A young Dior sought mystical guidance from Delahaye and, according to de Ribes, consulted the clairvoyant frequently throughout his life. He was obsessed with the number 13 and always had 13 models present when he presented his collections.
He outfitted a host of stars, including Rita Hayworth and Margot Fonteyn. He also designed the famous black handbag, which became a staple for Princess Diana of Wales.
Founded in 1905
Christian Dior was born in Granville, a seaside town on the coast of Normandy, France, in 1905. He was the second of five children, and his family was quite wealthy from their fertilizer business. Although Dior had a passion for art, his father insisted that he attend school and become a diplomat. He eventually gave in to the pressure and enrolled at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques to study political science. But his dream was never lost, and he continued to sketch fashion designs on the side. He also opened an art gallery with a friend.
After finishing his studies, Dior returned to Paris and began working with couturier Lucien Lelong until he was called up for military service in 1940. He was able to use his knowledge of the industry to help his family survive during difficult times, and soon, his sketches were gaining attention and selling well.
During the years following World War II, Dior’s fashion house became a leader in haute couture. The designs were luxurious, elegant, and romantic, and they were a welcome change from the austere, postwar styles that had been in vogue prior to the war. The New Look was a revolutionary style that celebrated women’s beauty and feminity. The use of elaborate fabrics and feminine shapes characterized it.
As a result, the brand became very popular around the world. Many famous actresses and singers wore Dior clothes, including Rita Hayworth and Margot Fonteyn. Dior’s opulent fashions were a break from the postwar rationing that had wreaked havoc on the world of fashion. Dior’s extravagant use of fabrics inspired the public to return to a more lavish lifestyle.
Christian Dior died in 1957 at a spa in Montecatini, Italy. He had suffered from a heart attack and choked on a fish bone at dinner. Despite his tragic end, he left behind an immense legacy and was a man who loved his work and appreciated the finer things in life.
After the death of Dior, the brand went through a series of leadership changes. John Galliano, a British designer, was the next to lead the brand. He was known for his bold vantage and controversial themes, including homelessness in a Haute Couture show and erotic ad campaigns. Following moments of scandal, the company hired minimalist Belgian designer Raf Simons.
Designed by Christian Dior
During the Second World War, women struggled with rationing. From lipstick to nylons, they had to make do with the limited materials on hand. When Christian Dior unleashed his New Look on the unsuspecting fashion world in 1947, it was a breath of fresh air. Women could now dress with confidence, knowing that their outfits were stylish and modern. Dior’s creations also helped to bring back a sense of glamour, which had been lost during the dark days of the Depression and the war.
The V&A’s exhibition, Designer of Dreams, takes the viewer on a journey through the different eras of the House of Dior. Dior’s six successors have kept the spirit of his legacy alive. Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, and Raf Simons each brought their interpretation to the brand. Each era is represented by a different room in the exhibit, which allows the visitor to see how each design was created.
Dior himself had a deep love of art. He ran an art gallery before beginning his fashion career. The gallery handled the works of artists such as Matisse, Picasso, and Cocteau. But after the death of his mother and elder brother and the financial disaster of his family’s business during the Great Depression, he decided to turn to fashion.
When Yves Saint Laurent joined Dior in 1955, he was only 19. But it didn’t take long for him to recognize his talent and creativity. The pair worked together closely and quickly became a formidable team. Yves was a perfectionist, and his meticulousness helped him create pieces that were flawless and impeccable.
After Yves left Dior, Marc Bohan took over the company. His designs were more in line with the original vision of Christian Dior. He also introduced ready-to-wear clothing, which made the brand more accessible to the public. He kept the house of Dior relevant and flourishing until 1978 when Bernard Arnault purchased it.
The exhibition at the V&A is a must-see for anyone interested in fashion history. It includes many of the iconic haute couture designs that Dior created. It also features a range of other archival materials, including rare photographs and sketches. It is a fascinating look at the history of a fashion house that is still creating beautiful clothes today.
Designed by John Galliano
John Galliano is a legendary fashion designer known for his flamboyant and theatrical runway shows. His designs often incorporate elements of historical costume and fantasy. He began his career as a freelance designer for British designers such as Stephen Jones and Wendy Dagworthy before moving to Paris in the 1980s. He later became the head designer of Givenchy and Christian Dior, bringing new vigor to the houses. He also relaunched his label, John Galliano.
His time at Dior was a success, and his extravagant designs helped restore Paris’s reputation as the fashion capital of the world. The dresses he created were modern and evocative, with features such as trompe-l’oeil detailing and soft-to-hard juxtapositions. In addition to the dresses, Galliano’s collections included menswear and lingerie and were inspired by the Second Empire and other historical styles.
Despite his success, Galliano’s personal life was tumultuous. In 2011, he was dismissed from Dior after making anti-Semitic remarks in a Paris cafe. He subsequently underwent addiction treatment and has since apologized for his behavior. However, his legacy as one of the most influential fashion designers remains undiminished.
In his time at the house, he created several iconic collections. He reworked the original silhouettes of Dior’s 1947 collection and introduced new colors, materials, and fabrics. He also introduced the “couture” look, which is characterized by a fitted, hourglass shape. His love of art and culture influenced Galliano’s designs. He had previously run an art gallery in France before entering the world of fashion.
After he departed from Dior, he was hired by Maison Margiela. He continued to create innovative collections, including a circus-inspired group in 2015 and an artisanal collection in 2016. While his work at Maison Margiela was less commercial than his previous collections at Dior, he remained an industry leader in creative innovation.
As a teenager in northern England, Alexander Fury would save up to buy clothes from Galliano’s namesake label. He has never stopped buying Galliano pieces and credits the “fantasy” of his designs with inspiring him to start a career in fashion. Shop our range of pre-owned John Galliano pieces, from printed tops to vintage midi skirts.
Designed by Raf Simons
The designs of Raf Simons have made him one of fashion’s most influential designers. His minimalist approach has redefined menswear silhouettes and influenced street style. He has also worked as a creative director at Jil Sander and Dior, and he now oversees women’s ready-to-wear collections for Calvin Klein. He’s also a longtime wearer of Adidas’ Stan Smith sneakers, which he updated with colorful leather and perforated “R” logos.
In his debut collection, Simons drew inspiration from the colors and forms of flowers. He focused on the flowers’ architectural structure, creating trim details that echoed flower petals and arranging dresses in geometric shapes. He also paid attention to proportions, transforming full-skirted ball gowns into tops that barely covered the derriere and pairing them with austere black trousers. In many ways, the collection was a tribute to the past, but it was firmly anchored in the present.
It was a triumph that was eagerly awaited by the Parisian fashion community. LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault and Chief Executive Officer Michael Toledano praised Simons after his show, and he promised more to come.
Simons, who was born in Neerpelt, Belgium, studied industrial and furniture design in Genk before becoming a part of the Antwerp Six, a group that put Belgium on the international fashion map. After graduating, he launched his menswear line in 1995 and began showing it in Paris two years later. His skinny tailoring and sexy casting quickly created a sensation.
After working at his eponymous label and serving as head of both men’s and women’s at Jil Sander, Simons was named creative director at Dior in 2012. His first haute couture collection was presented in a hotel particularly decked out with millions of flowers. It drew a crowd that included Millie Bobby Brown and Kaia Gerber, who was making her runway debut. Simons gave Dior’s romantic legacy a modern edge without the drama and personal excess of his predecessor, John Galliano.
Since then, he has reimagined the house’s signatures with a modern sense of glamor and a futuristic gloss. From graphic catsuits and asymmetric coats to astronautlike jumpsuits and flirty pleated miniskirts, his ready-to-wear collections have earned him an ever-growing following. In the process, he has redefined sartorial codes and transformed how young women around the world wear fashion.
