‘The ingredients we use when cooking are just as noble as the materials used in couture. If cooking is to be considered intelligent work, then one’s hands must act as dedicated performers,’ wrote Christian Dior in the preface of his 1972 cookbook, La Cuisine Cousu-Main (translation: tailor-made cuisine). The great French couturier was a known gourmand; a particular fan of omelettes, banana sorbet and pear ice cream, all of which you can find recipes for in his book.
It makes sense, then, that the house he built’s latest foray combines three of his greatest loves: couture, food and London. Because this Christmas, Dior has taken over a London landmark famed for its festivity and edible delights. Established in 1849, Harrods is a glowing, welcomed sight for weary travellers driving into London from the south west of England. The hundreds of lights that decorate its sparkling facade confirm your arrival in the capital — and have now had a festive twist.
This year, all of the department store’s 44 shop windows have been dusted with Dior icing sugar, while inside lies a high-fashion fairy tale… sugar and spice and all things nice included. Like Hansel and Gretel without the threat of being bundled into an oven, everything inside the Dior café is made of gingerbread. Historic gowns, handbags and fragrances have all been intricately recreated in gingerbread — and executed with the same attention to detail as in an atelier.
The Fabulous World of Dior at Harrods already has more than 2.6 million views on TikTok… but I suppose that’s what happens when Gen Z — who devour high fashion online — get to take an actual bite of it already has more than 2.6 million views on TikTok… but I suppose that’s what happens when Gen Z — who devour high fashion online — get to take an actual bite of it.
‘The café at Harrods strongly contributes to nourishing our DNA,’ says Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture. On the menu you will find Monsieur Dior’s classic omelette, as well as offerings of langoustine ravioli, chestnut velouté, truffle parfait and lobster thermidor. Dior himself travelled the world tasting food and learning how to decipher the subtlest flavours and last year the house dedicated a fragrance to the couturier’s favourite dessert. The ‘Gourmand Diorama’ was created by Parisian art nouveau restaurant Maxim’s, which first opened its doors in 1893. Mysteriously, there are no images or recipes for the dessert; all we know is that it was vanilla based, with a hint of orange.
We think that London is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities at Christmas
‘We have, of course, the Monsieur Dior restaurant at avenue Montaigne,’ says Beccari of the fine dining restaurant that opened earlier this year at the legendary Dior atelier address, 30 Av Montaigne, in Paris. French chef Jean Imbert alongside collaborator Antony Clémot are inspired by classic dishes that encompass Monsieur Dior’s own favourite recipes. ‘We think that London is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities during Christmas,’ Beccari tells me. ‘We are iconic as much as Harrods is an iconic retailer. We’ve been associated [with them] since 1953, which is when we had the first corner.’ The ‘corner’ of which Beccari speaks began when Dior became the first single-branded boutique in Harrods (in the very same spot today).
He also presented his Spring 1954 collection at Harrods, though showed his first London fashion presentation at The Savoy in 1947. Dior’s love for Britain began in the late 1920s when he first visited London to attend the opening night of the ballet: ‘I adore the English, dressed not only in the tweeds which suit them so well, but also in those flowing dresses, in the subtle colours, which they have worn inimitably since days of Gainsborough,’ he wrote in his autobiography. ‘I love the practices, the politeness, the architecture and, of course, the food.’ Once you’ve suitably filled up on ginger bread treasures, beneath the Dior café an exhibition dedicated to the couturier awaits, based around the three locations that were most influential to his life: 30 Montaigne, the address of his atelier; Granville, his seaside childhood home; and La Colle Noire, the designer’s grand château on the outskirts of Cannes.
The Fabulous World of Dior at Harrods not only allows us to sample the designer’s favourite dishes, but to revisit his journey from childhood to the early collections, the New Look and the iconic gowns worn by the likes of Margot Fonteyn and Princess Margaret, who wore Dior to celebrate her 21st birthday. ‘We have a strategy which is to make people dream with Dior,’ Beccari explains, and whether fulfilling our couture dreams, granting our fairytale wishes or even reconnecting us with our inner child, it feels like it has succeeded at Harrods.
