Christian Dior
  • Christian Dior
  Christian Dior (1905 – 1957) was a very influential French Fashion designer where he was born in Normandy, France and heir to a fertilizer fortune. He attended catholic school and because of his parents insisted that he studied political science so he went to Paris Institute of Political Science. After his military service he returned to Paris in 1935 to begin his design career and established his main house of couture in Paris 1946 with the help and backing of textile entrepreneur Marcel Boussac. Within twelve years he expanded his business to 15 countries and employed over 2,000 people.


He created the “New Look” in 1947 with the design of narrow shoulders, a constricted waist, emphasized bust and a very full skirt giving the severity of wartime fashions. Even after the war his fashion design represents classic elegance and always emphasizing the feminine look. This New Look revolutionized women’s dresses and helped re-establish Paris as the capital of world-fashion. Dior became the last dictator of style in the 1950s, with each of his collection throughout this period had a theme- classic suits, ballerina-length skirts, the H-line created in 1954, the A and Y lines in 1955. With his partner, Jacques Rouet, he expanded his fashion all around the world and started franchises in the fashion industry.  In 1953 Yves Saint-Laurent became Dior’s assistant but was forced to leave when his time for his military service came about.

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Dior, who suffered from heart problems, died a heart attack while he was going through a weight-loss cure at a spa in Montecatini, Italy. His death was reportedly occurred in the lobby of Hotel Pace after an after-dinner canasta game. After his death, Dior salons opened in 24 countries and now the Dior firm is successively led by designers Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre, Marc Bohan, Hedi Slimane and John Galliano who all continue to be a fashion leader with much wider range of merchandise including menswear, accessories, watches and household items.