Dior’s takeover at Ember Beach Club (Photo: Eric Chow)
It is Dior’s world and we are just living in it — or at least, this is the case at One&Only Desaru Coast, Johor. The luxury resort’s Ember Beach Club is almost unrecognisable after being given a Toile de Jouy makeover.
It is one of the French maison’s fundamental motifs, revisited in a soft pastel pink and grey for its Dioriviera capsule collection. It adorns the cabanas and parasols, the cushions and deckchairs, and stretches across the restaurant’s ceiling as well as the bottom of the resort’s iconic pool. It also wraps the ferry transporting holidaymakers travelling between Singapore and Desaru Coast. Word on the street is this is perhaps the biggest and most elaborate pop-up of its kind in the region.
Dior spared no expense in creating a marvellous site, with whimsical and larger-than-life sandcastles erected to house its latest summer offerings. They even went as far as collecting samples of sand from Desaru’s beach to ensure the structures would blend seamlessly with its surroundings — a clear testament to its assiduous and meticulous attention to detail.
dior_desaru.jpg
Knowledgeable and helpful attendants greet guests with a smile as they introduce the collection, dreamt up by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri to invite a sense of escape and enchantment this season. The pattern celebrates the cohabitation of wildlife, where tigers, giraffes, monkeys and reptiles, among others, live harmoniously on Dior’s ready-to-wear dresses, skirts, swimsuits, shorts and other apparel.
One cannot forget the accessories, too. The elegant Toile de Jouy Sauvage variation is also deployed on its bags, including the Lady Dior, Dior Book Tote and Lady Dior Wicker. And how lovely would your evening resort outfit look with a pair of Dway mules or J’Adior pumps? By extension of the collection’s elegant designs, a series of home and holiday paraphernalia, from decorative objects and tableware to table tennis bats and beach games, is also available to make more joyful summer memories with.
dior_cafe_desaru_1.jpg
Much more than just a shopping destination, the Dioriviera pop-up also brings back the exclusive Dior Café, with chef Raymond Tham of Beta KL and Skillet@163 at the helm for the second time. His menu for Dior is an amalgamation of French and Malaysian flavours, with dishes thoughtfully presented to celebrate the fashion house. Here, the environment is abuzz with laughter and conversation, lubricated by a glass of champagne or a signature cocktail. However, nothing quite quenches and revives one better than a chilled coconut or a cold treat from the gelato stand.
Fringed by azure waters and lush landscapes, Desaru Coast has quickly become a top pick of Malaysians and Singaporeans alike for vacations and getaways in the few short years since its establishment. While the integrated development continues to attract holidaymakers with its slew of globally renowned luxury hotels and resorts, Dior’s fanciful takeover will no doubt further its appeal as an excellent port of call.
The Dioriviera pop-up and café runs until Aug 6 at One&Only Desaru Coast’s Ember Beach Club. It is open daily from 10am to 8pm.
This article first appeared on June 26, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
