Christian Dior
Christian Dior: history & brand profile

Christian Dior, the amazingly talented designer and innovator, was born in Normandy on January 21, 1905, but when he was five, his family moved to Paris, where he grew up and received his education. His career began when he first decided to sell his sketches to couture houses in Paris. When his pages were printed in the Figaro newspaper, he was instantly hired, and not long after, he was able to receive financing for his own couture house. In 1947, Christian Dior opens a couture house in Paris, and by the following year, Dior’s very first collection, “New Look”, receives high praise. In 1958, the “Trapeze” line is introduced by young Yves Saint Laurent, who was working for Christian Dior at the time. In 1985, Bernard Arnault takes over and becomes the President of Christian Dior. In 1997, designer John Galliano becomes appointed as the Artistic Director of the House of Dior, a dramatic change that would influence the brand immensely. John Galliano, a prestigious British designer, had already won three “British Designer of the Year” awards, and had received a fine education at London Saint Martin’s School. 1947 brought upon the “Bar” suit, which featured a silk jacket with round shoulders, a suit collar, and a black, full skirt that’s padded at the hips. Next came Diorama, a black wool crepe afternoon dress, with black braiding and a black leather belt at the waist. The extremely elegant and beautiful Junon evening dress was introduced in 1949, made of blue-grey silk tulle, covered in dark blue sequins. The following years, many other beautiful and captivating designs followed, including the “Oxford” day suit, the “Soiree de Paris”, the “Kamata” ball dress, the “alcee” long dress, the “Mitzah” dress, and even a “Queen Elizabeth II” in 1998. Among the Christian Dior collections are: Dior Cannage, Dior Gaucho, Dior Rebelle, Dior Vintage Traveler, Dior Christal Watch, and finally, Diorissimo. Not only does Christian Dior have a clothing and shoe line, there also exists a jewelry line, with collections such as: Diorette, Excentriques, Fiancee du Vampire, Gourmette de Dior, Oui, Coeur Leger, Milly-la-Foret, and Couture.
Today: ownership & current status (added by Luxury Brands Online)
Christian Dior today sits under LVMH. It was founded in 1946 by Christian Dior in France, and is headquartered in Paris, France. The house is best known for the 1947 'new look', lady dior bag, j'adore fragrance, and is positioned in the ultra-luxury segment.
A note on the original article above: It refers to John Galliano as the current artistic director; Dior has since been led by Raf Simons, Maria Grazia Chiuri and others, and the house is part of the LVMH group. We have preserved the original wording for the historical record and added the current facts here.
Sources for the added facts: see the sources & fact-check policy. We are not affiliated with Christian Dior and are not a retailer.
Categories: Women's Fashion · Fragrance & Beauty · Jewelry · Handbags & Leather Goods.
The history above is the original luxurybrandsonline.com brand article, preserved. We have added current ownership and status, and flagged any dated claims, without changing the original wording.
Sources: Dior — official site; Encyclopædia Britannica — fashion houses & designers. Editorial reference only; we are not affiliated with these brands. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
When was Christian Dior founded?
Christian Dior was founded in 1946 by Christian Dior in France.
What is Christian Dior known for?
Christian Dior is best known for the 1947 'new look', lady dior bag, j'adore fragrance.
Who owns Christian Dior?
Christian Dior is part of LVMH.
What does Christian Dior sell?
Christian Dior's ranges include women's fashion, fragrance & beauty, jewelry, handbags & leather goods.
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