How Jonathan Anderson dismisses Jane from Inverurie and someone on a sofa in Nebraska instead of focusing on Dior

1. The phrase about “someone on a sofa in Nebraska” caught my eye while reading yet another interview with JW — this time for Esquire.

2. In it, he spoke about his attitude towards criticism, mentioning that when he considers who might be behind an online comment, he imagines “someone on a sofa in Nebraska” — which renders the comment irrelevant.

3. A few days ago, another interview appeared — a video conversation with Tim Blanks, where JW mentioned an imagined critic, Jane from Inverurie.

4. I struggled while watching. On screen, I didn’t see the designer of a major fashion house, but rather a person who couldn’t sit still and is clearly facing an unprecedented level of criticism — taking it personally, without separating himself from his role.

5. I felt sorry.

6. This text could easily turn into a long read on criticism in the fashion industry — I’ve been meaning to write one for some time. I’ve made notes on how criticism is psychologically processed, on the risks of a landscape where professional critique has largely been displaced, and on what actually matters versus background noise. Much of this has already been explored in academic texts, popular psychology, and — to some extent — in the histories of the rise and fall of regimes.

7. While watching, I found myself asking questions and getting answers. At one point, I wondered whether JW goes to therapy — he mentioned that he has never seen a psychotherapist.

8. I thought he could benefit from someone handling a specific layer of responsibility. He mentioned how well he works with Delphine Arnault and how strong she is, particularly in the design of bags.

9. I’m not sure that is enough.

10. Recently, I’ve been thinking about successful duos — Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole, Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, Alexander McQueen and Sarah Burton, John Galliano and Steven Robinson. Each operated differently, but there was always structural support behind the vision.

11. From my perspective, Dior seems to be missing someone who can translate JWI’s ideas into a precise technical language, which often lack sharpness in execution.

12. There also appears to be a gap in elevating the boutique offering into more fashion-forward yet still approachable offering — instead of the current very basic-level merchandise, which feels disconnected from the runway.

13. From the outside, the process doesn’t feel organised. If that isn’t addressed, we may end up watching JW struggle under pressure in real time.

14. Yes, in real time. Either the brand’s communications team hasn’t aligned closely enough for him to trust their guidance, or they are not fully assessing the image being projected.

15. Items with a Hermes logo on the table during an interview should be removed — even if they have nothing to do with a Birkin or a Kelly.