If you have an appreciation for beauty and fashion you MUST, MUST, MUST see the Galerie Dior next time you are in Paris.
Located at the original headquarters of Maison Christian Dior Couture near 30 Avenue Montaigne, the La Galerie is a most beautifully curated collection of spaces, artifacts, memories, and most importantly dresses commemorating the legacy of Christian Dior and showcasing some of the work of his successors.
I gained an entirely new appreciation for this iconic designer after reading his biography—his love of excellence and beauty in fashion was unparalleled, and his devotion to those qualities propelled him to revive the Haute Couture scene in Paris after it was perilously close to vanishing after World War 2.
His New Look collection in 1947, featuring rounded shoulders, cinched waists, and ultra-voluminous skirts took the world by storm and revived beauty in fashion—and women’s wardrobes—after the war.
Since launching The New Look, he never wavered from his commitment to ‘make women not only more beautiful, but happier’ through his designs, and never compromised his values regardless of changing trends.
He was loved by those who knew him for his loyalty, humility, and championing others’ artistic endeavours. He also had a great deal of respect for his fellow designers including Cristobal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, and Madeleine Vionnet.
Beyond that he adored nature—particularly flowers, was an avid gardener after his mother, and featured botanical themes in many of his designs.
A trip to Paris would simply be incomplete without paying a visit to the spectacular Maison of Christian Dior.
S.K.