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Christian Dior Drawings

French, 1905-1957

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. Vintage Dior bags, shoes, evening dresses, shirts and other garments and accessories are known today for their feminine and sophisticated sensibility.

Dior was born in Granville, on the Normandy coast, in 1905. His prosperous haute bourgeois parents wanted him to become a diplomat despite his interest in art and architecture. However, they agreed to bankroll an art gallery, which Dior opened in 1928 in Paris with a friend.

This was the start of Dior’s rise in the city’s creative milieu, where he befriended Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau. After seven years as an art dealer, 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.

Just two years after the end of World War II, the fashion crowd and the moribund haute couture industry were yearning, comme tout Paris, for security and prosperity, desperate to discard the drab, sexless, utilitarian garb imposed by wartime deprivation. They needed to dream anew.

And Dior delivered: He designed a collection for a bright, optimistic future. “It’s quite a revolution, dear Christian!” exclaimed Carmel Snow, the prescient American editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, famously proclaiming, “Your dresses have such a new look.” The press ran with the description, christening Dior’s debut Spring/Summer haute couture collection the New Look. “God help those who bought before they saw Dior,” said Snow. “This changes everything.”

Dior’s collection definitively declared that opulence, luxury and femininity were in. His skirts could have 40-meter-circumference hems, and outfits could weigh up to 60 pounds. They were cut and shaped like architecture, on strong foundations that molded women and “freed them from nature,” Dior said. Rather than rationing, his ladies wanted reams of fabric and 19-inch waists enforced by wire corsets, and the fashion world concurred. The debut got a standing ovation.

In the subsequent decade, Paris ruled as the undisputed fashion capital of the world, and Christian Dior reigned as its king. With the luxuriously full skirts of his New Look, suits and his drop-dead gorgeous couture dresses and ball gowns worthy of any princess, Dior gave women the gift of glamour they’d lost in the miserable years of war.

On 1stDibs, find an exquisite range of vintage Christian Dior clothing, jewelry, handbags and other items.

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Creator: Christian Dior
Fashion Drawing with Fabric, Maison Dior, 1981/82
By Christian Dior
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Fashion plate enhanced with gouache, with dress fabric swatch from Maison Christian Dior, 1981-82. Handwritten inscription: "Tous sauf 8 en stock" For sale framed.
Category

1980s French Beaux Arts Vintage Christian Dior Drawings

Materials

Fabric, Paper

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Christian Dior drawings for sale on 1stDibs.

Christian Dior drawings are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. Prices for Christian Dior drawings can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $832 and can go as high as $832, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $832.
Questions About Christian Dior Drawings
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To clean a Dior canvas bag, moisten a soft cloth with lukewarm water. Add a few drops of mild dish soap and rub the ends of the cloth together to create lather. Gently wipe the entire bag. Then, moisten a second cloth and wipe again to remove the soap. Shop a large selection of Dior canvas bags on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Dior is a luxury French fashion house that celebrates opulence, extravagance and femininity in fashion. It was founded in 1946 by French fashion designer Christian Dior and gained fame for revolutionizing women’s fashion after World War II. Find a collection of authentic Christian Dior clothing, jewelry and other stunning items on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, Dior runs sales for Black Friday and other occasions throughout the year. Promotions vary and usually do not include all the items in the online store's inventory. You also may find Dior apparel, jewelry and accessories available at discounted prices year-round on online platforms. Shop a large selection of Dior on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Dior makes bags out of a variety of materials. Some bags feature fabrics, including cotton canvas, jacquard, satin and velvet. In addition, Dior offers bags made of textured, patent and smooth cowhide leather. A small number of sheepskin bags are also among the brand's designs. You’ll find a large selection of Dior bags on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, the classic Dior saddle bag includes a shoulder strap. The more recent Dior and Sacai saddle bag has an adjustable strap, allowing you to wear it on your shoulder or fastened across your chest. Dior also sells longer canvas straps that you can attach to many of their bags, including the classic saddle bag. Find a collection of Dior saddle bags on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    No, Dior bags don't all have serial numbers. In fact, the brand uses date codes in place of them. The date code begins with a two-digit number that represents the manufacturing year. A two-letter code specifying which factory produced the bag comes next. At the end of the date code is a four-number sequence. The first and third numbers correspond to the month of production, and the second and fourth numbers tell you the calendar date. For example, a date code ending in 1212 means the date of production was November 22. On 1stDibs, find a variety of expertly vetted Dior bags.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether or not Christian Dior jewelry is real gold depends on the type in question. Dior often uses genuine 18-karat gold for its fine jewelry pieces. Fashion jewelry is usually not real gold. Instead, the brand applies a gold-tone finish to a base metal. Silver-tone pieces typically feature the same base metal under a layer of palladium. Find a large collection of Christian Dior jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    How you style Dior B23 sneakers is largely a matter of personal preference. High-top styles tend to look best worn with socks no higher than the collar, while low-top options work well with socks of varying heights. Feel free to get creative and wear your sneakers with everything from dresses to jeans. Shop a range of Dior sneakers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To correctly pronounce the first word in Dior Homme, say "dee-OAR." The second word sounds like the word "home" but without the letter H. Dior is the French last name of the brand's founder, Christian Dior. "Homme" is the French word for man. Find a selection of Dior Homme on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    On Dior Tribal earrings, the smaller front pearl goes in front of your ear lobe, and the larger pearl rests behind your ear. Pull the smaller pearl out and then position over your ear, and put them on by inserting the smaller piece back into the hole on the larger pearl. Find an array of Dior jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You can buy Dior sneakers directly from the brand's official website. Additionally, the shoes are available from authorized brick-and-mortar retailers and online platforms, including 1stDibs. Buying from a reputable retailer or online platform can help ensure that you receive authentic Dior footwear. Shop a range of Dior sneakers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A new pair of Dior shoes are available online directly through Dior’s website and a variety of other retailers. Vintage editions of Christian Dior shoes are available from a number of online retailers, including on 1stDibs. It’s important to purchase from a vetted seller or vendor to ensure authenticity. While Christian Dior has at times inspired knockoffs, 1stDibs partners with only top-vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In his original designs, Christian Dior mostly made use of cotton, wool and silk. These were the most popular materials to use at the time, before synthetic materials like polyester became more widely used in later decades of the 20th century. Find a collection of vintage and modern Dior garments from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Christian Dior was influenced by his years working as an art dealer and fashion illustrator before finally opening a fashion house of his own. He was initially interested in art and architecture. Prior to his work in fashion design, Dior ran an art gallery with a friend, where he showed the work of Max Ernst, Picasso, Joan Miró and others. In 1946, Dior opened his fashion house and strove to deliver bright fashions for a new era, discarding the sexless utilitarian garbs that had been forced upon people during the war. Three very talented women who worked in Dior’s studio — Madame Raymonde Zehnacker, Marguerite Carré and Mitzah Bricard — are also said to have inspired him. Shop iconic vintage and contemporary Dior clothing on 1stDibs.

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