Dior gowns that made headlines star in London exhibition

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Emily G Roe

LONDON (Reuters) – From Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday gown to Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence’s red carpet dress, Christian Dior outfits that have made headlines go on show in a London exhibition dedicated to the French fashion house.

With a supporting cast of accessories, sketches and perfume bottles, “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” takes a close look at the history of the luxury brand he founded in 1946 and which remains the epitome of haute couture.

In all more than 500 items, the legacy of the late couturier and his six successors are on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum from Feb. 2.

“Not only did (Dior) … revolutionize fashion design … but he was also important in how he did business,” Oriole Cullen, Fashion and Textiles curator at the V&A, told Reuters.

“His business model was very much something which is still in use today. He wanted to look globally and at different markets.”

One of the earliest outfits on show is Dior’s signature Bar suit: a sculpted off-white jacket synched at the waist and black pleated skirt. The 1947 design revolutionized womenswear and was dubbed Dior’s “New Look”.

Another highlight is the gold straw embroidered silk bodice and full-skirted gown Dior designed for Britain’s Princess Margaret’s in 1951. She wore the gown for her official 21st birthday portrait.

Dior’s love of Britain – where he staged several fashion shows – is also explored in the exhibition, which is based on a previous Paris House of Dior display.

“He was a self-confessed anglophile,” Cullen said. “For him it was an important market.”

Dior died in 1957, aged 52. A young Yves Saint Laurent took over and was followed by successive creative directors Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri, at the helm since 2016.

Their designs, worn by royals and celebrities, are mixed alongside the founder’s, each loyal to his legacy and fascinations. Dior was superstitious – his lucky star is on display – and Chiuri has paid homage to that in her creations.

“Around the world Dior is Dior. Many people don’t know that there were many designers at Dior,” Chiuri told Reuters.

“I think we have to respect this heritage but at the same time we have to move this heritage in the future. I look around, I take a lot of inspiration but at the same time my idea is to make this element contemporary for modern women.”

(Reporting By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Emily Roe; additional reporting by Hanna Rantala; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by John Stonestreet and Diane Craft)