Elle Decor - USA (2019-09)

74 ELLE DECOR

LIVING ZODIAC TABLESCAPE

BY VANESSA L AWRENCE

PRODUCED BY PARKER BOWIE LARSON

PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANCIS HAMMOND

Raising

Cane

A NEW TABLETOP

COLLECTION BEGS THE

QUESTION: HOW WOULD

A VIRGO SET THE TABLE?

ABOVE: Dior Maison creative director Cordelia de Castellane in the Salon Historique of Christian

Dior ’s apar tment in Paris, with pieces from the summer 2019 collec tion. LEFT: The plates, mugs, and

placemats are in the Provence Cannage pattern. The cutlery has handles in olive wood, and the Tree

Palm candlesticks are ceramic. The Clover glass was mouth-blown in Italy. For details, see Resources.

T

HERE ARE TABLESETTINGS—AND PARTIES—THAT REVEL IN THE GLAMOUR OF

disheveled disorder. And then there are meals hosted by Virgos (August 23–

September 22). An earth sign ruled by the planet Mercury, Virgos are well known

for their detail-oriented, highly analytical, and organized approach to every

matter of life—and also for their love of nature. Entertaining-minded Virgos

would no doubt be drawn to this tableau featuring the latest tabletop pieces from Dior

Maison. Designed by creative director Cordelia de Castellane, the summer 2019 collection

is inspired by the canework (or cannage) of the Napoleon III–style chairs that Christian

Dior used as seating in his fashion shows. De Castellane interpreted their ordered patterns

in a green shade as an homage to Mr. Dior’s beloved garden and a beige she compares to the

hue of “the Haussmannian buildings in Paris.” And despite Virgo’s reputedly rigid nature,

de Castellane encourages a looser approach to picking an occasion to enjoy her designs.

“I don’t like the idea of creating something just for a special meal or place—I want to break

the rules!” she says. “I’m here to dream up unexpected things.” ◾