Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

An exhibition exploring the work and enduring legacy of fashion designer Christian Dior has just opened at London's V&A museum.

Dior: Designer of Dreams showcases over 500 objects, with 200 haute-couture garments exhibited alongside accessories, fashion photography, perfume, original makeup, illustrations, and magazines. It also includes a selection of Christian Dior's personal possessions.

The late fashion designer’s story, influences and legacy feature in the new show, which has been split into 11 sections including a part looking at Dior’s links to Britain.

There are also sections looking at Dior’s life and his own tenure at the fashion house, at how travel and history influenced the designer and at what each of the artistic directors who succeeded him, including Marc Bohan, Yves Saint Laurent and Maria Grazia Chiuri, brought to the brand. Haute couture is at the heart of the show.

Highlights include a dress worn by Princess Margaret on her 21st birthday, which is on loan from the Museum of London and exhibited alongside a photograph of the princess in the dress taken by Cecil Beaton.

As well as the Princess’ dress which takes pride of place in the centre of the Dior in Britain room, the section also explores some of the designer’s work for British clients and highlights some of his early fashion shows in the UK including his first show at the Savoy hotel. It also looks at the establishment of the Dior London business.

The exhibition also features a “spectacular” ballroom design for the final room, which is filled with a selection of glamorous Dior eveningwear.

The room is complete with a ceiling projection which changes from daylight, to a sparkly night sky, with an image of a classical painting in between — the ambience in the room changes with it.

The show is supported by Swarovski – this has significance as Dior and Swarovski worked together in the past. In 1956, Swarovksi created a crystal “with rainbow-like effects” called Aurora Borealis working alongside Dior, with the fashion house continuing to use Swarovski crystals ever since to add sparkle to its clothes.

The show follows a series of major fashions exhibitions at the V&A, including Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in 2015.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, runs from 2 February – 14 July 2019 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL. Tickets cost £20-24, and concessions cost £15. For more information, see here

The V&A to host the largest ever Dior exhibition - Everything you need to know

The V&A is set to stage the largest and most comprehensive Dior exhibition in UK history. The show – which is entitled Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams – is also the biggest fashion exhibition to be put on by the museum since the hugely popular Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.

The exhibit will span from 1947 to present day, tracing the history and impact of the founder and the six other artistic directors to have helmed the house.

Here, we round up everything you need to know about what is sure to be one of 2019's most exciting exhibitions.

What will the exhibition cover?
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will trace the 71-year history of the House of Dior, beginning in 1947, when Christian Dior opened his couturier at 30 Avenue Montaigne, the site where it still stands today.

The major exhibition will trace this beginning through to present day – via the display of over 500 objects – looking at the impact of Dior's 'New Look' (and how it has been reinterpreted again and again throughout Dior's history) as well as the house's relationship with travel, flowers, history and so much more.

In addition to displaying some of the house's most iconic and memorable gowns, the exhibition will also highlight the breadth of creations that have come out of the fashion house over the years – and will pay tribute to those who have collaborated with Dior. This, entitled the 'Diorama' section, will showcase accessories from costume jewellery and hats to shoes, bags, archive lipstick and fragrance bottles.

Another highlight will no doubt be the 'Designers for Dior' section which will spotlight the work of the six creative directors who have helmed the label since Christian Dior passed away in 1957. It will celebrate how each designer has interpreted the vision of the label in their own way, while consistently sticking to the "codes of Dior".

Read more here