BY: Linder Sterling

Did you know that Christian Dior dreamed of being an architect? That’s why on becoming a couturier, he designed his dresses as though they were edifices structured by fabric. It’s in this same spirit that Victoire de Castellane has sculpted, flounced, pleated, belted and draped her stunning new ‘Archi Dior’ high jewellery collection.

‘With All Their Charm’
‘Ailée’ diamond bracelet in white gold with diamonds, purple sapphires, sapphires, pink and multi-coloured sapphires as well as rubies. This ‘Cyclone’ dress dates back to the autumn/winter 1948 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘To Pursue Truth’
‘Verticale Godet’ sapphire earrings in white gold with diamonds, sapphires and Paraíba tourmalines. This ‘Panier Percé’ dress is from the spring/summer 1950 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘The Setting Of Her Beauty’
‘Envol Drapé’ yellow diamond ring in yellow gold and platinum with diamonds, fancy yellow and fancy orange diamonds. This ‘Drag’ dress dates back to the spring/summer 1948 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘Nothing Was Simply One Thing’
‘Verticale Plissée’ yellow diamond ring in yellow and pink gold with diamonds, fancy yellow, fancy orange and fancy pink diamonds. This ‘Francis Poulenc’ dress is from the spring/summer 1950 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘In The Face of The Flowing’
‘Ailée’ emerald necklace in white gold with diamonds, tsavorite garnets, emeralds, blue-green and green tourmalines and demantoid garnets. This ‘Amour’ dress is from the the autumn/winter 1948 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘Tinged By Dreams’
‘Corolle Jour’ emerald necklace in white gold with diamonds and emeralds. This ‘Aladin’ dress dates back to the autumn/winter 1947 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘Nothing Need Be Said’
‘Corolle Soir’ ruby ring in white gold with diamonds and rubies. The ‘Soirée’ dress is from the spring/summer 1947 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘We Must Wait For The Future To Show’
‘Bar en Corolle’ emerald bracelet in
white gold with diamonds, pink and purple sapphires, emeralds, demantoid garnets, tsavorite garnets and orangey-pink spinels. The model wears a ‘Bar’ ensemble from the spring/summer 1947 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘I Have Had My Vision’
‘Milieu du Siècle’ diamond earrings in black-gold plated white gold. This ‘Junon’ dress is from the autumn/winter 1949 Dior Haute Couture collection.

‘Veiled By Memory’
‘Trompe L’Oeil’ yellow diamond ring in pink gold with diamonds, fancy yellow diamonds, spessartite garnets and pink sapphires. The ‘Marly’ dress is from the spring/summer 1949 Dior Haute Couture collection.