“A sensory pastiche of the priceless, ancestral savoir-faire of Puglia, Dior Cruise 2021 was as much about reinvention as it was history, keeping the tradition of Apulian art, design and music alive,” writes Christanthi Kaliviotis following the house’s runway presentation in July. It’s a tidy summary of the collection which bares a distinct nostalgia to travel past times. And an ode to a region which has endured so much devastation in 2020.

Following the runway, the glittering spectacle has been immortalized into stores this month and welcomes the release of Dior Cruise 2021. As travel restrictions stretch on, our desire for culture is quenched through artisanal collaborations and detailed ready-to-wear and accessories.

    

In an experimental expression of ancestral savoir-faire, fabrics from the Le Costantine Foundation are used for a series of jackets, including the emblematic Bar. The motto of this unique place, “Amando e Cantando1”, is woven on the back of skirts. Echoing the iconic, flower-embroidered Miss Dior dress by Christian Dior, artist Pietro Ruffo imagines a field studded with ears of wheat evoking a summer landscape. A narrative of untamed nature is transposed onto long, light cotton dresses, shirts and shorts.



The collection also sees the release of the Dior Caro bag. Clad in supple leather adorned with the emblematic cannage motif, the latest silhouette from the French house is available in two sizes. Timeless iterations include a colour offering of black, gray, beige and ivory, while the small version also ushers in shearling, raw denim and tie dye, direct from the runway. However, this must-have style will be available from January 2nd, 2021.

    

Other key accessories feature ‘D-Trap’ footwear – a resort-style take on the boot – and the ‘Dior & Moi’ heel, a nod to the house’s classic J’Adior slingback pump albeit with a block heel and intricate mesh upper. Dior & Moi sees three colourways as well as a flat iteration in black.

    

Lastly, Maria Grazia Chiuri pays homage to the Dior flagship on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris with the exclusive ‘Dior St Honoré’ tote. Highlighted by graphic, pure curves and embellished with the eternal CD signature enhanced with a delicate swivel clasp, it comes in box or grained leather, precious materials sublimated by blue, black, and latté shades and cords.