5 Things You Didn't Know About Christian Dior

Dior is one of the biggest names in fashion. From when Christian Dior founded it in 1946 until now, they have been strong trendsetters in the industry. Many know them from their incredible runway shows and stunning campaigns, but there is so much more to Dior than what meets the eye.

1. Creator of Haute Couture

Haute Couture is the custom creation of high fashion pieces done completely by hand. It is a long process to create the piece, and it will be tailored to the specific client who asked for it. They use special sewing techniques on expensive fabrics to create the breathtaking pieces. In the late 1940’s, with the launch of his first spring-summer collection, Christian Dior sparked the conversation surrounding haute couture with critics saying his line brought back a youthful and glamourous look for women. With bringing attention to haute couture, Dior was able to become a major name in fashion and influence many other brands around the world to follow in their footsteps. To this day, couture is a large aspect of Dior’s brand. They have branched off into many other divisions as well, such as beauty, fragrance, and accessories, but they still run true to their roots with a Christian Dior Couture Division.

2. Leader Of A Fashion Revolution

With the establishment of a new shape for women’s clothing post-war, Dior was able to front a fashion revolution. In previous women’s fashion, the shapes were very masculine, with no defined waistline or prominent shaping to the women’s body. With Dior’s haute couture came the ‘New Look’ that swept across the nations. Suddenly, fashion was focused on emphasizing the shape of a women’s body. Long skirts with padded shoulders and hips and a tight waist created the new women’s fashion silhouette that is still used today. The femininity of the ‘New Look’ allowed Dior to gain a large following in places outside of Paris, which allowed for the city to regain its title of a capital of the fashion world.

3. Yves Saint Laurent Got His Start With Dior

After the passing of Christian Dior in 1957, Dior struggled to have order and focus. With the brand needing to get the label back on track Yves Saint Laurent, 21 at the time, was given the promotion to Artistic Director. Laurent had been working under the wing of Dior before his passing, but with this promotion gained a significant amount of artistic control. Laurent was able to produce collections with the same design perfections that Dior was so focused on, but he was praised for revolutionizing them and making them significantly easier to wear, as well as lighter overall. Yves Saint Laurent went on to create six collections for Dior before parting from the brand and taking steps towards his own label.

4. Celebrity Ambassadors

Dior has been continuously viewed as an influential brand, but this is not possible without appearing modern, innovative, and expanding demographics. This is what the Dior celebrity ambassadors have allowed the brand to be able to do since the 1980’s. With partnerships with the biggest names in their respective industries, Dior has managed to stay relevant and stay modern, despite having formed in the 1940’s. Having celebrities like Rihanna, Natalie Portman and Robert Pattinson as the face of their campaigns, there is no doubt that they will continuously remain modern and in style.

5. Dior Exhibition

Being recognized for shaping the fashion industry, the Paris Fashion Museum created an exhibition for Christian Dior. This exhibition, created in the 1980’s, has traveled across the world and been featured in many major museums to this day. It is a celebration of the label, and the designer behind the fashion revolution post-war in the 1940’s. The exhibition features many of Dior’s original pieces of haute couture in displays that are just as beautiful as the designs themselves. With information about each piece, as well as the overall history of the brand, Dior is recognized for their impact on the fashion industry.