Fashion designer Christian Dior: what is known about his life, detailed biography, collections

The words "Christian Dior" conjure images of grace, inventiveness, and the enduring appeal of fashion. French-born Dior’s transformation from a young man with a love of art to one of the most significant fashion designers in history is truly amazing. Even after his debut collection went viral several decades ago, his influence on the fashion industry is still felt today.

Women’s fashion was revolutionized by Dior’s keen sense of style and inventiveness throughout her life. His most famous creation, the "New Look," redefined femininity in the years following World War II. This style’s tightened waists and full

List of basic information

• Years of life – January 21, 1905 -. October 24, 1957.
• Place of birth: Normandy, Granville.
• Died in Italy, Tuscany.
• Parents: Maurice Dior – father, Marie-Madeleine Juliette Martin – mother.

• Older brother – Raymond.
• Younger sisters – Jacqueline, Catherine.
• Younger brother – Bernard.
• Profession: costume designer, fashion designer, founder of the Christian Dior house.

Childhood and youth

Christian’s family relocated to Paris in 1911 from the fishing port. The boy didn’t need anything because his parents were well off. As the heir apparent, his father controlled multiple chemical and fertilizer manufacturing plants.

From an early age, the boy’s mother instilled in her son a taste for fine things. His parents sent him to study political science because they wanted their son to pursue a career in diplomacy.

Education early career

The future fashion designer loved visiting museums and painting so much that he dropped out of political science school. Dior made the decision to open an art gallery in 1928 where visitors could view the creations of well-known artists like Picasso and Matisse.

Before long, his family relocated to the province, and Christian was there to see a friend. Fashion artist Jean Ozenne also developed an interest in this field as a future couturier. Christian drew sketches and sold them to Parisian fashion houses.

Career stages

Let’s look at his career’s major phases:

• In 1935 Dior"s sketches of hats and dresses were published in the publication "Figaro illustre".
• After serving in the army, in 1941, Dior got a job at the Lucien Lelong fashion house.
• A year later, they opened a laboratory for the development and production of perfumes, which later became the Christian Dior Perfume company. The fashion designer said that perfumes complement a woman"s personality and complete her image. His best fragrances became popular all over the world.
• In 1946, Marcel Boussac – textile magnate noticed the talent of a former political science student and helped him. Marcel bought a building on Rue Montaigne, where Christian created a workshop.
• In 1947 his first collection New Look was released. The public was amazed by the sharp contrast with the restrained post-war women"s suits.

• In 1948 a Dior boutique opened in New York. Soon fashion accessories, furs, bags were released under his name.
• In 1953 a shoe production department from Dior opened.
• In 1954 the designer began to design underwear. In the spring, his Fashion House occupied 5 buildings, which housed 28 workshops and a staff of 1,000 people. In different parts of the world, 8 branches and 6 subsidiaries worked under his brand.
• In 1955 the Fashion House had its own line of jewelry. Dior designed costumes for films, Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf adored his outfits.

Sale of the fashion designer"s brand

Following Dior’s unexpected passing, Yves Saint Laurent rose to prominence as a fashion designer. Marc Bohan took over as the fashion house’s director in 1960. Bernard Arnault paid just one franc to purchase the fashion house after Boussac’s business ventures failed.

The Mod studio developed into a holding company, and surrounding it, smaller businesses producing high-end goods clustered.

At home were the principal fashion designers:

In 2016, Maria Grazia Kuri served as the Office’s director. belongs to the holding of Bernard Arno, which includes 75 LVMH brands.

Influence on fashion

The great master’s clothing models serve as an inspiration for contemporary designers and are well-liked by ladies of all ages.

Top inventions:

The French designer’s clothing for Soviet women arrived late. Lyudmila Gurchenko’s film "Carnival Night" featured a dress in the style of his debut collection on her for the first time.

Collections

The fashion designer published 21 collections between 1947 and 1957. Every ensemble was named after a different aspect of the world. Inspiration for the artist came from opera, theater, books, museums, and flowers.

An overview of a few of his collections is as follows:

• New Look or Corolle, 1947. The most famous collection. It was dominated by lush crinoline skirts, thin waists, voluminous hips.
• Zig-zag, 1948. The author wanted to show flight using folds, folds on dresses made of thick fabric. Skirts and collars in the models are wrapped in a complex design, the silhouettes turned out to be geometric.
• Vertical line, 1950. Models with narrow vertical details – collars, stitching. The silhouette was visually stretched in the outfits.
• Oblique line, 1950. After it, shawl collars, beveled collars and fasteners, wrap came into fashion.
• Oval line, 1951. Clothes close to natural contours of the body. Predominantly tapered skirts and boleros.
• Elongated line, 1951. Models with a narrow collar, cut from component parts, emphasized by fasteners from a long row of buttons.
• Curved and profiled line, 1952. Complex, multi-component cut, pleated skirts. The collections are distinguished by complex drapery, especially demi-season coats.
• Tulip, 1953. Bright and pastel fabrics predominate in flower-shaped outfits. Dresses are decorated with embroidery.

• Lily of the valley, 1954. The master considered this flower his talisman. Here are light flowing models with a bright print and monochromatic.
• H-silhouette, 1954. The straight cut lifted the chest, the waistline was located lower, outwardly similar to the letter H. A pencil skirt first appeared among this collection.
• A-silhouette, 1955. Models resembling a triangle allowed women to move freely. The waist was not pulled in by a corset, as before.
• Y-silhouette, 1955. Here is an extended shoulder line and a visually narrow bottom.
• Arrow, 1956. Fitted jackets, pencil skirts, sheath dresses.
• Free line, 1957. For the anniversary in honor of the tenth anniversary of the fashion house, the master created a silhouette without a waist. Skirts flared, straight.
• Spindle, 1957. The designer"s last collection returns to a feminine silhouette. The models are fitted, the skirts are wide.

What the items from the collections looked like before:

The following fashion trends from these collections are still in style today:

Personal life

The well-known designer was never married and went unnoticed when he was with women.

Rumors circulated regarding the non-traditional orientation of the couture and his association with Perrotino, the driver. The designer got to know young Algerian singer Jacques Benita in 1956. They even made an appearance in public life.

Dior did not have a family; however, it is known that he looked after his friend Pierre Colle’s widow and daughters.

Farewell to the couturier

In October 1957, the master visited a resort in an effort to get healthier. However, the talented couture designer vanished on October 24, ten days later.

A heart attack was the cause. Upon He was fifty-seven years old at that point. It took place in Tuscany, Italy. Marcel Boussac gave the order for the designer’s body to be flown to Paris.

Over 2,500 people showed up to bid him farewell. The fashion designer is interred in the Callian cemetery in France. Christian Dior was born in Granville, where his sister Catherine Dior opened a museum following the designer’s passing.

Christian Dior was a visionary fashion designer whose iconic designs transformed the fashion business. French by birth, Dior’s trajectory from owner of an art gallery to the creator of one of the most prominent fashion houses globally is a tale of passion, inventiveness, and grace. His designs, particularly the "New Look," revolutionized women’s fashion in the years following World War II by showcasing elegance and femininity. This article dives into his life, examining his upbringing, professional achievements, and the enduring influence of his designs on the fashion industry.

Merits and achievements

The designer was honored with numerous accolades during his lifetime:

• 1947 – Neiman Marcus Award and the title of "Couturier".
• 1948 – American award for contribution to the art of fashion designer.
• 1950 – Legion of Honor.
• 1955 – Oscar nomination for best costumes for the black-and-white film "Termini Station".
• 1967 – posthumous nomination for a BAFTA award for stage costumes in the color film "Arabesque".

We also invite you to view the following video, which discusses the legendary Christian Dior:

5 interesting facts

1. Dior was the first to patent his design.
2. Dior loved flowers since childhood, they were a source of inspiration for him. At each show, one model must have lilies in her hand.
3. The fashion designer was superstitious and had his own talisman for good luck, which he carried with him. It was a five-pointed star.
4. Before starting to collaborate with Boussac, Dior consulted a fortune teller. Later, he often communicated with fortune tellers.
5. In each collection, the artist included a piece of clothing named after his hometown.

There is no denying Christian Dior’s influence on the fashion industry. His journey from modest beginnings in Granville, France, to becoming one of the most recognizable designers of the 20th century, is proof

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