The final months of last year saw a flurry of creative debuts across the fashion world—Blazy at Chanel, Demna at Gucci, Piccioli at Balenciaga. Few of these partnerships, however, were as closely watched or as relentlessly parsed and dissected as Jonathan Anderson’s arrival at Dior. With the unveiling of the house’s Spring/Summer 2026 campaign, Anderson once again invites us to scrutinise his vision of Dior—this time on his own terms.
A major talking point ahead of Anderson’s Dior debut was whether the house’s codes would stifle his trademark whimsy, as his offbeat creations at Loewe had a particular ability to drive internet discourse. Remember the tomato clutch that went from meme to reality? The Irish creative’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, with its imaginative recoding of iconic pieces like the Bar jacket and Junon gown, laid many concerns to rest, and the recently unveiled global campaign only underscores his mastery of the Dior canon.
Unsurprisingly, the campaign is fronted by longtime Anderson muse Greta Lee, joined by fellow Dior ambassador Kylian Mbappé. Rounding out the cast are actors Louis Garrel and Paul Kircher, as well as models Laura Kaiser, Sunday Rose, and Saar Mansvelt Beck. Billed as a “study on character,” the images balance the wit and warmth of Anderson’s Dior with a more reserved, almost aristocratic setting. The theatrical character study format itself is familiar, with Demna’s feisty La Famiglia portraits coming to mind, but Anderson’s interpretation feels looser and more transitional. The Dior family is pictured in moments of movement rather than fixed poses: Lee twirls in the opening look of the SS26 show, a tea-length white gown, while Mbappé and actor Louis Garrel are captured in luxurious repose.
The backdrop of prim parquet floors and crisp white linen acts at times in contrast with the whimsy of Anderson’s designs, at others, to heighten it. When Mbappé lounges in grey knitwear, a Normandie tote perched on his knee, it’s almost in rebuke to the pristine silverware setting across him; as Garrel contemplates a single cherry à la Hamlet, his cravat and crisp white shirt add to the theatricality of the image. Shot by David Sims, the images breathe life into the collection, highlighting its eccentricities and details.
A few choice accessories from the SS26 collection also take centre stage. The Bow and Cigale bags, with their playful reimagining of house codes, are set to be standout stars for the upcoming season, as is the boldly colourful Book Tote featuring a first edition cover of Dracula. As the collection hits stores this month, the campaign is a reminder of something we already knew—that Anderson’s creative vision, when combined with Dior’s storied heritage, marks a new era.
Ahead, get a closer look at Dior’s co-ed Spring/Summer 2026 campaign.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
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