Two life-size nutcrackers stand guard at the dior harrods festive pop-up in Harrods, and the ground floor has been dressed to match an animated short. The space runs from Friday until December 27, and its design draws on a film Dior released in early November.
Dior and Harrods go back to 1953, when Christian Dior opened his first in-store boutique in the London department store. Dior was a fervent Anglophile who dressed British society figures, most memorably Princess Margaret, a devoted client. Harrods’ Fashion Theatre opened the same year, and it later hosted shows by other international couturiers as British fashion worked to recover after the Second World War.
Harrods has long been a stage for luxury window theatre, and Dior’s Brompton Road displays follow that tradition. For another London example of a fashion house turning its windows into a story, see Space Popular’s Whimsical Quilted Worlds in Hermès London Windows, which shows how a window can carry a whole narrative.
The relationship has lasted for more than seven decades, with Dior’s clothing, cosmetics and fragrances stocked continuously. The house has also staged larger takeovers. In 2013, a 20,000 sq ft display called ‘Dior at Harrods’ recreated the house’s 30 Avenue Montaigne headquarters on the fourth floor, complete with historic dresses and a temporary Café Dior. In 2022, a gingerbread-themed pop-up spread across the store and all 44 of Harrods’ Brompton Road windows.
The film behind the windows
The dior harrods festive pop-up takes its mood from Christian Dior’s Night in Colour, a hand-drawn short directed by the French animator Sylvain Chomet. Chomet made The Triplets of Belleville, released in 2003, which earned two Academy Award nominations. He also directed The Illusionist, and a series of the Brompton Road windows borrows motifs from this new film.
The story is set on a snowy winter’s night in 1949. A last-minute request leaves Christian Dior, played by Louis Garrel, with a dress to make for Marlene Dietrich, voiced by Camille Cottin. Josh O’Connor’s anthropomorphic Medallion Chair, a swarm of magical bees and Rihanna‘s Lucky Star help him finish it. Robert Pattinson narrates. Dossier Magazine describes the gown as inspired by Dior’s celebrated Junon dress of 1949.
Early criticism focused on an alleged use of AI. Chomet later asserted to Variety that no generative AI was used for the campaign. Producer Aton Soumache confirmed this. ‘The reality is that this film took seven months to make and it was entirely drawn by artists,’ Soumache said. Jonathan Anderson, Dior’s creative director, reposted the article.
Inside the dior harrods festive pop-up
The interior of the dior harrods festive pop-up borrows from Dior’s own rooms. Wooden moulding, Versailles parquet flooring and moiré fabric upholstery echo the traditional interiors of 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. Life-size harlequins join the nutcrackers, and the facade is lined with twinkling lights and cartoon motifs from the film.
A second source of inspiration was Colifichets, the first Dior boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne. Run by Monsieur Dior’s friend Carmen Colle, it began by selling curiosities and keepsakes such as jewels, flowers and scarves. Over time it added Dior dresses, fragrances and gloves.
The dior harrods festive pop-up centres on Anderson’s Cruise 2027 collection, which he showed in May at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Wallpaper* called it ‘a Hollywood epic’ that paid tribute to cinema’s ‘escapist allure’, drawing on Monsieur Dior’s links with the film industry and stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly. ‘Christian Dior understood how important the idea of “the dream” was for people after the war, as a form of escapism,’ Anderson said. ‘Hollywood is “The Dream Factory”.’
The pop-up also sells new accessories, including the Dior Bow bag in newspaper print. The Mlle Dior pump is available only at the pop-up, shown alongside the Dior Bow, the Dior Sunset and the Dior Viola shoes. Candles carry small ladybird decorations.
Gifts and personalisation
Knitwear and leather goods feature the 30 Montaigne facade and Bobby, Monsieur Dior’s dog. Lady Dior handbags carry Bobby motifs too. Bag charms come in the shape of gingerbread men and nutcrackers, and Christmas baubles carry illustrations by Chomet.
Customers at the festive pop-up can have an ornament engraved with initials or a short message. A calligraphy service writes greetings on Christmas cards.
Personalised gifts and small keepsakes are a big part of the festive offer, so shoppers who enjoy this kind of boutique experience may also like Le Monde Béryl’s hidden gems on Madison Avenue, a New York boutique built around curated, hard-to-find pieces.
The dior harrods festive pop-up is open until December 27, 2026. Details are available at dior.com.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does the Dior Harrods festive pop-up run?
The Dior Harrods festive pop-up runs from a Friday until December 27, 2026. Details are available at dior.com.
Who directed the animated short that inspired the Dior Harrods pop-up?
The animated short Christian Dior’s Night in Colour was directed by French animator Sylvain Chomet and is hand-drawn. The pop-up takes its mood from this film, and some Brompton Road windows borrow motifs from it.
Was generative AI used to make the Dior Christmas animated film?
No, according to Chomet, who told Variety that no generative AI was used for the campaign. Producer Aton Soumache confirmed this, saying the film took seven months to make and was entirely drawn by artists.
Is the Mlle Dior pump sold anywhere other than the pop-up?
No, the Mlle Dior pump is available only at the Dior Harrods festive pop-up. It is shown alongside the Dior Bow, the Dior Sunset and the Dior Viola shoes.
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