You Must Visit The Reopened 30 Montaigne Dior Boutique The Next Time You're In Paris

Designed by Peter Marino under the vision of Dior CEO Pietro Beccari, the boutique is where heritage meets modernity. More than a storefront, 30 Avenue Montaigne has been converted into the ultimate Dior universe by the duo. The ground floor houses women’s creations – including ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, bags, and small leather goods – designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri along with Kim Jones’ menswear pieces. Step upstairs and you’ll find evening wear in addition to the brand’s fine jewellery collections, Dior Maison homeware line and a men’s Demi Mesure service (literally meaning “half measure” which sits somewhere between made-to-measure and bespoke).

There are also haute couture ateliers, a beauty alcove dedicated to beauty, fragrances and well-being, and for the first time, a high jewellery atelier, that enables clients to design their own custom pieces. All of this is punctuated with artwork throughout the space, including original creations like British designer Paul Cocksedge’s suspended installation Bourrasque and German contemporary artist Isa Genzken’s almost eight-metre high rose sculpture in the heart of the boutique. Peter Marino also sourced more than 100 materials from cerused oaks and white stucco textures to custom-embroidered silks for the construction of the space.

30 Avenue Montaigne now houses the Monsieur Dior restaurant and a Dior pastry cafe. Both are helmed by French chef Jean Imbert, winner of the French edition of Top Chef in 2012 who happens to run two other restaurants on the same avenue – one of which being the legendary Plaza Athenee. Accompanied by collaborator chef Antony Clemot, the two drew inspiration from the heritage of the House and took into account Christian Dior’s own favourite recipes to curate Monsieur Dior’s menu.

Meanwhile, Dior’s iconic symbols are reinvented as sweet confections at the patisserie. These treacly delights are complemented with rare coffee options prepared by a house barista. What makes the experience of dining here a little sweeter is the space itself which overlooks a rose garden – one of three created by landscape designer Peter Wirtz in collaboration with Peter Marino.

Perhaps the crown jewel of the new 30 Montaigne is La Galerie de Dior, the largest permanent gallery dedicated to fashion in a private house. The entire gallery is divided into 13 thematic spaces, each dedicated to a different aspect of the Maison. These include delving into Dior’s own former career as a gallerist and discovering its haute couture roots, all curated by narrative scenographer Nathalie Criniere.

Stretching more than 21,500 sq feet, the archival gallery holds 130 haute couture outfits, up to 200 accessories, previously unseen original sketches and archival documents and more all in honour of founder Christian Dior and his six successors: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. La Galerie de Dior also features preserved historic spaces dear to the House, such as Monsieur Dior’s original office from 1946 to circa 1952.

This article originally appeared in Female