To celebrate the launch of the new Miss Dior Parfum, the ‘Miss Dior: Stories of a Miss’ exhibition is being held at the Roppongi Museum. Following is a closer look at the captivating showcase.
Courtesy Dior
This exhibition features a collection of Dior’s exquisite haute couture creations, objects, archive collections, and specially commissioned artworks in collaboration with internationally acclaimed artists.
Responsible for the spatial design are architect Shohei Shigematsu and his team at OMA NY, known for their work on last year’s ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT). For attendees of last year’s exhibition, just hearing this would surely raise expectations.
Given the widespread familiarity with the allure of Miss Dior, ZEROMILE aims to recap our visit while spotlighting the impressive spatial design.
The Miss Dior Perfume, Dedicated to a Dear Sister
Miss Dior was first introduced in 1947 as the Maison’s inaugural perfume. Christian Dior dedicated this fragrance to his sister Catherine, who loved both nature and flowers, and was a French Resistance fighter during World War II.
Upon entering the grounds of the Roppongi Museum, visitors are greeted by meticulously arranged flower beds created specifically for the exhibition. Meandering through the flower garden, along pathways amidst the blooms, leads to the entrance where you become fully immersed in the enchanting world of Miss Dior. With pervasive shades of pink, the venue is divided into seven distinct spaces, each highlighting a different facet of Miss Dior.
1：The Start of a Journey – Miss Dior: Stories of a Miss
Courtesy Dior
As your eyes are drawn to the ribbon extending from the Miss Dior logo, you find yourself led to a wall with various cutout shapes, each displaying an object of the same form. This space serves as an avant-goût, or sampler of what’s to come. Miss Dior’s perfume bottles, dresses, and visual imagery are arranged throughout the room, creating a sense of anticipation. On the opposite side of the wall, you can see a massive perfume bottle slowly rotating behind glass. This impressive prologue invites you to step into the world of Miss Dior, transcending the constraints of physical scale.
2：The Specially Embroidered Bottle – Miss Dior by Eva Jospin
The next room showcases the limited edition Miss Dior Parfum, created in collaboration with French visual artist Eva Jospin.
Courtesy Dior
Inspired by classical architecture like the Villa Giulia in Rome, the space features a striking domed interior. At the center of the room stands a solitary display case housing a limited edition Miss Dior perfume, with an intricately embroidered mini trunk and ribbon designed by Jospin. What’s most remarkable, however, is that the patterned walls are actually embroidered floral tapestries.
Viewing these precious objects instills a sense of reverence, as if one is admiring rare artifacts in a distinguished museum. And in truth, there’s a strong likelihood that in the decades to come, this limited edition release may very well be regarded as a true historical treasure. It’s a profound perspective that lends an appropriate gravitas to the overall experience.
3：Savoring Scents and Imagery – Fields of Flowers
Courtesy Dior
The next room presents a stark contrast – a romantic and innocent space. Plush draperies surround the centerpiece, a 1949 Haute Couture Miss Dior dress. Encircling it are five atomizers in the shape of a flower bud.Pressing a button at the base of each causes fragrance to emanate from the buds, allowing you to experience the 5 scents of the latest Miss Dior perfume.
The room has a floral, organic quality – the petal-like drapes make you feel immersed in a giant bloom, coupled with the fragrances luring you in like a bee.
4：The History of Miss Dior – Stories of a Miss
Courtesy Dior
The centerpiece of this space is a design inspired by the signature ribbon that adorns Miss Dior perfume bottles. The neon pink ribbon seems to unwind and flow throughout the room, creating a sense of movement. Nested within this ribbon structure are historical archives, presented in a museum-like display. At the room’s entrance, a painted portrait of Christian Dior by Japanese artist Yukimasa Ida greets visitors.
While difficult to fully capture in words, the room’s architecture is one-of-a-kind. A central showcase spans the full width of the space, with a tunnel-like opening running through the middle. Similar showcase units are arranged at regular intervals around this central feature, and pink ribbons connect the sides of the tunnel openings, creating a cohesive visual flow.
Typically, historical exhibits are housed in rooms lined with transparent display cases. But this space feels less clinical and more immersive – it’s designed to facilitate a ‘time-traveling experience’ through the history of Miss Dior, rather than a purely informational display.
Miniature models display a collage-like arrangement of past Haute Couture dresses and perfumes, providing a tangible visual representation of the brand’s evolution. The evolution of the iconic perfume bottle design is also prominently showcased throughout the room. Courtesy Dior
5：Prêt-à-Porter Beginnings – Miss Dior: The Birth of Ready-to-Wear
Courtesy Dior
Emerging from the time tunnel, you enter a space brimming with vibrant color. This area showcases the collection from the House of Dior’s first Prêt-à-Porter line, Miss Dior, launched in 1967. The geometric blocks composed of the era’s logo create a striking visual pattern, while the cheerful palette of orange and pink hues further enlivens the vibrant collection. Though decidedly retro in style, the patterned ensembles have a surprisingly modern sensibility – you could easily mistake them for the latest designs.
6：Depictions of the House – Dior Illustrated
Courtesy Dior
Arranged like an art gallery, this space features paintings displayed at regular intervals. Facing each other are the works of two notable Dior illustrators – René Gruau, the House’s inaugural artist, and Mats Gustafson, the brand’s current illustrator. Artworks reproduced as life-sized prints offer visitors a rare opportunity to examine the intricate details of their illustrations up close.
The undulating wall surfaces, inspired by the draped curtains found in the studios of both Gruau and Christian Dior, cascade dramatically from ceiling to floor. This unique architectural feature was achieved through the use of fiberglass construction with a velvet-like coating.
7： Precious Dresses and Works of Art – The Miss Dior Dream
Courtesy Dior
The seventh room is dedicated to showcasing key Haute Couture Miss Dior dresses. Each dress is displayed on a raised platform made with Japanese washi paper, illuminated from below. Each dress is also surrounded by complementary works of art and specially designed perfume bottles. The washi paper hills and cloud-like circles above gently reflect and diffuse the light, imbuing the space with a fantastical, dreamlike ambiance.
Courtesy Dior
Dress: Designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri
Painting: Rainbow by Koetsu Egami
Perfume: 2013 Limited Edition Miss Dior
An Experience Extending Beyond the Exhibits
Exiting the seventh room, visitors come upon a space resembling a video viewing lounge, where past campaign footage can be enjoyed. Particularly captivating are the vintage videos, including one depicting a woman gracefully descending a spiral staircase while billowing a giant ribbon – imagery that is said to have inspired the Stories of a Miss installation.
Even after experiencing the exhibits, the exploration continues. Guests can browse the Museum Boutique (more than just a typical museum shop) to purchase Miss Dior perfumes, makeup, and skincare products. There is also a café space where visitors can immerse themselves in the experience by indulging in exclusive Miss Dior Café specialty drinks and desserts.
Even those not primarily interested in cosmetics or dresses can still find inspiration in the thoughtful design and architecture throughout. Miss Dior: Stories of a Miss is an immersive, sensory experience. With the culmination of art, history, and inspiration, there are many fascinating discoveries to be made for visitors of all interests.
Miss Dior Exhibition：Stories of a Miss
Location: Roppongi Museum
Exhibition Period: June 16, 2024 (Sunday) - July 15, 2024 (Monday, Holiday)
Closed: June 25 (Tuesday)
Hours: 10:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:00); on July 15, closes at 18:00 (Last entry at 17:00)
Admission: Reservation only (free of charge)
Reservations: To reserve tickets, gain entry, and make purchases within the venue, you must add the Dior Beauty official LINE account as a friend and connect via LINE from your smartphone.
Reservation URL: http://on.dior.com/24md
Virtual Museum Boutique
Open Period: June 17, 2024 (Monday) - July 15, 2024 (Monday, Holiday)
Compatible Devices: Please use Google Chrome or Safari browsers on your smartphone or PC.
Notes
Entry and Reservations: Limited to one time per person.
Changes: Exhibition dates and hours are subject to change. Please check the official special site for details.
Payments at the Venue: Credit cards, electronic money, and QR payments are accepted. Cash payments are not available, so please be prepared in advance.
