A fluffy skirt, a narrow bodice, a waist, in most cases emphasized by a strap - a real ode to feminine forms! No wonder the great couturier Christian Dior became famous, focusing on this.
Christian Dior was born in 1905 in Granville, Normandy, into a family of wealthy industrialists. At the request of his parents, Christian began to study at the School of Political Sciences, but the fire of creativity and communication with Parisian representatives of art made him change science.
In 1929, he opened a gallery where he exhibited paintings by artists such as Picasso and Fernand Leger. In 1929, his parents went bankrupt and Christian was forced to close the boutique. Having quickly learned from one of his friends the art of making fashionable sketches, he sells his work in magazines and major couturiers. In 1939, Christian was drafted into the army, and after the war, having mobilized, he came to his family in a small town and engaged in agriculture. There he is found by one of the most famous couturiers at the time, Lucien Lelon, and persuades him to go to Paris.
In February 1947, at the age of 41, Christian Dior presents his first fashion collection of 90 models. Its basis was two areas - “Eight” and “Corollas”.
"Eight" is the hornet waist and accentuated hips, while the "corollas" are the deep neckline and semi-soft skirts. Christian Dior offers a revolution, but does not change traditions.The forms remain the same, they are simply given a little audacity - and this creates a style. Harper's Bazaar Magazine Editor-in-Chief Carmel Snow calls this collection New Look. A person who intended to lead a quiet and inconspicuous existence suddenly finds himself on the international fashion scene and becomes a symbol of luxury. In his style, he embodies the dreams of women after the terrible war - to find comfort and elegance.
What is New Look? - Round shoulders, pronounced waist, protruding bust, rounded hips, skirts ending at a height of 20 cm from the floor. This new look at women's fashion has turned Paris into a city where the most beautiful clothes in the world are born.
In just 5 years after the premiere, Christian Dior creates a real fashion empire. The organization of this empire will be successfully copied by many large firms. However, for only ten years of his life, he enjoys international fame. In 1957, Christian Dior, a legend of haute couture, passed away in Italy at the age of 52.
Shortly after, the fashion brand Christian Dior is bought by the largest French businessman Bernard Arnault. In 1996, as the main couturier, he invites an unknown British designer John Galliano. As a result, Fashion House Christian Dior regains worldwide fame and billions of dollars in revenue.
Photo: Krauer / Studio Holle-Suppla