MISS DIOR

VICTOIRE DE CASTELLANE Known for having an impeccable fringe, for wearing girly flared black skirts and for being responsible for creating fairytale jewels that no one can resist. Victoire de Castellane is a true Parisienne and an aristocrat whose family origin dates back to the 10th century. With the most avid jewelry collector Sylvia Hennesy for a grandmother it’s no wonder Victoire’s career has taken straight course to the house of Chanel, and fourteen years later to Christian Dior. 

Castellane as an author of Dior Joallerie collection takes us to the world of fairies, flowers, butterflies and everything pretty, magical and precious. As she says, each flower she creates is a personification of a woman. A delicate, enchanting, sometimes fragile and sometimes strong human being. Her inspiration comes from various sources, it may be either Japanese manga or the Brothers Grimm tales or even Jessica Rabbit.

Hans Christian Andersen's mermaid's kingdom. Victoire cities his tales as one of her inspirations.

     Flowers project for Gagosian Gallery in Paris, 2010.

Just like her masterpieces, Victoire is everything but ordinary. She’s addicted to Alaia dresses (a master of flared cut), chocolate, extreme high heels and cowboy boots. Her hobby is dreaming (we share it!) and Wonder Woman is her hero. She never wears earrings with prescription glasses and always carries bright opaques with her sexy (Alaia!) dresses. She was brave enough to, after fourteen years, move from Kaiser Karl’s reign in Chanel to Dior in 1999. She became its Fine Jewelry Creative Director and transferred herself from chic Rue Cambon straight to the neighbourhood of Ritz, Place Vendome – the headquarters of Christian Dior.

Harper's Bazaar, May 2010

What does Victoire de Castellane have in common with Truman Capote’s Holly Golightly? She prefers other gems than diamonds. For her designs she uses the finest quality enamel with  semi precious stones like amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, periodots, beryl and aquamarine. "I prefer huge coloured stones instead of diamonds.  And I like to wear and design things that look fake; like costume jewellery, but real." – she says.

Dior Joallerie

Are you already bewitched?