Christian Dior lived a life full of unexpected changes, from extreme wealth and abundance to dire poverty and homelessness, and back again. It’s fascinating how this unusual visionary managed to establish one of the most powerful fashion brands on the planet.
Christian Dior brought a fashion revolution and his first collection for his own fashion house, which debuted at 10:30 am on February 12, 1947, at his salon on Avenue Montaigne, was famously known as "The New Look.”
At Dashe Beauty, we exclusively feature Christian Dior’s hairstyle and makeup trends and his legacy still lives on. The collection was officially titled "Corolle,” which is French for the circle of petals on a flower. Dior described this collection saying, "I created flower women with gentle shoulders and generous bosoms, with tiny waists like stems and skirts belling out like petals.”
History of Christian Dior and how the ‘Dior’ brand established
As a boy, little Christian lived in his own world. He was amused by anything sparkling or frivolous, but his greatest love was for flowers and plants. His father, Alexandre wanted him to become a diplomat. Although it didn’t interest young Dior at all, he eventually caved to his father’s wishes and, in 1925, enrolled at the prestigious École des Sciences Politiques, majoring in political science.
After graduating in 1928, 23-year-old Dior returned to the creative world. Happy to return to art, Christian quickly accepted, and the gallery soon opened. He sold art by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Jean Cocteau, and Max Jacob. However, in 1931, tragedy struck. Both Christian’s mother and older brother passed away, and due to the Great Depression, his father lost control of the family business. Just three years after opening the gallery, Christian was forced to close it, facing financial troubles.
Despite these setbacks, he found new ways to make money, starting by selling his fashion sketches for about 10 cents each. He also began selling sketches of hat designs to newspapers. Dior clearly had talent and was offered a job as a design assistant with Swiss-born but Paris-based couturier Robert Piguet. Dior later said that Piguet taught him the virtues of simplicity, through which true elegance must come. Working with Piguet was Dior’s first step toward a serious involvement in fashion, opening many doors for him.
In 1947, Dior opened his boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne, and the Christian Dior brand was finally created. Dior began working harder than ever before. While he had a degree in political science, his true education came from associating with some of the world’s greatest artists. His early years of privilege also shone through.
Some of Dior’s iconic dresses and how it changed the beauty standard for good
Dior wanted to reintroduce femininity and luxury, and he did so with his first couture collection, Corolle. The collection was groundbreaking, harking back to an earlier Belle Époque silhouette, romantic, lavish, and feminine. The designs featured lifted busts, softly sloped shoulders, cinched waists, and puffy long skirts made from opulent fabrics.
Despite some backlash, especially from Coco Chanel, who criticized Dior for dragging women back to 19th-century ideals of femininity, Dior persevered. His designs were revolutionary, and his collection was a huge success. By 1948, Dior had opened a store in New York City, expanding his collection and creating a fragrance, Miss Dior, named in honor of his sister, Catherine. He also licensed the Dior name for accessories, allowing Dior lovers to capture the New Look from head to toe.
Throughout the following years, the brand flourished. Dior dressed the biggest stars of the time and became a respected fashion empire. In 1957, Dior traveled to Italy for a vacation but suffered his third heart attack and died at 52. Yves Saint Laurent, who had been working as Dior’s assistant, succeeded him as artistic director, keeping Dior’s legacy alive.
Charlize Theron’s golden J’Adore Dior campaign
Charlize Theron returned for the J’Adore Dior fragrance campaign in 2014, wearing a gold Dior dress designed specifically for the campaign. The dress follows the original design of Christian Dior, made of chiffon, tulle, and silk organza, and is covered in golden beads, which took 750 hours to sew onto.
Cream-color Dior dress from Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday
Christian Dior and Princess Margaret formed a fashion friendship in 1951, The dress wouldn’t exist without the private fashion show Dior gave the Queen (the late Queen Mother) and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at the French Embassy in London, in April 1950, at their royal request.
The aftermath and why everyone still loves Dior
Under various creative directors, including Marc Bohan, who was credited with rescuing the firm in the 1960s, Dior continued to thrive. The brand expanded internationally, opening stores in cities like London and Hong Kong. By the late 1970s, Dior had created worldwide brand recognition but also became a hidden asset in the failing Boussac Group. In 1978, when the group filed for bankruptcy, billionaire Bernard Arnault saw an opportunity. Obsessed with Dior since childhood, Arnault took charge, assuming roles of chairman, CEO, and managing director. Under Arnault’s leadership and the direction of several impressive creative directors, Dior continued to stand out.
Conclusion
Despite being folded into LVMH, Dior remains an impressive standalone brand. Today, Dior thrives, recording significant revenue and maintaining its status as an epitome of the fashion industry, known for meticulous attention to detail and timeless style. Get more inspiration by visiting our website https://dashebeauty.com or follow up on our beauty blog. — Dashe Beauty Kuwait.