Christian Dior (1905-1957) was a French fashion designer who created one of the most legendary Maison de couture: la Maison Dior
Elegance must be the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity. Outside this, believe me, there is no elegance. Only pretension.
Christian Dior
Early life
Christian Dior was born in Granville, a seaside town in Normandy. His father, Maurice Dior, was the owner of a highly successful fertilizer manufacturer. When Christian Dior was about five years old, the family moved to Paris, but, still returned to Granville for summer holidays.
His family had hoped he would become a diplomat, but Dior was passionate about art. However, submitted to pressure from his father, he enrolled at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques.
At the same time, he used to sell his fashion sketches for about 10 cents each…
In 1928, Dior opened a small art gallery with the money he received from his father. Dior’s gallery handled the works of such artists as Matisse, Dali, Braque, Picasso, Cocteau and Max Jacob. But 3 years later, after the death of his mother and elder brother and a financial disaster in the family’s business during the Great Depression, the gallery had to be closed.
Early work in fashion
Dior began to sell his fashion sketches and in 1935, landed a job illustrating the magazine Figaro illustré. In 1937, he was hired as a design assistant by Paris couturier Piguet who gave him the opportunity to design three Piguet collections.
Whilst at Piguet, Dior worked alongside Pierre Balmain. Christian Dior left Piguet when he was called up for military service. In 1942, he left the army and joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong.
Founding of la "Maison Dior" and the "New Look" style
1946: Founding of the Maison Dior
After WWII, in 1946, Christian Dior decided to start under his own name. The “Maison Dior” was established on December 16, at 30 avenue Montaigne, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
1947: First Dior collection
In 1947, Christian Dior created his first collection that he called “Corolle” ( = the botanical term corolla or circlet of flower petals in English). It featured narrow-waisted tightly fitted bodices and full pleated skirts. It then became known as the “New Look” style.
He was the master at creating shapes and silhouettes. He was then the most successful fashion designer in the world.
The New Look revolutionized women’s dresses and reestablished Paris as the centre of the fashion world after WWII.
“I have designed flower women”
Christian Dior
death
“Finally, everything that has been part of my life, whether I wanted it to or not, has expressed itself in my dresses” – Christian Dior
Christian Dior died in Italy in 1957, of a heart attack at the cemetery of Callian in the Var department (France.).
The Christian Dior’s house is now owned by Groupe Arnault. There are more than 160 Dior shops in the world.
perfumes
In 1947, Christian Dior launched his first perfume : “Miss Dior”. This name is a tribute to Christian Dior’s sister, Catherine Dior, French resistance fighter, familiarly known as Miss Dior.
Some of his most famous perfumes :
- 1947 : Miss Dior
- 1966 : first Eau de Toilette for men, Eau Sauvage
- 1985 : Poison which becomes a worldwide best-seller
- 1988 : Fahrenheit
- 1991 : Dune
- 1999 : J’adore
Actresses and celebrities
Some actresses known for wearing Dior clothes :
Marlène Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Olivia de Haviland, Sharon Stone, Monica Bellucci, Elisabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth…
Now : Cotillard, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman
ACTRESSES: His designs have been worn by film stars and Royalty alike.
Marlene Dietrich : “No Dior, no Dietrich”
Photo : Marlene Dietrich and Jane Wyman, in 1950, for the Alfred Hitchcock film Stage Fright. Dietrich’s costume by Christian Dior.
More about Christian Dior and his creations
"La Galerie Dior": the Dior museum in Paris
If you’re a fashion lover, don’t miss this stunning museum located in Paris !
La Galerie Dior, located where the Dior myth was born 75 years ago, opened its doors in March 2022.
You’ll find an amazing exhibition of Dior haute couture creations: luxury fabrics, mesmerizing designs and colors, incredible dresses. And you will enjoy the history of one of the most legendary maisons de couture.
https://www.galeriedior.com/en
Opened from 11am to 7pm. Online reservation of a time slot is recommended although some tickets are still available on site from 11.30am (but there may be a wait). Full price : 14€
The museum hosts a café-restaurant: the “Café Dior” located inside la Galerie Dior (accessible only to visitors except Tuesday).
“La Galerie Dior”, 11 rue François Ier, Paris 8. Metro stops : Franklin Roosevelt, Alma Marceau or Champs Elysées – Clémenceau
SOME BOOKS ABOUT OR BY CHRISTIAN DIOR
- “Christian Dior, the man who made the world Look New” – Marie-France Pochna (1996) (Amazon.com)
- Dior by Dior” by Christian dior : Christian Dior’s autobiography offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of haute couture. Dior by Dior Deluxe Edition: The Autobiography of Christian Dior (Amazon.com)
movie
“Dior and I” (documentary 2015) : Dior and I brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director
Official trailer :
song
The English singer-songwriter Morrissey released a song titled “Christian Dior” as an B-side to his 2006 single “In the future when All’s well”
"Les Rhumbs" : Christian Dior childhood home in Granville (Normandy): now "Christian Dior Museum"
“I have most tender and amazing memories… of my childhood home. I would even say that my life and my style owe almost everything to its site and architecture.”
“Christian Dior and I” (= Christian Dior’s autobiography)
Christian Dior Museum – Granville (Normandy – France)
The villa was purchased by the town of Granville and the garden was open to the public from 1938.
In 1997, the villa became the “Christian Dior Museum”
////
- It presents Haute couture garments on 3 floors and the garden is still arranged as an English landscape park as it was by Madeleine Dior, Christian Dior’s mother.
- The shop inside the museum : selection of books related to fashion and Christian Dior, catalogue-books of the pas exhibitions, postcards, posters, historical fragrances and Dior gifts.
- A tea room : in the heart of Christian childhood’s garden, overlooking the sea, opened during July and August from 12 to 6.30 pm. free access independent of the museum’s entrance.
It’s a Belle Epoque style 19th century villa standing on the cliff and over looking the sea, located in Granville, Normandy, not far from Mont Saint Michel.
Christian Dior’s parents bought this villa in 1905 and Christian Dior was particularly fond of this place.
In 1932, shortly after Christian Dior’s mother Madeleine had died, the father got ruined by the crisis and the property had to be sold.
- Villa “Les Rhumbs”, 1 rue d’Estouteville – 50400 GRANVILLE
- musee-dior-granville.com
