Couturier Christian Dior presented his first show on February 12, 1947 and his gorgeously feminine pieces delighted a generation of women used to boxy suits and drab designs.
“You waved your wand and suddenly I was young and hopeful again,” one delighted fan told Monsieur Dior. “I love you.”
At the beginning of his career, Dior worked with couturier Robert Piguet and his “wide dresses” featuring wide skirts, rounded busts and embroidered petticoats were favoured by many.
During World War II, he was drafted into the army and was assigned to farm duty and after his discharge, he began working with designer Lucien Lelong alongside Pierre Balmain.
1947 was when Dior established his own fashion house and launched his first “New Look” designs and the following year, his collection debuted in New York.
1950 was a big year for Dior as the fashion house obtained licenses for hats, furs, scarves, gloves, jewelry, handbags, hosiery, and lingerie.
A man of many talents, Dior wrote his first book Je Suis Couturier the following year.
Things were happening very quickly for this designer and in 1953, he began collaborating with Roger Vivier, producing beautiful shoes to wear with his designs.
His Vivante collection made headlines at many a fashion publication thanks to the super short hemlines, which were almost unheard of at the time.
Dior’s Little Dictionary Of Fashion was, and continues to be, consulted for how to achieve 1950s chic, as he firmly pointed out the sartorial do’s and don’ts of this particular decade.
Yves Saint Laurent was hired by Dior in 1955 and from the beginning, it was clear that Dior saw something special in the young designer.
The Arrow and Aimant collections were presented in 1956 and Dior by Dior, the designer’s autobiography was published early in 1957.
In October of that year, Dior passed away from a heart attack while on holiday in Italy. Before he passed away, he told his studio deputy, Madame Raymonde that she must ensure Yves Saint Laurent would take on Dior’s role as head of the fashion house.
Yves Saint Laurent was only 21 when he was announced as head designer at Dior, in November 1957.
Raf Simons is currently creative director at Dior, the sixth designer to take the helm at the luxury fashion house. Check his designs from Dior’s autumn winter 2014 collections.
Jennifer Lawrence has participated in several campaigns for the fashion house while both Kate Mara and Charlize Theron have also been pictured wearing Dior designs.
