Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

Christian Dior

DESIGNER OF DREAMS

FOREWORD BY ANNE PASTERNAK INTRODUCTION BY FLORENCE MÜLLER TEXTS BY MAUREEN FOOTER, JÉRÔME GAUTIER, AND MATTHEW YOKOBOSKY IMAGES BY KATERINA JEBB

An extraordinary book celebrating the unique connection between the House of Dior and the United States.

Published on the occasion of the retrospective staged at the Brooklyn Museum, this new title chronicles the history of the House of Dior from 1947, when Christian Dior heralded the birth of a new era of elegance with his revolutionary New Look, to the present day, with a special focus on the House’s legacy in America.

Featuring a sophisticated Swiss binding, this book presents the exhibition’s highlights with creations by Christian Dior and the artistic directors who succeeded him: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Captured by artist Katerina Jebb, some of the House’s most legendary designs are displayed in her unique images. A portfolio of iconic photographs by American masters—including Richard Avedon, Cass Bird, Henry Clarke, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Zoë Ghertner, Ethan James Green, Tyler Mitchell, Irving Penn, and many more—underscores Dior’s undeniable cultural influence.

Anne Pasternak is Shelby White and Leon Levy Director at the Brooklyn Museum. Florence Müller is the Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion at the Denver Art Museum. Maureen Footer is an American design historian and writer. She is the author of Dior and His Decorators (Vendome Press, 2018). Jérôme Gautier is Director of Publishing at Christian Dior. He is the author of Dior New Looks (Thames & Hudson, 2015). Matthew Yokobosky is Senior Curator, Fashion and Material Culture, at the Brooklyn Museum. Katerina Jebb is a British artist working in several mediums.

FASHION

264 pages, 9 x 11S” 150 color and b/w photographs HC: 978-0-8478-7175-9 $55.00 Can: $75.00 UK: £39.95 September 7, 2021 Rights: World RIZZOLI ELECTA

An American Dream

For those who did not have time to make the journey to Paris, there was, of course, Christian Dior–New York. Grace Kelly was well aware of that: she bought the Caracas dress from the Christian Dior–New York Spring–Summer 1954 collection and wore it a few weeks later at the premiere of Rear Window. Christian Dior–New York dressed pragmatic American women but also o ered eveningwear, such as the Athena dress, and Sutton Place, pages 18 and 19.

GRAND ENTRANCE

Dior died in 1957, but his dream of making women “not only more beautiful, but also happier”5 lived on. Elizabeth Taylor was already happy when she ordered Soirée à Rio, a dress from the Spring–Summer 1961 collection designed by up and coming Marc Bohan. She was resplendent at the Oscars ceremony in 1961, where she won the Best Actress award for Butter eld 8: “I don’t really know how to express my gratitude, for this and for everything. I guess all I can do is say thank you, thank you with all my heart.” Shifting from black and white to color, the carpet became red from Hollywood to Cannes. The lm industry is a myth-shaper. Dior dressed many iconic movie stars, including: Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Julianne Moore, Sophia Loren, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Soirée à Rio dress when receiving the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Butterfield 8, 1961. Opposite Soirée à Rio, long evening dress, green chi on top, embroidered ivory silk faille skirt. Haute Couture Spring–Summer 1961, Slim Look collection. Christian Dior by Marc Bohan. Dior Héritage collection, Paris. Following spread, left Rêverie, two-tone millefeuille tulle pleated bustier dress, worn by Angelina Jolie for the release of First They Killed My Father in 2017. Haute Couture Fall–Winter 2017. Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Dior Héritage collection, Paris. Following spread, right Tourbillon, woven white horsehair cage and skirt, embroidered with ivory organza leaves, worn by Lupita Nyong’o at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Haute Couture Spring–Summer 2018. Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Dior Héritage collection, Paris.

28