The J’adore perfume by Dior is a modern icon that has been represented by some of the world’s most recognisable faces, from the supermodel Carmen Kass in '90s to the decorated actress Charlize Theron, who fronted the scent for 20 years. As the brand enters a new era of fragrances with perfume creation director Francis Kurkdjian at the helm, it's only natural that another world-famous name joins the roster of J’adore ambassadors: enter, Rihanna.
The singer and beauty mogul is a longtime friend of the house. It began back in 2015, when Rihanna fronted Dior’s Secret Garden fashion campaign. Now, she’s back in the grounds of Versailles with the revered photographer Steven Klein for the latest interpretation of J’adore, the L'Or Essence de Parfum
"Orchestrating the encounter between Rihanna and J'adore at Versailles was a truly inspiring challenge," Klein tells Bazaar. "We had already enjoyed a foretaste of the experience with the 'Secret Garden' film shot in 2015, but the ambience was completely different, and more nocturnal. With J'adore, everything was focused on gold and light.
"I wanted to create a visual dialogue between the classical style of the 18th century and Rihanna’s incredibly contemporary beauty. This film invents a new universe that bridges several worlds and several eras and manages to achieve a natural and radiant universal appeal.”
The balance between classic and modern perfectly captures the spirit of J’adore L’or, Kurkdjian’s version of the house’ bestseller. J’adore L’or maintains the plush floral facets of the original, but the concentration is dialled up, with orange blossom lending a golden shot of luminosity to balance out the composition.
Naturally, there is a fantastical amount of gold featured in the campaign, which sees the Diamonds singer walking through the famed hall of mirrors. "It is a dream in gold," says Rihanna. "J'adore is closely connected to gold, through its colour, its bottle and its image. Nowhere else in the world could you be surrounded by as much gold as at Versailles."
Her mesmerising power comes to life through Klein’s lens. "Rihanna has something remarkable that exceeds beauty and talent in truly extravagant fashion," says Klein. "With J'adore, she transforms into a living goddess, a queen in her kingdom who fully embodies the noble character of a perfume that speaks to women all over the world."
Rihanna speaks fondly of her collaboration with Klein, too. "Even with all he’s accomplished, he still has such a genuine, pure, child-like passion for his art," she shares. "It’s such a joy to work with artists like him."
View full post on InstagramBeing back in Versailles with Dior and Klein represents a significant full-circle moment for the singer. "Versailles is enchanting – everything is astonishingly beautiful," she says. "Being able to wander around there early in the morning was a privilege and a breathtaking experience from beginning to end."
