WHO AM I ? my BIO
Christian Dior (1905-1957) was a French fashion designer who founded 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 successful fertilizer company. When Christian Dior was about five, the family moved to Paris, but, they continued to spend summers in Granville.
His family hoped he would become a diplomat, but Dior was passionate about art. Under pressure from his father, he enrolled at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques.
At the same time, he began selling his fashion sketches for about 10 cents each…
In 1928, Dior opened a small art gallery with financial helm from his father. The gallery featured works by artists like Matisse, Dali, Braque, Picasso, Cocteau and Max Jacob. However 3 years later, after his mother and elder brother died and the family business collapsed during the Great Depression, the gallery closed three years later.
Early work in fashion
Dior continued selling fashion sketches and, in 1935, started working as an illustrator for the magazine Figaro illustré. In 1937, he became design assistant for Paris couturier Robert Piguet who let him design three collections.
At Piguet, he worked alongside Pierre Balmain.
Christian Dior left when he was called up for military service. After leaving the army in 1942, he joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong.
founding of La "Maison dior" and the "new look" style
1946: The beginning
After World War II, in 1946, Christian Dior founded his own fashion house. The “Maison Dior” opened on December 16 at 30 avenue Montaigne, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
1947: The first collection
In 1947, Christian Dior presented his first collection, called “Corolle” ( = the Frenchh word for “corolla” or the petals of a flower). It featured narrow-waists and full skirts. The style soonn became known as the “New Look” style.
This new silhouette revolutionized women’s fashion and helped restore 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” named in tribute to his sister, Catherine Dior, a French resistance fighter, familiarly known as “Miss Dior”.
Some of Dior’s most famous perfumes :
- 1947 : Miss Dior
- 1966 : Eau Sauvage (his first men’s fragrance)
- 1985 : Poison which becomes a worldwide best-seller
- 1988 : Fahrenheit
- 1991 : Dune
- 1999 : J’adore
actresses and celebrities
Dior’s designs have been worn by many movie stars and members of royalty. Among them:
Marlène Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Olivia de Havilland, Sharon Stone, Monica Bellucci, Elisabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman
“No Dior, no Dietrich”, Marlène 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 is located at the historic birthplace of the brand (75 years ago), opened in March 2022.
The museum showcases Dior haute couture creations (luxury fabrics, mesmerizing colors, stunning dresses) and tells the story of one of the greatest maisons de couture in history.
If you plan a visit, please check the details below as it may change over time.
- Open 11am – 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€
- Café-restaurant: the “Café Dior” available to museum visitors (except Tuesday).
- Address: 11 rue François Ier, Paris 8.
- Metro: Franklin Roosevelt, Alma Marceau or Champs Elysées – Clémenceau
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“: Christian Dior’s autobiography offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of haute couture. (Amazon.com)
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”
Christian Dior's childhood home: "Les Rhumbs", now the "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” (autobiography)
Located in Granville, Normandy, not far from Mont-Saint-Michel, this Belle Époque-style billa stands on a cliff overlooking the sea.
Dior’s parents bought the home in 1905, the year Christian Dior was born. He cherished this place deeply.
In 1932, after the death of Christian Dior’s mother Madeleine, and financial ruin, the villa had to be sold. In 1938, the town of Granville bought the property and opened the garden to the public. In 1997, the villa became the Christian Dior Museum.
What to see:
- Three floors of Haute couture garments
- An English-style garden, originally designed by Dior’s mother.
- A shop: books related on Dior and fashion, exhibition catalogs, postcards, gifts, historical fragrances. –
- A tea room : in the heart of Christian childhood’s garden. Open July-August, 12-6.30 pm. with sea view, free access. Independent of the museum’s entrance.
- Address: Villa “Les Rhumbs”, 1 rue d’Estouteville – 50400 GRANVILLE (Normandy)
- musee-dior-granville.com
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