Time cover by UnknownFashion Museum
Christian Dior led his fashion house for only 10 years – from 1946 until 1957. However, he managed to create a unique style New Look which still inspires people all over the world.
Ladies' dress by Dior Fashion HouseFashion Museum
Dior exhibition took place in Fashion Museum, Riga, Latvia, in October 2017 - April 2018 celebrating 70 anniversary of first Dior collection Corolle, later called New Look.
Ladies' dresses by Christian DiorFashion Museum
Christian Dior, being excited about the Belle Époque and remembering his childhood, returned to classical, elegant and seductive femininity.
Carefully combined textile for printed taffeta ensemble for races. Christian Dior admired flowers and used floral motives in his clothes.
Ladies' dress by Christian DiorFashion Museum
He emphasised breasts, a slim waistline, expressive hips and soft and inclined shoulders. Skirts and dresses became longer to match the silhouette which resembled a flower.
Ladies' dresses by Christian Dior, Piere BalmainFashion Museum
Dior used specific sewing techniques for his tulle and silk dresses. People joked that the dresses of Dior stayed vertical even after a woman who had worn it had taken it off and gone to bed.
Accessories by UnknownFashion Museum
Dior emphasised the accessories. He used to say that a real lady could not go out without a hat, and her hands in small gloves looked extremely beautiful. Cat-style glasses were very popular in 1950's.
Paris Match cover by UnknownFashion Museum
Following the unexpected death of Christian Dior in 1957, the young Yves Saint Laurent became his successor and leader of the Christian Dior Fashion House, when he was only 21 years old.
Yves Saint Laurent created up to date clothes which suited the style of bohemian intellectuals of Paris. The collection was strongly criticised by both the media and customers. He was fired. Later Christian Dior Fashion House must have regretted this decision. Saint Laurent opened his own fashion house and became one of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th century.
Ladies' dresses by Dior Fashion houseFashion Museum
Marc Bohan became artistic director of the Fashion House after Saint Laurent. Although his name is not familiar to the wider public, he managed the House for almost 30 years. He created 6 collections a year matching new trends in fashion and tastes of customers
The fashion industry always reacts sensitively to the demands of the public, so in 1950's clothes created from the fabrics which resembled avant-garde and Op Art paintings appeared.
Thanks to Babette Goes to War movie with Brigitte Bardot, Babette hairstyle became popular in 1960͛'s. It was a large, top knot on the head. Hats were bourgeois so headscarves were the alternative
Maxi dress from stuffed silk by Dior Fashion houseFashion Museum
This dress can look rather basic at first, but it shows the influence of avant-garde style. The trapezia silhouette and unusual print which resembles a Rorschach test combined to form a unified image.
Evening dresses, 1960’ by Marc Bohan for Dior Fashion HouseFashion Museum
The beginning of the 1970͛'s was characterised by a return to classical style. The classical silhouette and length for evening dresses came back into fashion, especially in haut couture.
Ladies' dresses by Dior Fashion HouseFashion Museum
The 1970͛'s was a time of personal freedom and individualism. Everybody wanted to spotlight himself and extend own boundaries. It was also time when trousers became a normal part of women's clothing
Ladies' dresses by Gianfranco Ferre, Raf Simons, John GallianoFashion Museum
All the fashion designers of Dior Fashion House sought inspiration in Christian Dior's legacy. Dresses by Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano and Raf Simons, modern but classical.
Fashion Museum, Riga, Latvia
Rīga, 24–1 Grēcinieku Street, LV-1050
www.fashionmuseumriga.lv
The Alexandre Vassiliev Foundation
