Chritian Dior Exhibition!!

Christian Dior

The following images are the primary research of Christian Dior Exhibition and also what I found most attractive in the Gallery of costume.

Ligne Aimant

Cocktail dress and Jacket,

Autumn/Winter 1996

A cocktail dress made from peach silk, printed with a Chinese style design in black, and embroidered all over. The slim line columnar dress has a high 'empire' wait and a narrow knee length skirt, whilst the matching boxy bolero-jacket has wide pointed lapels and full lining in black silk velvet. The whole ensemble is embroidery lavishly with black seed pearls, nacre livers, brass and cooper metal thread embroidery, with stylised small oriental figures and buildings.  

The Ligne Aimant Collection dispalyed in the gallery.

Ligne Trompe L'OEIL

Cocktail dress, Spring/ Summer 1949

This dress of black ribbed silk, has a separate tabbed bodice, with contrasting narrow and wide skirts to produce the twin silhouettes of the 'New Look'. This model is showing the narrow skirt whilst the full skirt is paired with Corolle line bodice of 1947.  

A Few elements of the collection (i.e ligne tulip and ligne verticale)

Ligne Zigzag

Day dress, Spring/Summer 1948

Dior second major collection after the 'New Look', played with asymmetry and parallel lines, as in this gently spiralling, tiered skirt. This outfit exemplifies Dior early couture styling, often in black and with a deceptive simplicity and immaculate cut.

1960s and 1970s collection.

1980s and 1990s collection, a slighty changed in more modern garments.

 

2000s garments examples.

Stripped Bias-Cut Evening dress, 1934-5

A sleeves fitted evening dress in black rayon crepe, woven with ribbon stripes in red, yellow, green and blue, which highlight, the contrasting bias-cut panels. The skirt is cut in 6 main panels with 12 gores towards the hem allowing, the skirt to flare out. The hem trimmed, with applied bands in colored stripes to match the main fabric of the dress.   

A few garments from the decades 1930's until 1940's.

An evening dress from the 1957's and cocktail dress from 1956's.

A combination of cocktails dresses from 1952 and 1956 decades.

A Corset, Thomsons Crioline, chemise and drawers and cap, from the decade 1860s-70.

Different types of women bodice from the era 1650s-80.

Women Jacket from 1670's-1700.

Fan 1650's-70

This fan is one of the earliest, that has a darkly painted paper leaf in gouache, showing a classical garden scene. It belonged to Lady Elizabeth Crowley.

What makes the Christian Dior  outfits 'Haute Couture' is the uniqueness of the clothing, knowing that nobody will have the exactly same garment, as well as the details that are implemented in most garments, the main technique used is hand embroidery, because it was more acessible at the time, rather than sewing or industrials machnies.  
Christian Dior, used a lot of expensive fabrics to make the garments (i.e silk, velvet, felt and wool) at that time only people that could afford, would wear 'Haute Couture'.
I also notice that most of the dresses and skirts were knee lenght high, which made very sophisticated, classic and elegant for the era.
From what I have seen and felt, the 'ligne and aimant cocktail dress' was very heavy in fabric, but with a soft feel and delicacy in the hand embroidery, whereas the 'ligne zizag dress', was very asymetric, with tier skirt attach and a light and soft fabric made of which was in the (New Look).


What is Haute Couture?
'Haute Couture' is term used to describe the creation of unique custom fitted clothing. Is gaments that is constructed without the use of sewing, industrials machines, from the beginning to finish, normally made from high quality and expensive fabric, with extreme attention to detail, very time consuming and it is needed hand techniques.

An example of Haute Couture by Christian Dior.