Look from the Spring/Summer 1948 Haute Couture Collection
“True luxury requires genuine materials and the craftsman’s sincerity. It is only meaningful when it respects tradition.” – C h r i s t i a n D i o r
Nicole Kidman in Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture Collection
dior through history 1905 Christian Dior is born into a prosperous French family in the fertiliser manufacturing industry 1923 Begins political science studies at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques 1927 Contracted as a sapper in the Fifth Engineers Corps 1928 Christian opens a modern art gallery in partnership with Jacques Bonjean Early Christian’s father Maurice is bankrupted following the stock market crash of 1929 1930s When his own gallery closes due to financial hardship, Christian survives by selling
art and fashion sketches Falls ill with tuberculosis, spends a year recuperating in Ibiza
1935 Begins design career in Paris, selling fashion sketches 1938 Begins designing fashion for Robert Piguet
Finds immediate success with his Cafe Anglais design
1939 Designs stage clothes for the play a School for Scandal
Serves as an officer in the French Army
1941 Returns to Paris and begins designing for Lucien Lelong 1946 Begins Christian Dior Limited with backing from textile manufacturer Marcel Boussac
Opens his first premises at 30 Avenue Montaigne
1947 Stages first Dior fashion show – featuring the now-legendary ‘New Look’
Receives Neiman Marcus Award – the ‘Oscar for Couture’ Launches Miss Dior, his first fragrance
1948 Arranges licensed production of accessories like furs, ties and hosiery
Establishes Christian Dior Parfums branch
1953 Introduces the Tulip Line Launches first Christian Dior footwear Appoints Yves Saint Laurent as a Dior designer Releases first Christian Dior lipstick
1954 Introduces the ‘French Bean’ line 1955 Introduces the ‘A’ and ‘Y’ lines 1956 Receives Parsons School of Design Distinguished Achievement Award 1957 40 of Saint Laurent’s designs are included in the Dior collection
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Dior anoints Saint Laurent as his eventual successor to the House of Dior Appears on the cover of Time magazine Christian Dior suffers fatal heart attack while on holiday in Montecatini, Italy, aged 52