Christian Dior, a French fashion designer, revolutionized the world of fashion with his innovative and groundbreaking contributions.
Christian Dior SE commonly known as DIOR, is a French multinational luxury fashion house.
The fashion house continues to be a major player in the industry, setting trends and influencing design aesthetics worldwide.
Here are five revolutionary trends associated with DIOR:
The New Look (1947)
Christian Dior is perhaps best known for introducing the "New Look" in 1947.
After the austerity of World War II, Dior's designs marked a departure from the rationing and fabric-saving styles of the wartime era.
On 12 February 1947, Christian Dior launched his first fashion collection for Spring–Summer 1947. The show of "90 models of his first collection on six mannequins" was presented in the salons of the company's headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne.
Originally, the two lines were named "Corolle" and "Huit".
However, the new collection went down in fashion history as the "New Look" after the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar Carmel Snow exclaimed, "It's such a new look!"
The New Look featured full skirts, and nipped-in waists, and emphasized a feminine silhouette.
The New Look brought back the spirit of haute couture in France, and a sense of luxury and extravagance back to fashion, challenging the practical and utilitarian styles that dominated during the war.
Christian Dior's New Look 1947: universityoffashion.com/blog/wp-content/upl..
Luxurious Fabrics and Attention to Detail
Dior is known for its meticulous attention to detail and use of luxurious fabrics.
The fashion house designs incorporate sumptuous materials like silk, taffeta, and velvet, showcasing the opulence and glamour that defined post-war fashion.
The emphasis on quality and craftsmanship from the fashion house set a new standard in the industry.
Classic Dior Fabrics. Image Source: i.pinimg.com/736x/bc/cb/6f/bccb6f74b1edff23..
Corolle and H-line Silhouettes
Dior's influence extended beyond the New Look.
The fashion brand continued to shape fashion with subsequent silhouette innovations.
The Corolle line, characterized by A-line skirts and narrow shoulders, and the H-line, which featured a more relaxed and straight silhouette, showcased his ability to evolve and diversify his design aesthetic.
Christian Dior Carolle Collection. Image Source: i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/a7/9e/6ba79e2d0ec..
Global Expansion and Branding
Expansion from France began by the end of 1949 with the opening of a Christian Dior boutique in New York City. By the end of the year, Dior fashions made up 75% of Paris's fashion exports and 5% of France's total export revenue.
Dior is not only a trendsetter in design but also in the business of fashion.
The brand is one of the first to establish a global brand, expanding its influence beyond France.
Dior opened branches in various countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, setting a precedent for international fashion houses.
In 1950, Jacques Rouët, the general manager of Dior Ltd, devised a licensing program to place the now-renowned name of "Christian Dior" visibly on a variety of luxury goods.
It was placed first on neckties and soon was applied to hosiery, furs, hats, gloves, handbags, jewelry, lingerie, and scarves.
Christian Dio's Office Bond Street, London. Image Source: westend.com/wp-content/uploads/christian-di..
Couture Fragrances
Beyond clothing, Dior makes a significant impact on the fragrance industry.
In 1947, Dior revolutionized the perfumery industry with the launch of the highly popular Miss Dior parfum, which was named after Catherine Dior (Christian Dior's sister).
This marked the beginning of the Dior perfume line, which has since become an integral part of the brand's identity.
Fragrances like "J'adore" and "Dior Homme" continue to be popular and contribute to the overall luxury image of the brand.
Miss Dior Perfume. Image Source: fragrances.com.ng/media/catalog/product/cac..
Brief History of the fashion house
The House of Dior was established on 16 December 1946 at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris.
By the mid-1950s, the House of Dior operated a well-respected fashion empire.
The first Dior boutique was established in 1954 at 9 Counduit Street. In honour of Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Marlborough, a Dior fashion show was held at the Blenheim Palace in 1954 as well.
Christian Dior launched more highly successful fashion lines between the years of 1954 and 1957.
However, none came as close to the profound effect of the New Look.
Dior opened the Grande Boutique on the corner between Avenue Montaigne and Rue François Ier in 1955.
The first Dior lipstick was also released in 1955.
100,000 garments had already been sold by the time of the company's 10th anniversary in 1956 making it a new revolution in the fashion industry.
Actress Ava Gardner had 14 dresses created for her in 1956 by Christian Dior for the Mark Robson film The Little Hut.
The captivating impact of Dior's creative fashion genius earned him recognition as one of history's greatest fashion figures.
Kevin Almond for Contemporary Fashion wrote that "by the time Dior died his name had become synonymous with taste and luxury."
The death of the head designer Christian Dior on 24th October 1957, left the House of Dior in chaos and led to the promotion of the 21-year-old Yves Saint Laurent to Artistic Director the same year, who turned things around and expanded the fashion house.
Saint Laurent proved himself to have been the most appropriate choice after the debut of his first collection for Dior in 1958. The clothes were as meticulously made and perfectly proportioned as Dior's in the same exquisite fabrics, but their young designer made them softer, lighter, and easier to wear.
The Dior perfume "Diorling" was released in 1963 and the men's fragrance "Eau Sauvage" was released in 1966.
Diorling Perfume. Image Source: cdn.drouot.com/d/image/lot?size=fullHD&..
The Christian Dior Cosmetics business was born in 1969 with the creation of an exclusive line.
The first Dior wrist watch "Black Moon" was released in 1975 in collaboration with licensee Benedom.
Christian Dior's Black Moon Wristwatch. Image Source: i.pinimg.com/736x/95/d5/92/95d59237db888e87..
In 1980, Dior released the men's fragrance "Jules" and in 1985 Dior perfume "Poison" was launched.
Dior's Jules Perfume. Image Source: fimgs.net/mdimg/perfume/375x500.1243.jpg
Dior's Poison Perfume Image Source: street160.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/di..
Further Dior boutiques were opened in 1990 in upscale New York City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo shopping districts.
The production of Dior Haute Couture was spun off into a subsidiary named Christian Dior Couture in 1995.
In May 1998, another Dior boutique was opened in Paris.
This time the store opened its doors on the Left Bank, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Also this year, Victoire de Castellane became the lead designer of Dior Fine Jewellery and the first Dior Fine Jewellery boutique opened in New York City.
Paris itself would witness the opening of the first Parisian Dior Fine Jewellery boutique the following year, at 28 Avenue Montaigne. The perfume "J'adore" was released in 1999, and on 5 October 1999, Galliano released the Dior Spring-Summer 2000 ready-to-wear fashion show, debuting the new Saddle bag.
John Galliano then began to release his own Dior watches in 2001, beginning with the "Chris 47 Aluminum" line, marking a new era in Dior watch design.
Chris 47 Aluminum Watch. ImageSource: listeragent.com/media/catalog/product/cache..
Next, the "Malice" and "Riva" watches were redesigned with precious stones to create the "Malice Sparkling" and "Riva Sparkling" spin-off collections. Inspired by the Spring-Summer 2002 Ready-to-Wear collection, Dior released the "Dior 66" watch, breaking many feminine traditional expectations in design.
Dior's Malice Wristwatch. Image Source: images.watchfinder.co.uk/images/watchfinder..
The men's fragrance "Higher" was released in 2001, followed by the perfume "Addict" in 2002. The company then opened Milan's first Dior Homme boutique on 20 February 2002.
The "Chris 47 Steel" watch was released in 2003 as a cousin of the original "Chris 47 Aluminum".
Chris 47 Steel. Image Source: prod-images.fashionphile.com/large/7ca98dad..
The "Miss Dior Chérie" perfume and the "Dior Homme" fragrance were released in 2005. Galliano released his "Dior Christal" watches in which he combined steel and blue sapphires to create a "creative and innovative collection."
Dior has created strong partnerships with celebrities and social media influencers, working closely with these individuals to reach more demographics and re-establish its identity as a new, modern brand, although it has been around for a while.
This has allowed the brand to portray a more populist image and attract a wider audience.
Christian Dior's impact on the fashion industry goes beyond just creating beautiful clothing. The brand's visionary approach, the introduction of the "New Look," emphasis on the female form, the global expansion of the brand, and commitment to couture craftsmanship collectively shaped the fashion landscape and left a lasting legacy.
Dior reinvents creative audacity with each new season, asserting its passion and engagement in exquisitely designed and crafted collections.
In summary, "Whatever you do – whether for work or pleasure – do it with passion! Live with passion,” wrote Christian Dior.