Swarovski illuminates Paris’ Champs Élysées, Dior brightens avenue Montaigne

Swarovski set alight the Champs Élysées on Sunday as part of a recent series of illuminations on Paris’ shopping thoroughfares that included Dior brightening its flagship on the nearby Avenue Montaigne.

 
In partnership with the City of Paris and the Champs-Élysées Committee, the Illuminations opened on Sunday evening, November 16, and will run for six weeks until Sunday, January 4. French actress Léa Seydoux took on the role of godmother of the Illuminations, while French-Canadian singer and songwriter Charlotte Cardin, glimmering in Swarovski, delivered a performance under Paris’ starry night. Swarovski will exclusively sponsor the light installations, throughout the festive season. 
 
On Friday, French actress Camille Cottin joined Dior CEO Delphine Arnault in switching on a new illumination of the brand’s historic 30 Avenue Montaigne flagship.

Adding to the holiday mood, the house released a new film entitled Dior’s Enchanted World, which featured many looks from the final cruise collection Maria Grazia Chiuri designed for the brand, staged in Rome. Looks included golden, white, and ecru dresses, presented inside the historic Villa Albani Torlonia in the Eternal City. 
 
Customers keen to get their hands on the first creations by her successor Jonathan Anderson will have to wait until January 2 of next year.
 
In parallel, Dior also celebrated its end-of-year festivities and gourmand founder Monsieur Dior’s passion for the culinary arts. The brand launched its first Christmas log, which was created by Le Jardin, the top-notch restaurant led by master chef Yannick Alléno and housed within the boutique. The log features pleated petals in velvety white, subtly echoing a ‘Francis Poulenc’ haute couture dress, designed by Christian Dior in 1950. 
 
Dior called the log, “a sculptural creation of infinite poetry, showcasing the House’s exceptional savoir-faire and heritage.” It blends grand cru dark chocolate cream with hazelnut crunch, mandarin marmalade, gingerbread-flavoured mousse, and a light cocoa biscuit and is available from December 15, exclusively (and by reservation from December 1) at Le Jardin at 30 Montaigne.

 
Swarovski has long been linked to the City of Light. Founder Daniel Swarovski showcased his visionary expertise at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, going on supply many of the Parisian fashion houses, including Dior.
 
Swarovski has also linked with the City of Paris through its support for ANDAM, France’s most important independent fashion awards, while Swarovski Crystals lend radiance to looks by leading designers at Paris Fashion Week every season.
 
At the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées fountains, Swarovski Crystal chains rotate to create a delicate choreography, while just outside Paris, at the Palace of Versailles, the house’s experts restored its opulent baroque chandeliers and installed LED candle lights to intensify their shine.
 
In honour of Swarovski’s 130th anniversary and coinciding with the Champs-Élysées Illuminations, a pop-up store will open at 1 Place Charles de Gaulle, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a world of wonders. Located close to the legendary Arc de Triomphe, the space showcases Swarovski’s jewellery and home decor collections including the Vienna Collection by Giovanna Engelbert.
 
In a busy weekend, local merchants also switched on illuminations on the corner of rue Royale, the Faubourg Saint Honoré, historically the toniest retail district in Paris. 

The previous Wednesday, singer Clara Luciani led a chorus of singers and musicians singing Happy Christmas by John Lennon as the city’s biggest department store Galeries Lafayette unveiled its famed Xmas windows while inside the store showed off a giant “Christmas Tree” within the main atrium, decorated with huge red ribbons to much applause.
 
No wonder they still call Paris the City of Light.