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This December, Trinity College Dublin’s Old Library will host Dior’s Pre-Fall 2027 collection. Staged by Northern Irish creative director Jonathan Anderson, the show takes place on Friday 4th December and will be the first time Dior has ever shown in Ireland.
The landmark show will also be Anderson’s first runway presentation in his home country, and where his fashion career began. Describing it’s personal significance, he said: “Showing at Trinity College Dublin is a dream come true,” adding that presenting the collection at an institution with such an important cultural history is “a real honour”.
In 2025 Jonathan Anderson became the first fashion designer to be made an Honorary Patron of Trinity College Dublin’s University Philosophical Society.
The choice of Trinity also carries another historical echo. Dublin born Carmel Snow, the influential editor who led Harper’s Bazaar in America, is remembered for coining the phrase “New Look” to describe Christian Dior’s debut collection in 1947 – a link Anderson has drawn on in the show’s own invitation design.
A First for Trinity, A First for Dior
The Long Room within Trinity’s The Old Library is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. The Old Library is home to the Book of Kells and centuries of Irish scholarship. The runway show will be a historic occasion for both the University and for Dublin.
Where Irish Literature meets Dior
Jonathan Anderson has long drawn inspiration from Ireland’s rich literary tradition. At Loewe, he became known for his imaginative accessories and playful approach to design, while at Dior he has already re-interpreted the iconic Book Tote through the Dior Book Cover collection. The collection features faithful reproductions of the first-edition covers of two landmarks of Irish literature: Bram Stoker’s Dracula and James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Against this backdrop, the Long Room of the Old Library is a fitting setting for Dior’s first ever runway show in Ireland. Located at the heart of Trinity College Dublin, where literary figures including Samuel Beckett, Sally Rooney, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Jonathan Swift once studied, the historic library brings together Irish storytelling, cultural heritage and intricate architecture.
Jonathan Anderson’s Dublin Story
The show carries personal significance for Jonathan Anderson. Before establishing himself as one of the most influential designers in the industry, he began his career in Dublin, working at Brown Thomas. He has maintained ties to Ireland throughout his career, including creative collaborations with his own label, JW Anderson, and Guinness.
His return to Dublin with Dior marks a full circle moment: a designer who started his career in the city now brings one of fashion’s most storied houses back to where his own story began.
Visit the Old Library and Book of Kells
The Old Library and Book of Kells are open to visitors year round, offering a look at the building and collections that have made it one of the world’s most iconic libraries.
For those looking to explore beyond the Library, the Trinity Trails walking tour traces the college’s wider history, from the writers who studied here to the stories the campus has inspired. Tickets can be found here.
