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New Christian Dior Exhibition Unveiled at Victoria & Albert Museum
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, The Stunning New Dior Exhibition Honoring Dior’s History and Connection to Britain
“There is no other country in the world, besides my own, whose way of life I like so much. I love English traditions, English politeness, English architecture. I even love English cooking.” –Christian Dior
In 1947, Normandy-born Christian Dior opened his couturier at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. More than 70 years later, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London now opens its doors to a Dior exhibition focused on the House’s history and legacy—Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams. Though based on the 2017 Paris exhibition Christian Dior: Couturier de Rêves, it features reimagined and new exhibits that honor Dior’s longstanding fascination and relationship with English culture.
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
As the most comprehensive Dior exhibition in the UK, it delivers a complete dive into Dior’s history, creative vision, and inspirations. “When you see fashion presented like this, you can reflect on it in a different way,” notes Maria Graza Chiuri, creative director of Dior. “Fashion is not an image, it’s an experience, and the exhibition is a beautiful experience.”
Inside the Dior Exhibition
Designed by fashion and textiles curator Oriole Cullen and set designer Nathalie Crinière, the exhibition touches on several themes of the fashion house, bringing them to life in 11 distinct sections encompassing Christian Dior’s life, Maison Dior’s most famous pieces, and inspirations.
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
For Dior, who has lived through both world wars and even served in the French military, the epithet is more than appropriate for his transformative designs. The “Bar Suit,” from his first collection in 1947, was influential in redefining the female silhouette away from boxy pre-war shapes.
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
BEHIND THE SCENES: THE ART OF HAUTE COUTURE
Dior Inspirations
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
The exhibition also pays homage to the longstanding themes that have inspired House of Dior from the era of Christian himself up until now. The “Travels” section showcases Dior’s love for traveling and cultural appreciation; the “Garden” room, featuring a massive, intricate paper flower installation, emphasizes the influence of flowers in design, from dresses to perfume; “Diorama” showcases the breadth of Dior house designs with trinkets and accessories such as make-up, magazine covers, and more.
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
Iconic Gowns
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A
If there was any imaginable fitting end to a Dior exhibition, the Ballroom embodies it. An unrestrained showcase of all of the beauty in Dior’s fantasy, there are some of Dior’s most iconic dresses: Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday dress immortalized by Cecil Beaton’s iconic photograph, Charlize Theron’s signature gold dress she wore in the decades-running J’Adore Dior campaign, famous premiere dresses from the Cannes Film Festival designed for and worn by Lupita Nyong’o, Rihanna, and more.
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
Source: Photo by Cecil Beaton, V&A Museum, London
The magic of the exhibit transcends the physical pieces on display. As Dior said, “The evening is a time when you can escape the realities of everyday life.” With Dior’s history continuing to breathe and live on, Chiuri reflects on her part in the 70-year-long story. “It’s a moment to speak about women in a different way. It’s a huge responsibility to speak about women, but I try to do my best.”
Source: Photo by Adrien Dirand / V&A Museum, London
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Christian Dior: Design of Dreams Exhibition at V&A Museum
Words by Yuki Yang
