Christian Dior, one of the top fashion designers of all time, used his unique creativity to develop the revolution that is Dior. From house originals to contemporary pieces, Dior has become an iconic name in the fashion world, and he really knows how to stun his admirers with the most out-of-the-ordinary designs. The Denver Art Museum’s (DAM) current exhibition, “Dior: From Paris to the World,” showcases hundreds of original looks from the past 70 years. You have to see it to believe it, but the precision and inventiveness of the pieces and the unbelievable history that comes with this brand will blow your mind.
Throughout the exhibit, you will walk through the history that occurred in the House of Dior and learn about the making of all the unbelievable couture. Dior’s legacy was developed in less than a decade, and he attracted his buyers by crafting his clothing to be wearable, while still making an entrance. Everyday style was masculinized after World War II, so Dior’s creations were a huge turning point for fashion at that time. His successors, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri all incorporated their personal tastes in each of their collections, which has shaped Dior into what it is today. He has allowed women to embrace their bodies and express themselves in ways that nobody had ever seen before, and by sculpting his garments to extenuate the features of women, he used fashion to inspire people to celebrate their outrageousness.
It is clear how Christian Dior’s life and hobbies were the spark for each idea of his collections. His love for gardening is showcased in his floral collection, which features many vibrant embroideries of flowers (especially his signature flower, lily of the valley). His love for travel is displayed through the cultural implication in his garments. From Peru to Japan to England, Dior highlights the traditions and uniqueness of tons of different countries, which pushed the globalization of his brand to new heights.
The details of the garments demonstrate the genuine and natural talent that Christian Dior is known for. This exhibition will allow you to view the beading and embroidery of Dior’s pieces that are truly jaw-dropping. The photographs that are displayed beside the different collections will give you a new perspective on the fashion world and time period. One particular photograph that caught my eye in the gallery was of a woman being attacked in the street. Wearing an original Dior dress, the woman is surprised while the attacker is enraged by the excess fabric that Dior used for the piece, stating that it was a waste of fabric. Dior dealt with many complications and hurdles throughout his designing career, but his love for his brand and devotion to fashion helped drive his success.
Witnessing the original sketches, personal letters to Marilyn Monroe, historical runway videos, famous photography, and astonishing designs will make you appreciate Dior in a new way. He himself stated, “My dresses make a princess out of every woman,” but just being in the room with those extravagant pieces will make you feel like royalty.
