From New Look to New Era: A Case Study Of The Creative Visionaries Behind the Iconic House Of Dior (Part 2)
365 days of fashion: the e-ncyclopedia of fashion
Saturday, July 12, 2025
We are excited to deliver to you the second chapter of the case study: Creative visionaries behind the iconic house of Dior. After looking at all the Artistic Directors of womenswear, let’s not forget the men’s division, which also has a rich past. As Vogue quirkily put it, the latter “has changed its name almost as many times as it’s had designers”, from Christian Dior Monsieur to Dior Homme and Dior Men. Here are all Dior Men’s Artistic Directors in history, some of whom you may have perhaps forgotten or not known about.
Dominique Morlotti (1983-1992)
When Dominique Morlotti took the helm of Christian Dior Monsieur in 1983, he stepped into a pivotal moment in the house’s menswear history. Having previously led male collections at Balmain, he brought both refinement and creativity to Dior’s men’s line. Morlotti’s Dior was all about delivering polished elegance with a dash of modernity— think blazers and coats cut cleanly, luxe fabrics, and a sense of disciplined tailoring that felt fresh yet rooted in French couture tradition.
Over his nine-year stint, Morlotti maintained Dior’s reputation for impeccable craftsmanship while making subtle but meaningful updates. Here you can watch many of his collections.
Patrick Lavoix (1992 - 2000)
In 1992, as Gianfranco Ferré steered Dior’s women’s wear, French designer Patrick Lavoix quietly revitalized Dior’s men’s line, then known as Christian Dior Monsieur. Although not remembered to the same extent as Hedi Slimane or Kim Jones, for example (or perhaps you didn’t know his name at all), Lavoix’s contribution was quieter but foundational. Mostly, he is credited with lifting the men’s line from a conventional division into something more modern and aspirational.
During eight years at the house, he crafted ready-to-wear collections aimed at young businessmen