Kim Jones Is Stepping Down at Dior
Kim Jones is stepping down from Dior after seven years as its artistic director of men’s collections.
In a brief statement, Dior expressed “its deepest gratitude” to Jones, who has “accelerated the development of men’s collections internationally and has greatly contributed to the worldwide influence of the house by creating an inspiring wardrobe that is both classic and contemporary, and connected to some artists of our time.”
The British designer’s resignation comes one week after he paraded Dior’s fall 2025 menswear on a minimalist set of grand, white staircases – and was decorated as a Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest civilian decoration.
There was no mention of any successor in the release, and Dior declined further comment.
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Jones’ next move could not immediately be learned.
The development is sure to further fuel speculation that Loewe fashion star Jonathan Anderson may soon be installed at Dior, a possibility mooted for months – and floated by luxury analysts at HSBC.
“It was a true honor to have been able to create my collections within the house of Dior, a symbol of absolute excellence,” Jones said in the statement. “I express my deep gratitude to my studio and the ateliers who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey. They have brought my creations to life.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the artists and friends I have met through my collaborations. Lastly, I feel sincere gratitude towards Bernard and Delphine Arnault, who have given me their full support,” he added.
Delphine Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, said she was “extremely grateful for the remarkable work done by Kim Jones, his studio, and the ateliers. With all his talent and creativity, he has constantly reinterpreted the house’s heritage with genuine freedom of tone and surprising, highly desirable artistic collaborations.”
One of the world’s most prominent menswear designers, Jones also logged seven years at Louis Vuitton before joining Dior, parlaying his zest for exotic travel into ultraluxurious collections with understated cool and sly functionality.
Three months ago, Jones also stepped down at Fendi after an eventful four-year collaboration that saw the Roman house dabble with collaborations and destination shows.
His successor at Fendi has yet to be named. His title there was artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women.
To be sure, Jones catapulted Dior menswear on to the radar of hype beasts by collaborating with the likes of Kaws, Daniel Arsham, Shawn Stussy, 1017 Alyx 9SM, and Raymond Pettibon.
In 2020, roughly 5 million people – roughly the population of Ireland or New Zealand – registered for a chance to buy his limited-edition Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers.
More recently, his collaborations have been more esoteric and varied, with celebrities like Travis Scott, cultural institutions including the Charleston Trust, and leading artists including Amoako Boafo, Kenny Scharf, Hajime Sorayama, Peter Doig and, most recently, South African master potter Hylton Nel for Dior’s spring 2025 collection.
At Dior, Jones also accrued a reputation as a gifted showman. Sets for his shows have featured a 39-foot tall robot sculpture, replicas of the Pont Alexandre III bridge and Christian Dior’s Granville home, and hydraulic lifts that made models rise and then disappear from the runway.
He also added itinerant shows to his workload at Dior, which reached a zenith in 2022 with a men’s pre-fall collection unveiled against the backdrop of the pyramids of Giza near Cairo, Egypt.
Before Jones, Belgian designer Kris Van Assche was at the creative helm of Dior Homme from 2007 to 2018; and Hedi Slimane from 2000 to 2007. Patrick Lavoix was creative director of Christian Dior Monsieur from 1992 until Slimane arrived, changed the name of the brand to Dior Homme and ramped up its influence.
A popular, peripatetic figure on the fashion scene, Jones counts a slew of famous friends – from Demi Moore and David Beckham to Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss – and cultivates numerous interests outside of fashion, including the Bloomsbury Group, botany, zoology and “Star Wars” paraphernalia.
Over the years, his name has been floated for a variety of European fashion houses, including Versace, Burberry and Chanel.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins in London and a globe-trotter extraordinaire, Jones has had a storied fashion career, with John Galliano snapping up his graduate collection.
His own men’s wear label, launched in 2003 and prized for its sporty, streetwise flair, lasted for eight seasons and attracted the attention of Dunhill, where he was creative director from 2008 to 2011.
In 2020, the designer was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours List for services to fashion. The same year, the Council of Fashion Designers of America handed him the International Men’s Designer of the Year Award,
In 2019, WWD honored Jones as its Menswear Designer of the Year at its flagship Apparel and Retail CEO Summit.
Jones also took home British Fashion Awards in 2006, 2009, 2019 and 2021. Early in his career, he also worked for Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, Hugo Boss and Umbro.
