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Who Was Christian Dior?
Christian Dior, a legendary fashion designer, made a monumental impact on the fashion industry when he debuted on the Paris fashion scene. With designs that defied wartime restrictions, Dior reintroduced femininity and a renewed focus on luxury to women’s fashion. His innovative approach to both design and business practices propelled him to the forefront of the industry, earning him the title of the most successful fashion designer in the world. Renowned for dressing film stars and royalty, Dior’s legacy continues through his namesake brand, which remains a leader in the fashion world today.
Early Life
Born on January 21, 1905, in Granville, a coastal town in northern France, Christian Dior was the second of five children. His father, Alexandre Louis Maurice Dior, was a prosperous fertilizer manufacturer, and his mother, Isabelle, was a nurturing presence in his early life. The Dior family relocated to Paris during Dior’s childhood, where he spent much of his youth. Although Dior initially harbored a passion for art and aspired to become an architect, he ultimately yielded to his father’s wishes. In 1925, he enrolled at the École des Sciences Politiques to study political science, with the expectation that he would eventually pursue a career in diplomacy.
After graduating in 1928, Dior followed a different path by opening a small art gallery with funds from his father, who stipulated that the family name would not be used for the gallery’s branding. During its brief existence, the gallery showcased works by notable artists such as Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, and Max Jacob. However, the gallery was forced to close in 1931, a year marked by personal tragedy for Dior, including the deaths of his older brother and mother, as well as the financial collapse of his father’s business.
Early Career in Fashion
After the closure of his gallery, Christian Dior turned to selling his fashion sketches to make a living. In 1935, he secured a role illustrating for Figaro Illustré, a French magazine. Several years later, Dior’s talents were recognized by renowned Paris couturier Robert Piguet, who hired him as a design assistant. However, with the onset of World War II, Dior served as an officer in the French Army, stationed in the south of France. Following France’s surrender in 1940, Dior returned to Paris and was employed by couturier Lucien Lelong. During the war, Lelong’s design house became a supplier to both Nazi officers and French collaborators. Meanwhile, Dior’s younger sister, Catherine, worked for the French Resistance. Catherine was captured and sent to a concentration camp, but survived and was released in 1945.
Death
In 1957, several months after appearing on the cover of Time magazine, Dior traveled to Montecatini, Italy, for a vacation. While there, on October 23, 1957, he suffered his third heart attack and passed away at the age of 52.
Marcel Boussac, Dior’s business partner, arranged for a private plane to transport his body back to Paris. Dior’s funeral, attended by an estimated 2,500 people, included his staff and many of his high-profile clients. He was buried in Cimetière de Callian, located in Var, France. At the time of his death, Dior’s fashion house was generating over $20 million in annual revenue.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Dior’s first fashion presentation, the National Gallery of Victoria published The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture in 2017. This 256-page coffee table book offers an in-depth exploration of the house’s evolution, featuring stunning photographs that capture its legacy in haute couture.