A Dior Christmas

Is it even Christmas in London until Dior arrives at Harrods? We think not. The French fashion house has returned to the iconic department store for another festive takeover, and this year, things are looking particularly colourful.

Dior and Harrods go way back. Their relationship began in 1953, when Monsieur Dior, a devoted Anglophile, found himself rather taken with the British institution. Fast-forward 73 years and the love affair is still going strong, this time with a Christmas pop-up inspired by Christian Dior's Night in Color, an animated short film by award-winning French director Sylvain Chomet.

The film's fantastical world has spilled out onto the Harrods façade and into its windows, where stars, shamrocks and nutcrackers make themselves at home. Inside, life-size harlequins and nutcrackers stand guard over a space inspired by Dior's historic Parisian address, complete with Versailles parquet flooring and moiré-upholstered seating. Subtle? Absolutely not. But Christmas isn't exactly the season for restraint.

Jonathan Anderson's first Cruise Collection for Dior takes centre stage, with the newspaper-print Dior Bow bag among the highlights, alongside plenty of potential additions to our Christmas wish lists. Elsewhere, Monsieur Dior's beloved dog Bobby makes an appearance across knitwear and Lady Dior bags, while gingerbread charms, illustrated baubles and decorative candles offer something for those whose budgets might not quite stretch to a new handbag.

For anyone feeling particularly generous, there's also the opportunity to personalise festive ornaments with engraving or have Christmas cards beautifully calligraphed. Because apparently our usual last-minute wrapping and handwritten gift tags simply won't do this year.

Consider this your excuse for a trip to Knightsbridge!