Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

Easily one of the best museum shows of 2021 – Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the Brooklyn Museum, on view through February 20, 2022. It chronicles the design house from the beginning under Mr. Dior himself and all the other designers that followed – Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and the latest Maria Grazia Chiuri. The exhibition brings into view many sources of Dior’s inspiration—from flowers and other natural forms to classical and contemporary art which together is magically transformed in the beautiful haute couture pieces. The Dior brand continues to delight fashion aficionados and inspire other creatives with its elegant and sophisticated designs true to the house’s legacy.

Featured image: Christian Dior – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1950, cocktail ensemble in satin consisting of a short bustier dress and coat.

Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Christian Dior ensembles
Christian Dior – New York Autumn/Winter 1953 (gold satin evening gown and black cotton broadcloth dress) and Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1950 (red silk satin gown)
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Christian Dior New Look
Christian Dior – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1947, ensemble with silk shantung jacket and wool pleated skirt. Dubbed the ‘New Look’.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Yves Saint Laurent ensembles for Dior
Yves Saint Laurent – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1959 ensembles.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Yves Saint Laurent red dress for Dior
Yves Saint Laurent – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1959 cocktail dress in silk faille.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, photographers capturing the designs throughout the years
Photographers capturing the Dior look from left to right: Henry Clarke 1950, Karen Radkai 1955, Henry Clarke 1956, William Hepburn 1956
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Gianfranco Ferré pleated gown for Dior
Gianfranco Ferré – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1992 ivory long pleated dress in georgette crepe; Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1989 black silk crepe dress with large bow.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Raf Simons design for Dior
Raf Simons – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2014, ensemble with coat in embroidered wool, top and pants in wool.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Gianfranco Ferré print gown for Dior
Gianfranco Ferré – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1992 long pleated print gown in organza.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, photographers capturing Dior looks
Photographers capturing the Dior look from left to right: David Lachapelle 2003 and 1997, Michael Thompson 1997, Steven Meisel 2018.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, John Galliano newspaper print ensemble for Dior
John Galliano – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2000, overalls in newspaper print silk taffeta with waistcoat in silk moiré.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, John Galliano silk embroidered gown and crown for Dior
John Galliano – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2004, silk embroidered satin.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Richard Avedon’s photograph with the actual gown from 1955
Richard Avedon’s iconic image: Dovima with Elephants 1955, Christian Dior – Autumn/Winter 1955 sheath dress in velvet with obi-style satin sash.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Maria Grazia Chiuri layered gown for Dior
Maria Grazia Chiuri – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020, gown in draped tulle.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Dior designs arranged by color
Wide array of colors over the years.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, magazine covers of Dior garments
Magazine covers featuring Dior.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Christian Dior red swing coat
Christian Dior – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 1948, traveling coat in wool.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, toile for John Galliano design at Dior
From the Dior Atelier – toile (test garment) based on designer sketches.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, John Galliano ensemble for Dior
John Galliano – Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2006.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, toiles from the Dior Atelier
Wall of toiles.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Dongyoo Kim’s painting of Christian Dior
Dongyoo Kim: Dior, 2015 oil on canvas. Painting is made up of small portraits of Marilyn Monroe.
Design and Style Report image, Christian Dior exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, detail of Marilyn Monroe heads
Detail of Dongyoo Kim painting.

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