Christian Dior: Designer of My Dreams

“Wow” — I kept repeating to myself as I ventured around the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibit located in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. From creative directors Yves Saint Laurent to Raf Simons to Maria Grazia Chiuri, the exhibition is home to the curation of the most magical and perfectly made pieces I have ever witnessed in my life. The exhibition consisted of around 15 rooms that focused on different themes and eras with masterpieces that belonged to such.

The opening room housed the designs that famed Christian Dior, in those, many garments modeled the New Look silhouette designed in 1947. Dior’s New Look made its mark in fashion by completely revolutionizing womenswear. It produced an “ exaggerated hourglass silhouette” that had not yet been seen due to World War II’s influence in wearing more modest clothes. One ensemble that spoke to me was the dress that Christian Dior designed in 1951 for Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday. This dress is the definition of haute couture. It is beautifully embroidered with gold and silver sequins & stars that wrap around the ivory dress. By having a buttoned bodice, a small waistline, and a full skirt that flares out, this dress is a celebrated example of how flattering the New Look shape was, especially to a young princess.

Throughout his artistic career, Christian Dior continuously expressed how flowers, after women, are the world’s most divine creation. As a small boy, Christian Dior enjoyed sketching his designs in his garden surrounded by flowers. All through Dior history, his garden and his profound appreciation for nature, have always been a source where creative directors have drawn inspiration from. In The Garden room, I fell in love with a dress designed by Raf Simons and worn by actress Natalie Portman, the face of the Miss Dior perfume, that holds a simple strapless neckline with a bell-like skirt. Influenced by the artistic movement of Pointillism, Simons designs a lavender & ivory ombré dress that is entirely made out of silk chiffon flower buds which have been individually stitched to create this enchanting and dreamy masterpiece. The Miss Dior perfume certainly has a floral scent, and one can understand how this staple fragrance has also taken part in the creation of this dress, it is a wearable representation of a garden. After all, I was mesmerized by the intricate detail of this gown and how colors transition from ivory to lavender in a seamless and impeccable manner. Christian Dior — Designer of Dreams, Look 47 — Dress of My Dreams.

As I continued to explore the exhibit, I found myself at The Dior Ball surrounded by gleaming and glowing ball gowns that could be spotted from miles away. Whether the dress was covered in fine Swarovski crystals, had an extravagant silhouette, or was made out of tulle and rose gold feathers, each gown had a special factor that made it twinkle and stand out. The Dior Ball included one of the most iconic dresses from the 1949 Haute Couture collection: the Junon dress. It is an art piece of big, layered petals made out of tulle with navy, green, and magenta sequins — an exquisite composition. Christian Dior has always been enthused by how “the evening is the time where you escape from the realities of life” and in this 360-degree experience, I was definitely whisked to a world of fantasy.

Not only does the exhibit runs you through fashion history, but it offers a well-rounded understanding of how influential Christian Dior truly was. A host of overwhelmingly perfect sculpted jackets, sparkling ball gowns, floral motifs, and breathtaking artistry, I left the exhibit feeling haunted by Christian Dior’s superb craftsmanship, wonder, and beauty.