In September 2021, the dazzling Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibit opened at the Brooklyn Museum, showcasing eight decades of the House of Dior.
The New York premiere of the incredible exhibition featured haute couture apparel, photos, archival videos, sketches, accessories, vintage perfume, and more items from the storied Dior archives, including the New Look collection, which debuted in 1947. (Fun fashion fact: Dior didn’t call the iconic silhouette New Look. Legend is that a Harper’s Bazaar writer at the time coined the phrase, and the rest is fashion history.)
“The brand was founded on creating a fantasy, creating a dream. Christian wanted to make women feel beautiful again.” – Pietro Biccari
Christian Dior CEO and Chairman Pietro Beccari told Vogue, “The brand was founded on creating a fantasy, creating a dream. Christian wanted to make women feel beautiful again. The exhibition too is a message of the rebirth of New York and fashion. And we are very proud of this.”
In addition to Christian Dior’s groundbreaking designs, the exhibition included galleries displaying works from the House’s artistic directors throughout the years, including Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
“Tradition must be stretched, teased, and evolved to stay relevant. Each one of these designers took Mr. Dior’s heritage and found a way to keep the brand relevant during the era in which they lived,” added Beccari..
The exhibition also highlights gorgeous photography synonymous with Dior’s exceptional work, including Richard Avedon’s Dovima with Elephants. The famed 1955 photo features model Dovima (born Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba) wearing a dress designed by then-19-year-old Yves Saint Laurent for the House of Dior.
