Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

T here are no retiring colours at Dior this year, where candy-coloured jewellery and watches have been suffused with a bit of childlike, Willy Wonka magic. If it weren’t for the price tag you’d have to remember not to eat the jelly-coloured masterpieces. Known for toying with bright palettes, Parisienne artistic director Victoire de Castellane – who cut her teeth alongside equally flamboyant Karl Lagerfeld during her time at Chanel – has drawn her inspiration from the seaside town of Granville, Normandy, Monsieur Dior’s childhood home that he cherished throughout his life. Though transformed into a park and museum since being repossessed during the 1929 Great Depression, he thought back fondly to his young years playing freely with friends and exploring the colours and depth of richly cultivated gardens so lovingly created by his stylish mother, not to mention an annual festival for which Dior designed costumes for himself and his friends. Granville 2 4 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I