Christian Dior founded his luxury fashion house in his namesake in 1946. Seen as a revolutionary from the outset, Christian Dior is seen as having brought Paris back as the fashion capital, having fallen from this position after the First World War. The more masculine styles that had dominated after the war were challenged by Christian Dior, creating his iconic ‘New Look’, which focused silhouettes on the female figure itself. Shorter, fuller skirts, with nipped-in waists and accentuated busts created a feminine shape. Femininity and elegance is what the brand has become known for, and has been demonstrated right from the start. The 1950’s saw royalty and celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich dressed in Christian Dior, and the luxury house has sat firmly at the top of the fashion hierarchy for decades.
Now a part of the LVMH group, Christian Dior’s Creative Director is Maria Grazia Chiuri. Christian Dior has created Dior Ready-to-Wear, though the brand is still recognised for their haute couture. This highly selective area of the fashion industry ‘preserves the exacting standards of French fashion culture’. It is inaccessible to the vast majority, but showcases true craftsmanship and opulent creativity, providing inspiration for other designers and ready-to-wear collections. This sets Christian Dior at the forefront of design and fashion. Chiuri pushes the boundaries through her couture design. Her Fall/Winter 2021 collection had a fairy tale theme, incorporating femininity that the brand is reputed for, in her focus on feminism and apparent inspiration from female writers.
Highlighting Christian Dior’s exclusivity, their ready-to-wear shoes and clothes can only be bought in their own stores and concessions, or online through their own website.