Designer Kim Jones of Dior has created the official away kits for Paris Saint-Germain, the best-financed football team in the world, captained by Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., two of the world’s most recognized attacking players from Argentina and Brazil respectively.
Jones, the artistic director of Dior’s menswear designs, will design the PSG-specific outfits for the club’s next two campaign seasons. The first glimpses of the costumes were shown on Monday.
Even though PSG’s official colors are midnight blue and red, Kim has stayed true to Dior’s traditional colors of navy blue and somber gray for their formal attire, most notably in a series of crisp suits – composed of single-breasted, two-button jackets with slim lapels and flat-front pants – that have been designed for the team. Completing the look are thin jacquard ties that are trimmed with a matching Paris Saint-Germain insignia.
In addition to Harrington jackets, clinging knitted sweaters, and polo shirts, all of which are embroidered with the PSG patch insignia and completed with the letters ‘CD,’ there are also a variety of other options.
Jones, a native of the United Kingdom, also designed Derby shoes in black leather, which were completed with the famous Dior Oblique pattern.
This fall, look for the players to be dressed in deconstructed cashmere single-breasted Crombie-style jackets as the weather gets cold. Dior has also created an iconic saddle bag in black-grained leather, as well as cashmere scarves and a reversible bag in black and navy blue, all of which are perfect for travel.
With the partnership with PSG, Dior joins a select club of fashion companies that have dressed major European teams, including Versace at Real Madrid, Dsquared2 at Manchester City, Dolce & Gabbana for AC Milan, Lanvin for Arsenal, and Giorgio Armani for the Italian national team, among others. PSG had previously been clothed by another brand inside the LVMH empire, Berluti, when the team was headed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic was dressed by the company’s then creative director Alessandro Sartori at the time.
Because of a big recruiting drive that brought in a half dozen new significant players during the summer, PSG is receiving more attention than it has ever received before. PSG is owned by Qatar Investment Authority and plays in the French league.
A film featuring key Paris Saint-Germain players visiting Dior for a fitting and being shot in the club’s Parc des Princes stadium was also published as part of the collaboration. Key players such as Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria, and Keylor Navas make cameo cameos as the tailors are busy nipping and hemming their outfits to perfection. In addition to a slew of significant new acquisitions – all of whom have been brought in to help PSG achieve their Holy Grail of winning the Champions League, club soccer’s most prestigious competition – the club has made a number of other significant additions.
New signings like Sergio Ramos, Gigi Wijnaldum, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who speak a mix of languages including French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, have already had an impact.
With his hair frosted like a white magnum, Neymar admires the minimalist cashmere cloak and adds, “Very exquisite, and it gives me more confidence.”
Messi, on the other hand, is nowhere to be found. The world’s highest-paid athlete, who is also possibly the missing piece in Paris Saint-quest Germain’s for their first Champions League championship, did, however, dress in Dior when he first arrived in Paris last month, following his transfer from Barcelona. When it comes to formal events, Messi will also don Dior, albeit the Argentinean star also has his own long-term fashion business, The Messi Store, which is under the guidance of Ginny Hilfiger, sister of the legendary American designer, Tommy Hilfiger.