The 7 Jules Sandeau table setting from Maison Dior. Photography courtesy of Dior. When in Paris, way back when, I would always make a beeline for Dior on Montaigne. Not for the handbags, shoes or frocks — as beautiful as they were. The star attraction for me were those tucked-away rooms where photoshoot-ready dining tables heaved with fine porcelain and floating shelves of crystal and silverware contrasted with richly textured fabrics. I would purchase a memento, wrap it three times and carry the precious cargo in my hand luggage all the way to Sydney. What seemed like a wildly extravagant purchase at the time is now a reminder of bygone days — until we meet again, dear Paris, I shall think of you as I extract the contents of a coffee pod into an exquisite Dior espresso cup.
While some luxury homeware lines appear to exist for the purpose of attracting buyers with a lower pricepoint, Dior Maison is no cynical ploy; it has a rich history, beginning in 1947, when Christian Dior opened a boutique dedicated to the art of gifting, with a range that included mirrors, letter holders and incense. The couturier once said, “Living in a house which doesn’t reflect who you are is a bit like wearing someone else’s clothes.” Now Dior Maison is coming to Australia. From mid-September, you can buy the colourful new collection by Cordelia de Castellane, the artistic director of Dior Maison, which sees flowers and birds embellish everything from the inside of a carafe to hand-painted placemats. $260; 1300 003 467 or dior.com.
