Dior Spell Out

Yes, Christian Dior and Dior are the same. The French couturier Christian Dior founded his eponymous house in 1946. The brand is commonly known as simply Dior.

After seven years as an art dealer in Paris, the Granville-born Dior retrained as a fashion illustrator, eventually landing a job as a fashion designer for Robert Piguet, and in 1941, following a year of military service, he joined the house of Lucien Lelong. Just five years later, with the backing of industrialist Marcel Boussac, the ascendant Dior established his own fashion house, at 30 avenue Montaigne in Paris.

Dior's New Look — the silhouette introduced by the couturier with his first namesake collection in 1947 — featured gowns characterized by soft, rounded shoulders; a prominent bust; waspish waistlines; and long, voluminous skirts. Dior’s work definitively declared that opulence was in, and his return to a “pretty,” highly feminized style was a direct reaction to years of wartime austerity. 

Find 1950s Dior dresses, bags and accessories on 1stDibs.

The company Christian Dior was originally founded in 1946 at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, France. From there, Dior strove to deliver fashion for an optimistic post-war future, leading to the great success of his company. Shop a collection of designer Christian Dior pieces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Christian Dior, born in Granville, France in 1905, was one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. His “New Look,” which featured a sensuous silhouette complete with rounded shoulders, a cinched waist and a full skirt, revived extravagance in women’s fashion after the poverty of World War II. Find an opulent collection of Dior pieces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

When Christian Dior died, Yves Saint Laurent took over the French fashion house in accordance with Dior's wishes. Saint Laurent had joined Christian Dior's atelier two years earlier, at the age of 19. He remained the creative director until 1960, following his conscription into the French military and a prolonged illness. In 1962, Saint Laurent established his own eponymous fashion house in Paris. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Christian Dior apparel, bags and accessories.

Dior sells many things. It offers seasonal ready-to-wear collections of men's, women's and kids' apparel. In addition, Dior produces luxury bags, shoes, jewelry, fragrances and cosmetics. The French fashion house also has a line of tableware and linens for the home. Find a variety of Dior pieces on 1stDibs.

Dior is so popular for a few reasons. First, the French luxury fashion house has a rich heritage. When Christian Dior launched his couture house in 1946, he wanted nothing less than to make “an elegant woman more beautiful and a beautiful woman more elegant.” He succeeded, and, in doing so, the visionary designer altered the landscape of 20th-century fashion.

Second, many people find the maison's pieces to be visually appealing. Vintage Dior bags, shoes, evening dresses, shirts and other garments and accessories are especially well known today and prized for their feminine and sophisticated sensibility. Celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence, Eva Mendes and Charlize Theron have also helped Dior remain popular over the years by sporting Dior pieces on the red carpet.

Shop a large collection of Dior apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

Dior bags are made of a variety of materials. Some of the bags created by the acclaimed French luxury house come in fabrics, including cotton canvas, jacquard, satin, blue denim and velvet. Other bags hand-crafted in Dior’s leatherworking ateliers have included those made with grained calfskin, durable bull calf leather and goatskin. Patent lambskin bags are also part of the brand's offerings as well as bags made with wicker, python leather and crocodile leather.

Some of the best known Dior bags include the Lady Dior, the Saddle and the Book tote.

You’ll find a large selection of Dior shoulder bags, totes and other handbags for sale on 1stDibs.

Dior boutiques often have sales at the end of the season on select items. The best way to find out is to ask your nearest location or keep an eye on the inventory. For physical store locations, consult the brand’s website. Shop iconic vintage and contemporary Dior clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.

You can examine many elements to authenticate Dior shoes. Dior shoes have deep, well-defined treads, while imitations may have very shallow patterns. Insoles on Dior shoes read "made in Italy" and show the brand name in the correct font. The words "made in Italy" should also appear above the style number and the Italian shoe size. Shop a large selection of expertly vetted Dior shoes on 1stDibs.

To authenticate a Dior scarf, examine the tag. Designs vary from year to year, but generally the tag will display at least the brand name in the correct font. On an authentic Dior scarf, the tag is usually perfectly parallel to the edge of the scarf and the printing appears centered and crisp. The stitching that holds the tag should be evenly spaced. Find a collection of expertly vetted Dior scarves on 1stDibs.

Whether Dior slingbacks are comfy is a matter of personal opinion. Getting the right size is key to a comfortable fit, so check the sizing chart before purchasing. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Dior slingbacks.

Yes, Dior bags are handmade at the brand's ateliers. The brand's artisans complete all of the assembly and stitching by hand, making the construction of each bag a painstaking and time-consuming process. For example, a Dior Caro handbag’s signature quilted effect requires roughly 18,000 stitches. You’ll find a large selection of Dior bags on 1stDibs.

Whether the Lady Dior has a zipper varies. The French luxury fashion house of Dior designed the Lady Dior with a zipper and with a flap in place of a zipper. On bags with zippers, the pulls bear the Dior cartouche. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Lady Dior bags.

Yes, Christian Dior has a scented candle line called La Collection Privée Christian Dior. This collection doesn’t just include candles; you can find complimentary fragrances and gift boxes. Find Dior candles from the La Collection Privee Christian Dior collection from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

How you style Dior shoes depends on the type of shoe and your personal preferences. Dior sneakers can put a trendy finishing touch on everything from dresses to shorts, while Dior boots can elevate cold-weather ensembles like wool skirts and sweater-and-jeans combos. Part of the fun of Dior fashions is defying the rules and creating your own unique looks, so feel free to think outside the box when styling. Shop a large selection of Dior shoes on 1stDibs.