Christian Dior
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.
| Average Sold Price |
| $4,205 |
| Related Designers |
2010s French Christian Dior
21st Century and Contemporary Christian Dior
2010s French Christian Dior
Early 2000s French Christian Dior
21st Century and Contemporary Christian Dior
2010s Italian Christian Dior
Early 2000s Italian Christian Dior
Early 2000s French Christian Dior
Popular Searches
Christian Dior Sellers
Designers Similar to Christian Dior
Read More
Too Soon for the Return of ’90s Fashion? As If
There's a renewed appreciation for the era's aesthetic, perhaps most notably among millennials seeking authentic, easy style.
14 Iconic Luxury Handbags and the Stories behind Them
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.
The V&A Takes a Fresh Look at the New Look’s Pioneering Progenitor, Christian Dior
Ballrooms, Bar Suits and British royals — in a sweeping exhibition, the London museum looks back on 70 years of the French fashion house, as well as its illustrious founder and his fondness for the United Kingdom.
The Best Ways to Dress for Your Astrological Sign
Makeup and astrology expert Linda Mason dispenses fashion advice for every zodiac sign. Does your wardrobe match your horoscope?
How Well Do You REALLY Know Christian Dior?
Test your understanding of the man behind the legendary French fashion house with our 13-question quiz.
Christian Dior fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
- Do Dior shoes run small?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Dior shoes tend to run narrow. It is often recommended to purchase a size up, especially if you don’t have narrow feet to begin with. Find a collection of vintage and contemporary Christian Dior shoes from a variety of top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
- How do I clean Dior sneakers?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022How to best clean Dior sneakers varies based on the material. Using a cleaning product designed for whatever your sneakers are made of can help you avoid damaging leather or suede. Generally, you can wipe surface dirt off all Dior sneakers with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Dior sneakers.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To attach a branded canvas strap to a Dior saddle bag, use the spring-mounted lobster clasps located at each end. Simply pull back on the finger knob to open the fastener and slip the clasp onto one of the metal rings located on the top of the bag. Let go to close the fastener. Repeat on the other side, and you're ready to carry your bag with your new strap. Find a collection of Dior saddle bags on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Hallmarks can help you authenticate Dior jewelry. Typically, Dior stamps its hallmarks on the fasteners of their jewelry. Pieces made in the 1950s often include the names of the designers Kramer or Mitchel Maer. Pieces from this period may also say "Dior West Germany" or "Made in Germany for Christian Dior." During the 1960s and 70s, the hallmark became "Chr.Dior." Since the 1980s, the brand's hallmark reads "Christian Dior" along with a copyright symbol and the manufacturing year. You may also find "Made in France" on modern hallmarks. Shop a large selection of expertly vetted Dior jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are several signs to look for to tell whether your Dior bag is authentic or fake. Check the handles to make sure they’re sturdy and don’t bend. The leather used for inner implements should be an exact match to the leather used on the outside of the bag. Check for any signs of sloppy workmanship in the stitching, hardware or in the shape of the bag. Authentic Dior bags will always retain their shape, even if they’re vintage. Date code tags should be rectangular with rounded edges. Keep in mind that Dior stopped making their handbags in France in 1990, so a newer bag with a “Made in France” stamp is another warning sign. While Christian Dior has inspired knockoffs, 1stDibs partners with only top-vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To tie a scarf on a Lady Dior bag, knot one end on one side of the arched handle. Position the short end of the scarf so that it faces straight down. Then, carefully wrap the long end of the scarf around the handle, working from one side to the other. Stop occasionally to reposition the short end to keep the tip facing downward. Once the scarf completely covers the handle, knot the other end. Shop a large selection of Lady Dior bags on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can check a few features to know if Dior sunglasses are likely real. All Dior sunglasses show a brand name stamp along the inner temple. The stamp should be in the correct font and may say "Dior" or "Christian Dior." On newer styles, a serial number or style number appears beside the brand name. Length of the numbers varies, but the printing will always consist of a mix of capital letters and numbers. Newer eyewear designs also display the model number, frame size and temple length on the inner temple tip. Shop a large selection of expertly vetted Dior sunglasses on 1stDibs.
- How do I read a Dior date stamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The last four digits on a Dior date stamp indicate the month and year. The first and third digits represent the months, while the second and fourth digits represent the year. For example, if your date code ends with 1109, then that would mean the time of manufacture was October 2019. This is the same code system used by Louis Vuitton.
- How can I wear a Dior scarf?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can wear a Dior scarf many ways, and how you choose to style it is largely a matter of personal preference. Try folding the scarf into a triangle and tying it in a single knot, or knot it into a symmetrical bow at your throat and allow the ends to hang loosely. Dior scarves also work well as bag accessories, headbands and kerchiefs. You’ll find a large selection of Dior scarves on 1stDibs.
- How can I wear a Dior Mitzah?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can wear a Dior Mitzah in many ways. Wrap the long, narrow strip of fabric around your neck and tie it in a bow like a scarf, or coil it around the handles of your Dior handbag. The dimensions of the scarf also allow it to function as a headband or a wrist wrap. Shop a large selection of Dior scarves on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The last four digits on a Lady Dior date code indicate the month and year. The first and third digits represent the month, while the second and fourth digits represent the year. For example, if your date code ends with 1128, that would mean the time of manufacture was December 2018. This is the same code system used by Louis Vuitton.
- How can I wear a Dior belt bag?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can wear a versatile Dior belt bag many different ways. The most traditional position is around your waist. If you wish, you can pull the belt through loops on your jeans, pants or skirts. Another option is to sling the belt lower so that the bag hangs just below your hips. Shop a range of Dior belt bags on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022After seven years as an art dealer, Christian Dior retrained as a fashion illustrator, eventually landing a job as a fashion designer for French fashion designer Robert Piguet. In 1941, following a year of military service, Dior joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong. Five years later, he was able to open a fashion house of his own at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. At 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of vintage and modern Christian Dior clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques.
- Is Dior a public company?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Dior is a publicly traded company. Its full name is Christian Dior SE. The stock trades on the Euronext 100 market under the initials "CDI." The largest shareholder and primary owner of the company is the French corporation LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. You’ll find a large selection of Dior on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, the Dior saddle bag is generally not considered a classic bag. It debuted in 1999 in the Spring/Summer 2000 collection designed by John Galliano. Because of its introduction year, the saddle bag isn't a vintage style and is usually thought of as a modern design. Shop a range of Dior saddle bags on 1stDibs.
- Are Dior sunglasses polarized?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, some Dior sunglasses are polarized. Designs vary from year to year, but generally at least a few in every season's collection feature polarized lenses. The Dior EverDior aviator sunglasses are one example of a signature style that often offers polarized lenses as an option. You’ll find a large selection of Dior sunglasses on 1stDibs.
- How do Dior Oblique shoes fit?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Dior Oblique shoes tend to fit true to size. Check the brand’s website for exact shoe measurements to ensure a proper fit. Shop a wide variety of Dior Oblique collections from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Are Dior shoes true to size?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, Dior shoes usually are not true to size, although sizing differences vary by shoe style. Depending on which shoe you buy, you may need to purchase one-half to one full size up from what you normally wear. Dior’s website offers an official size chart to help you select the right size. Explore a large selection of Dior shoes on 1stDibs.
- Who sells Dior eyeglasses?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A new pair of Dior eyeglasses are available from Dior directly as well as through multiple retailers. For physical store locations, consult the brand’s website. Shop a collection of vintage Christian Dior eyeglasses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Who makes Dior sunglasses?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022As of 2021, Dior eyewear is manufactured by Thélios, an Italian company owned by Dior’s parent company LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton. The change happened after the 23-year long license deal with the eyewear company Safilo expired in 2020. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary Dior eyewear from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.