Christian Dior, born on the 21st of January 1905, in Granville, France, was a fashion designer who left an indelible mark on the fashion world. Known for his groundbreaking “New Look” and his revival of haute couture following World War II, Dior’s name is associated with elegance, innovation, and luxury.

Early life
Dior was born in the seaside town of Granville, France in 1905. The second of five children born to wealthy fertilizer manufacturer Maurice Dior and his wife Madeline. He had four siblings Raymond, Jacqueline, Bernard and Catherine. When Christian was about five years old, the family moved to Paris.

My childhood home was rendered in a very soft pink, combined with gray gravel, and these two shades have remained my favourite colours in couture.
Christian Dior, Dior by Dior, 1958
Dior’s artistic aspirations
His family had hoped he would become a diplomat, but Dior was interested in at. To make money, he sold his fashion sketches outside his home for about 10 cents each. In 1928, with financial backing from his father, he and a friend opened a small art gallery, exhibiting and selling works by the likes of Pablo Picasso. Through managing the gallery, Dior connected with influential artists including Picasso, Dali, Cocteau, and Giacometti. Immersed in this creative culture, Dior was inspired by their work, which shaped his approach to fashion design. Three years later, following the deaths of Dior’s mother and brother, as well as financial difficulties during the Great Depression, the gallery was closed. Dior had no choice but to find another source of income.

Dior once again turned to fashion sketches. These were discovered by Robert Piguet. He employed Dior from 1937, giving him the opportunity to design three collections. One of his original designs, a day dress with a short, full skirt in the collection Cafe Anglais, was particularly well received. While at Piguet, Dior worked with Pierre Balmain, and was succeeded as house designer by Marc Bohan – who went on to become head of design in 1960 for Christian Dior Paris. Dior would leave Piguet when he was called up for military service.
Robert Piguet taught me the virtues of simplicity through which true elegance must come.
Christian Dior on Robert Piguet.
When Dior left the army in 1942, he joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong as a primary designer, alongside Pierre Balmain. During World War II, as an employee of Lelong, Dior designed dresses for the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators, as did other fashion houses who remained operational during the war. His sister Catherine was a member of the French Resistance and was captured by the Gestapo, and incarcerated in the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp until her liberation in May 1945. Dior named his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to her in 1947.

Founding the House of Dior
In 1946, successful entrepreneur Marcel Boussac, invited Dior to design for Parisian fashion house Philippe et Gaston. However, Dior refused as he wanted to make a fresh start with his own name, rather than reviving an old brand. Later that year, with Boussac’s backing, the House of Dior was founded, ensuring his exclusive control over the company and securing a third of all profits in addition to his salary.
It was in 1946 that l moved into 30 Avenue Montaigne. This delightful house then had enough elegant rooms and salons, sufficient nooks and crannies to contain all eighty-five of us.
Christian Dior, Dior by Dior, 1958
His first collection Corolle ( literally circlet of flower petals in English), was presented on the 12th of February in 1947, and included 90 garments displayed in outfits. The phrase New Look for this collection was coined by Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow.

Dior’s designs were more voluminous than the resource-conserving styles of the 1940s, ushering in an era of glamour and decadence. Although they were known as being “new,” the Corolle collection was influenced by Edwardian fashion, refining trends in skirt shapes and waistlines that had been seen in high fashion since the 1930s. Pierre Cardin was employed as head of the tailoring atelier for the House of Dior, and it was he who designed the 1947 Bar Suit, one of the most popular Corolle ensembles.
The launch of the Corolle collection revolutionised women’s fashion, reestablished Paris as the fashion capital following the war, and made Dior the centre of fashion for most of the 1950s. Dior’s collection was inspirational and helped many women rediscover their love for style after World War II. Dior felt that fashion was more than just clothing, it was art and a continuation of French heritage.

New York 1948
Each season saw the launch of a new Dior line, that would be celebrated by the fashion press. In 1948, the EnvoI and Cyclone/Zigzag lines; the Trompe l’Oeil and Mid-Century lines in 1949; the Vertical and Oblique lines in 1950; the Oval and Longue/Princesse lines in 1951; the Sinueuse and Profilèe lines in 1952; the Tulipe and Vivante/Cupola lines in 1953; the Muguet/Lily of the Valley and H-Line in 1954; the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955; the Flèche/Arrow/F-Line and Aiment/Magnet line in 1956; and the Libre/Free and Fuseau/Spider lines in 1957.










Dior’s last collections, the Libre and Fuseau lines marked a shift towards a more relaxed style, far removed from the structured designs of his previous collections. This reflects the evolving social dynamics of the late 1950s, and foreshadow the styles that would become iconic and mainstream in the 1960s.
The role of Yves Saint Laurent
While Dior was the creative genius behind the brand, his protege, Yves Saint Laurent, played a pivotal role in shaping the couture house’s future. In 1955, at the age of just 19, Saint Laurent joined the House of Dior as an assistant. His talent and potential quickly became apparent, and Dior himself saw greatness in the young designer.
Saint Laurent is the future of Dior.
Christian Dior on Yves Saint Laurent

When Christian Dior passed away unexpectedly one a sudden heart attack in 1957, Yves Saint Laurent was appointed as head designer. At just 21 years old, he became the youngest couturier in the world. Despite initial skepticism, Saint Laurent upheld Dior’s legacy while adding his own modern flair. His first collection for Dior, the “Trapeze Line,” was a success, further cementing the brand as a leader in haute couture.
Dior’s lasting legacy
Christian Dior’s influence extends for beyond the “New Look.” His house expanded into fragrances, most notably launching the iconic scent Miss Dior, named after his sister Catherine. Dior also introduced ready-to-wear collections, helping to democratise fashion while maintaining the prestige of couture.
Though Dior himself passed away in 1957, his legacy endures through the House of Dior, which has continually evolved under the leadership of other legendary designers. Each brought their unique vision while honoring Dior’s commitment to elegance and innovation.
Christian Dior remains an enduring icon in the fashion world, celebrated for his ability to blend timeless sophistication and bold creativity. His work didn’t just revive the French fashion industry but also redefined the feminine ideal of the 1950s.