also inspired a viral meme about an heirloom tomato.

At that point, his destination was an open secret—the talk of Paris Fashion Week was that he was already punching the clock at the Dior studio, where he succeeds Kim Jones on the men’s side of the atelier. Still, without an official confirmation of his appointment, and amidst further speculation about LVMH’s plans to hand him the keys to Dior womenswear, it was unclear when we would see what he’s evidently been working on. Further questions remain: In his new role, will Anderson still be Luca Guadagnino’s go-to costume designer? What does it mean for JW Anderson? Will Daniel Craig be holding down the front row in June?

For his part, Anderson wasted no time giving us a sneak peek. Shortly after the news broke, he posted a photo on Instagram of the back of a blue striped men’s shirt. Pinned to it is a label of a retro house logo. Anderson’s caption said it all: “Dior.”