Flower Power: New Book Showcases Dior Fine Jewelry
Photos courtesy of Rizzoli
Left: Dior Joiallerie Reina Magnifica Sangria necklace. Right: Roi Soleil necklace.
The happiest people seem to be those still doing the things they loved as children, whether it's the scientist who's upgraded to a full-size chemistry set or the stylist playing an extended game of dress-up.
Fine jeweler Victoire de Castellane is definitely among that number. At five years old, she didn't want a pony or a Barbie Dream House for her birthday. Instead, she asked her parents for a jewelry box. It was only the beginning of a bauble obsession. She started crafting her own rings from melted-down medallions before she was even in her teens.
Photos courtesy of Rizzoli
Left: Dior Joaillerie's Bal Bleu Nuit ring. Right: The Idylle à Valparaiso bracelet.
De Castellane preserved that sense of childhood wonder when she took over as Creative Director at Dior Fine Jewelry in 1998. Her fanciful designs are inspired by everything from poisonous flora to dragons, ladybugs and Disney characters. (We also have a soft spot for her candy-inspired pieces.)
The new book Dior Joiallerie, out today from Rizzoli, is a treasury of photos and sketches celebrating de Castelanne's dizzyingly creative work for the house. Consider it a gateway drug into her hallucinatory world.
