Designing Dreams
The House of Dior celebrates its 70th birthday with an exhibition detailing the history of its fashion. Explore the seven daring designers of Dior and their dreamy dresses, past and present as written by Rachel Ng
Christian Dior amazes us with lustrous illustrations brought to life in the brand’s Parisian exhibition detailing its past
Dior takes us on a journey through its rich history with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs celebration for the house’s 70th anniversary. The exhibition runs from July 5, 2017 till January 7 next year, showcasing a comprehensive collection of the artistic genius that have made the House of Dior what it is today. The illustrious works of the seven designers of the House of Dior currently decorate the halls of the exhibition in the form of sketches, illustrations, documentary photographs, notes, advertising documents and all the manner of accessories such as hats, jewellery, bags, shoes and perfume bottles. The stars of the exhibition, however, are the 300 haute couture gowns. Blooming into the fashion scene in the 20th century, with voluminous skirts, feminine nipped-in waists and the iconic Bar suit, Christian Dior revolutionised fashion then just as the House of Dior continues to do so now. Dior’s visionary designs of haute couture were continued by Yves Saint Laurent’s daring dresses and Marc Bohan’s more rational reign before it moved on to the more flamboyant flair of Gianfranco Ferré. John Galliano was the next to take over the helm with dramatic punk influences before Raf Simons’ minimalist aesthetic pared it down. The house undergoes yet another revolutionrevolutio of sorts with Maria Grazia Chiuri, as the touchto of a woman guides the path of Dior fashionfash this time round. The exhibitione opens with the Bar suit, standingstan guard over the entrance in austere blackb and white, the outfit which embodiedembodie the New Look and now acts as a portal through which the six galleries can be accessed.a Lavishly set up, the nave transformstransfo into a ballroom fit for the most sumpt sumptuous of ball gowns by the House of Dior. Somes of the gowns were from private collec collections, so the maison momentarily loane loaned their beauty for this one special exhib exhibition. Many have never even been seen before in Paris, much less gathered in oone place. Turn the page to view som some of our favourite pieces from the exh exhibition.