Fashion house Dior has announced its 2026 holiday campaign, dedicated to the relationship between brand founder Christian Dior and Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich. The central element of the project is a short animated film titled Christian Dior's Night in Color, directed by French filmmaker Sylvain Chomet. The campaign was developed under the leadership of Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson and is accompanied by a special holiday gift collection featuring clothing, accessories, and home items.

Plot: A Winter Night in 1949 and an Urgent Call from Hollywood

The film is set in 1949. One winter night, Christian Dior receives an urgent call from Hollywood: Marlene Dietrich needs a new dress for an upcoming film. When the director decides to shoot the movie in color instead of the traditional black-and-white format, the actress asks the French couturier to create a special outfit for her. Dior and his atelier team immediately get to work to finish the dress in time for filming. The character's look in the animation is inspired by the iconic 1949 Junon dress, though Dior notes that this is an artistic interpretation: in real life, Dietrich never wore the original Junon gown.

Voice Cast: Pattinson, Rihanna, and Josh O'Connor

The characters are brought to life by renowned actors and musicians. Robert Pattinson serves as the narrator, telling the story in the first person. The cast also features pop superstar Rihanna and British actor Josh O'Connor, who voice key roles in the film. This unique blend of cinematic and musical names brings extra resonance to the project and attracts a broad audience far beyond the fashion community.

Visual Style: Hand-Drawn Animation in the Spirit of the 1940s

Sylvain Chomet, renowned for his work in animation, utilized traditional hand-drawn animation techniques characteristic of 1940s cinema. Special attention is paid to details in the film, recreating the interiors of Christian Dior's Parisian apartment, the atmosphere of his atelier, and Hollywood studio sets. This period-accurate presentation emphasizes the historical context and immerses the viewer in the atmosphere of post-war Paris and Hollywood.

Historical Context: «No Dior, no Dietrich»

The relationship between Marlene Dietrich and Christian Dior is not fiction: the actress was genuinely a fan of the French couturier's work and insisted on wearing his creations while working on films. She is credited with the phrase «No Dior, no Dietrich», which biographers note she used during negotiations for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's film Stage Fright (1950). This authentic bond between two icons of the era formed the foundation for the animated film's narrative.

Campaign and Window Displays: From Screen to Boutiques

The characters from the animated short will appear in festive window displays at Dior boutiques worldwide, turning the Christmas campaign into an immersive experience for shoppers. In addition to the film, the project includes a special gift collection spanning clothing, accessories, and homeware. Through this, Dior builds a cohesive communication strategy where the animated film, window design, and product line form a unified narrative tied to the brand's rich heritage.