Dior
In 1947 Christian Dior called his first show the “New Look.” The story goes that each dress used an average of 20 yards of fabric in structured shapes with cinched waists and full skirts. The New Look was sensational – after the austerity of World War II, it felt like a celebration and a rebirth for fashion, and it influenced womenswear for years to come. In 1958, Yves Saint Laurent became the original couturier’s successor at 21, with early collections that received rapturous praise. By 1960 he distanced himself from the bourgeois elegance of the 50s with designs that embraced the fashion of his generation, such as the infamous beatnik look with looser silhouettes and darker colours. Since then, many major designers have held the title of creative director, re-interpreting Dior’s codes in their own ways. From 1996 to 2011, John Galliano embraced the fantastical and over-the-top, brought back the house monogram and introduced the Saddle Bag. Raf Simons infused romanticism with futurism from 2012 to 2015. Currently, Maria Grazia Chiuri brings a feminist vision to a classically feminine house, fusing ladylike origins with sports elements and a bohemian attitude. Chiuri also re-introduced the monogram as the Oblique and launched many successful bags, the Book Tote and new iterations of the Saddle among them. Dior is also acclaimed for its menswear, with Hedi Slimane launching his influential skinny look from 2000 to 2007 and Kim Jones, the current creative director, bringing his streetwear background to the house.
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