“The White Lotus” breakout star Sam Nivola was among the guests invited to be on hand for Jonathan Anderson‘s much-anticipated Dior Men runway debut.

“ It’s been really cool getting to sort of joyride in the fashion world,” says Nivola on Friday from Paris, shortly after the show. “I don’t know very much about fashion or about fashion history. I’m learning so much, so quickly; it’s a whole new art form.”

The actor and the designer have become “fast friends,” and Nivola lavished praise upon the collection. “I’m so proud and impressed, because it’s a momentous thing. This is a big deal. And he did such a good job, and the clothes are amazing. They’re just gorgeous and beautiful and everyone looks amazing in them.”

Speaking of the clothes, Nivola attended the show dressed in a white cable knit sweater embroidered with pink tulips, white cargo shorts, a pearl necklace with floral charms and pink sunglasses and suede sneakers.

“ I love classic clothes,” said Nivola, describing the collection as an “amazing renaissance of the brand.”

“Jonathan’s style matches mine really perfectly, because it’s timeless. It’s clothes that look beautiful, and an homage to the ’60s and to this old world of Dior that values elegance and class, over making a statement about nothing.”

Ahead of the show, Dior released a short editorial video clip starring Nivola. In it, the actor lounges in a sunny field of wildflowers at Versailles, dandelion in hand, outfitted in a Dior-embroidered sweater and accessories.

“ We were shooting in The Queen’s Hamlet — Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet — within Versailles, which is this little fake town that she had built because she felt like the palace was too grand, and she wanted to live like a normal person,” said Nivola, who filmed the clip around a month ago. “It was gorgeous, and totally matched [Anderson’s] vibe and the vibe of the clothes.”

The actor was making the most of his quick trip to Paris, visiting a museum and going out to dinner around show duties.

“Sometimes when you travel to a place for a day or two for work, it’s a real pain … and you just don’t wanna do anything and you just wanna stay in your room — especially when the hotel is as nice as the one they put me in,” said Nivola, adding that he was currently on his hotel balcony taking in views of the Eiffel Tower. “Something about Paris makes you really want go out and explore, even when you’re jet-lagged beyond belief and just want to take a Tylenol PM.”

The morning after the Dior show, Nivola was headed to the Glastonbury Festival to meet up with his girlfriend, Iris Apatow, to see some of their friends perform at the music festival.

“ I’m half English, but I’ve never been to Glastonbury, so that’s gonna be a blast,” he said.

Afterward, it was back to summer in New York. “I’m gonna try and enjoy a little break, because I’ve been working a lot the past few years,” said Nivola. “I pay a lot of rent in New York, and I wanna be in my apartment for more than a week at a time. So I’ll enjoy the stifling heat for a little while, and then hopefully go to work sometime in the fall.”