Christian Dior: history & modernity, 1947-1957

Abstract

Arguably the most famous fashion designer of the 20th century, Christian Dior's feminine fashions were desired, worn, and emulated by women around the world. This new publication by ROM Press explores the brilliance behind Dior's dramatic creations that revived the entire Paris haute couture industry after the devastation of World War II. In 1947, the opening of the new couture house and the revolutionary New Look swept away the wartime masculine silhouette making Christian Dior's postwar fashions desired, worn and copied by women around the world. The publication features the Royal Ontario Museum's collection of Christian Dior couture and is accompanied by sketches and material from Christian Dior Héritage, along with photographs of the collection taken by world-renowned Dior photographer Laziz Hamani. The collection features striking designs from daytime to evening wear. The book breaks new ground as it explains key Dior signatures, based on the use of innovative and historical dressmaking techniques, which revived the Paris haute couture industry following the Second World War. The publication presents new information drawn from extensive research wedded with close examination of the designs within this catalogue, making it an essential read for those interested in fashion, art, culture, and history. Exhibition: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada (25.11.2017- 8.04.2018).