A new coffee table tome marks 20 years of Dior Joaillerie by celebrating the work of their illustrious creative director, jewelry designer Victoire de Castellane.
The A-Z of Victoire de Castellane. Courtesy of Dior
Created in a dictionary format, The A to Z of Victoire de Castellane features 300 photographs showcasing Dior’s whimsical jewelry collections, in addition to illustrations by de Castellane and entry notes by Olivier Gabet, the director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
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Creations by Dior Joaillerie’s creative director, Victoire de Castellane. Courtesy of Dior
Decorative capital letters, sketched and embellished by de Castellane, introduce chapters that focus on 158 enlightening topics including:
Asymmetry – a hallmark of Dior jewelry, with signatures that include off-center stone placement and mismatched earrings. “We are all asymmetric,” says the designer.
The A to Z of Victoire de Castellane. Courtesy of Dior
Cher Dior – an acknowledgment of the house founder (who died in 1957), and recipient of imaginary letters sent by de Castellane. “I find it quite respectful to not forget the person who founded the house we work for,” she says. The letter C also stands for ‘Colors,’ which the designer credits as something she loved most as a child, referring to a box of Caran d’Ache pencils as “the most extraordinary gift that I could receive.”
Mitzah – a nod to Mitzah Bricard, the muse Christian Dior (according to his autobiography), credited as a living incarnation of elegance. She also inspired de Castellane’s 2003 Mitza collection, which included leopard references using yellow gold and black lacquer.
Opal – In 2017, de Castellane dedicated an entire collection to her favorite multicolored stone.
The A to Z of Victoire de Castellane. Courtesy of Dior
Rose des Vents – “Engraved in the floor of the Dior family home in Granville [France] is a compass rose and it was this rose that struck me immediately,” de Castellane says of the Joaillerie signature. She describes the motif as something that embodies “a very pretty idea of a journey.”
The A to Z of Victoire de Castellane by Rizzoli, released September 8
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