Christian Dior Decadent Ostrich Leather Halter Dress
View Similar Items
Christian Dior Decadent Ostrich Leather Halter Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 8 (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5111664123
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.
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 evening 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.
- Dolce & Gabbana Strapless Silk DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Water Mill, NYA stunning fine silk leopard print bustier dress from Dolce and Gabbana. Ruching emanating from the center front creates a flattering cinched waist, in contrast the back is unadorned...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- Vicky Tiel Couture Color Block Silk Dress with LeopardsBy Vicky TielLocated in Water Mill, NYA great silk dress from Vicky Tiel Couture with a marigold bodice printed with leopards and a solid black skirt portion. The bodice has a small stand up collar, long sleeves, and hor...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- Leonard Angel Sleeve Silk Maxi Dress 1970sBy LeonardLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous angel sleeve long dress from Leonard in a bold pattern of bright pink, tan, black an yellow fine silk jersey. It has a square neckline and lon...Category
1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace Silk Jersey Dress with Leather Waist A/W 2001By Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Water Mill, NYA stunning silk jersey dress from Gianni Versace Couture in a gorgeous caramel tan color. It has a plunging neckline and a wide matching leather inset waist. The skirt is straight, t...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Jean Varon Silk Maxi Dress 1970sBy Jean VaronLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful Jean Varon silk maxi dress in an abstract grey, coral and off-white pattern. The bodice fitted to the waist is trimmed along the low V neckline and long sleeve cuffs with ruffles of the same fabric. The floor length skirt...Category
1970s English Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana Lace up Silk DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful stretch silk leopard print dress from Dolce & Gabbana. The bodice has adjustable straps, functional and adjustable side lacing through to the hips plus rows of top stitch...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Worlds End by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren toga dress, ss 1982By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ A rare Worlds End toga dress ▪ Designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren ▪ Cotton-jersey bodice ▪ Open sides with ties to the waist ▪ Asymmetric sleeves ▪ Cream and ora...Category
1980s English Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Chloe S04 strapless plisse green silk chiffon layered bustier midi length dressBy ChloéLocated in Paris, FRChloe Spring Summer 2004 strapless plisse green silk dress Boning to the upper portion Cinched in waist Long rope ties with beaded ends wrap around the ne...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage cottagecore prairie cotton white red floral print halter backless dressLocated in Paris, FRA beautiful vintage dress most likely from the 1970's Cottagecore style maxi length dress in white with red, yellow and green floral print Halt...Category
1970s Maxi Dresses
- Christian Dior Resort 2018 brown cream floral print corset bustier midi dressBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRChristian Dior Resort 2018 Cream midi length dress with brown floral print Boned corset upper with underwire cups Button up front which is f...Category
2010s French Evening Dresses
- Vilshenko black pink floral print silk puff sleeve mock neck maxi dress XS - SBy VilshenkoLocated in Paris, FRLOVE LALI Vintage Vilshenko black dress with pink, yellow and green floral print Button up neckline Mock neck Cinched waist Puff sleeves Loose tiered skirt Concealed back zip Attac...Category
2010s Maxi Dresses
- 1990s Gianni Versace multicoloured salopette dressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Capri, IT1990s Gianni Versace multicoloured salopette dress size 42Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
Recently Viewed
View AllRead 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.