Christian Dior

Christian Dior born in (Granville, France, January 21, 1905) died (Montecatini Terme, Italy, October 24, 1957) was an influential French fashion designer, founder of the brand fashion brand that bears his name, Dior, one of the best and most representative luxury goods brands of the last century.

Biography

Christian Dior was the son of a family of the French provincial bourgeoisie. He was educated as a diplomat at the École des Sciences Politiques in Paris. Then, he began working in the fashion industry, his true calling.

First of all, Dior made sketches for Robert Piguet, the great Parisian designer of the time. In 1946, backed by textile magnate Marcel Boussac, (nicknamed the "king of cotton"), he established a couture house in Paris. In twenty years he expanded his business to 15 countries and provided employment to more than 2000 people. Likewise, he diversified the business into other luxury products, such as shoes and bags, lingerie and perfumes, with resounding sales success. Some of the most legendary compositions in the history of perfumery bear the Dior seal.

Christian Dior died of a sudden heart attack during a vacation in Montecatini Terme, on the afternoon of October 24, 1957, while playing cards. After his death, the Dior house has continued its activity with other renowned designers such as: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons or Maria Grazia Chiuri, current Creative Director of Dior and previously of Valentino.

Contribution to the world of fashion

Dior is especially known for the so-called "New Look" (nickname given by an American journalist to the 1946 collection). This style of couture for women proposes shapely shoulders, a narrow waist, and a wide skirt in the shape of a corolla twenty centimeters from the floor. For the 1947 collection, the designer created the "Bar Jacket", with a cinched waist that emphasizes the curves of the bust and hips. It represents classic elegance and the return to a feminine image, and marked the recovery of luxury and excess after the depression of the Second World War.

During an interview in 1953, when he was asked Which queen did you like to dress the most? he dared to say that The only queen I dressed was Eva Perón. In fact, she came to have such an affinity with the glamour of the former Argentine first lady, that she had a mannequin with Eva's measurements in her workshop.

On the other hand, the Dior house has dressed celebrities such as Diana of Wales (whom the brand honored in 1995 with a famous handbag called Lady Dior). Other of her clients have been the first lady of France Carla Bruni and the sister of the King of Spain Elena de Borbón. He has also designed the costumes of certain actresses, such as Sophia Loren in Arabesco, Julie Andrews in The Tamarind Seed, Jennifer Jones in Termini Station - for which he was nominated for the Oscar in 1955 -, Ingrid Bergman in Indiscreta, Olivia de Havilland in The ambassador's daughter, among others.

Prizes and distinctions

Oscar Awards