Dior hats: from Christian Dior to Stephen Jones

Abstract

Christian Dior himself wrote in his Little Dictionary of Fashion: "A hat is essential to any outfit. It completes it. In a way, a hat is the best way to express your personality." Published on the occasion of the 2020 exhibition at the Musée Christian Dior in Granville, France, and authored by renowned milliner Stephen Jones, this volume celebrates more than seventy years of exquisite hats.00Opening with a focus on hats designed by Christian Dior himself, the book explores the house's headdresses over the years--from the first millinery of the New Look to Yves Saint Laurent's Venetian masks, the toques of Marc Bohan, dramatic boaters by Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano's extravagant confections, the graphic neck bow by Raf Simons, and romantic designs by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Jones's insightful texts are accompanied by contributions from leading experts and enlivened by drawings and photographs from Dior's archives; shots by famed photographers, such as Richard Avedon, Sir Cecil Beaton, and Craig McDean; and exclusive new images by Sølve Sundsbø.

Contents

Foreword / Jean-Paul Claverie -- A very personal introduction / Stephen Jones -- A little history of hats from 1905 to 1947 / Florence Müller -- Dior before Dior -- "Les petits" -- "Les grands" -- "Les jardins" -- "Les exotiques" -- "Les masculins" -- "Les fêtes" -- "Les Catherinettes" / Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni -- "Les Parisiennes" -- "Les belles" / Vincent Leret -- MIZZA / Dean Rhys Morgan -- A head for hats : A portrait of Stephen Jones / Alexander Fury -- Conclusion.