Dior: Designer of Dreams

Hi guys,

This is a blog I have wanted to write for a while now.. my experience at the Dior A Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A Museum.

Now I was stupid and went on the second to last day and it was packed. Me and Kelsey bought a membership which I am so excited to use over and over as the V&A make mazing exhibitions. It was very busy however and I wasn't able to photograph every part of it.

The Dior exhibition is now closed, so if you didn't get to visit I hope this post finds you well and gives you information about Christian Dior and the brand.

Also.. today has been amazing as I got my grades from my assignments and passed with a 2.2 and a 2.1 which I am so pleased with considering how difficult they was!

So. Let's get to it.

Upon entry, staff told us it was a 40 minute wait which me and Kelsey were happy to wait, as we knew that it wouldn't be that long and it did turn out to be only 20 minutes, probably a bit less.

The Dior Line

"I think of my work as ephemeral architecture, dedicated to the beauty of the female body." - Christian Dior, 1957

Dior's first collection was released in 1947, and the media was eager to see the next collection as his placing in hemlines, waists and busts was always debated in the fashion media each season. 

Christian Dior created 22 collections altogether, often creating 150 looks per season. 

Dior in Britain

"I adore the English, dressed not only in the tweeds that suit them so well, but also in those flowing dresses in subtle colours, which they have worn inimitably since the days of Gainsborough." - Christian Dior, 1957

Handout's given out to exhibitionists to make the exhibition more interactive.

Historicism

"I thank heaven I lived in Paris in the last years of the Belle Époque." - Christian Dior, 1957

It was known that Dior often incorporated historic periods in his designs, including the lines of Belle Époque from the 1800s and mid 19th century styles worn by French Empress Eugénie.

Details of the exhibition were amazing and significantly elegant. Everything fit so well. 

The Garden

"After women, flowers are the most divine of creations." - Christian Dior, 1954

Dior was always fascinated by gardens, from early childhood. He loved to study plant catalogues, he enjoyed sketching his designs in gardens and flowers were a continuing inspiration, for his clothes and his perfumes.

Designers for Dior

Successors of the House of Dior aren't chosen lightly. It is seen as an honour to be asked to be chosen as a creative director. Since 1957 the House of Dior has had 6 creative director, those being Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simmons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. They have been chosen to continue to reimagine Dior.

The Ateliers

"Everything created by human hands expresses something - above all the personality of the creator. The same thing is true with a dress. But since so many people are working on it, the real job is to get all hands that cut, sew, try on and embroider to express all I have felt." - Christian Dior, 1954

The Ateliers is where the seamstresses turn ideas into Haute Couture. See below to see how Dior began and run his House.

Diorama

"People who may never visit Paris, never order a dress from a big house, never see a collection, knew the magic name of Dior from the perfume, gloves, stockings, and jewellery which were sold all over the world." - Oriel Malet, Tatler and Bystander, 1957

This collection shows how Dior has been a face of fashion for over 70 years, including being on the cover of many many magazines,

Cara Delevingne

The Dior Ball

This was 100 percent my favourite part of the exhibition. You will see why in the following photos. It was truly breathtaking.

"A Ballgown is your dream, and it must make you dream." - Christian Dior, 1954

Me and Kelsey trying to mess around lol

And again

I hope this post takes your fancy. It is a very visual post, but I hope all the information is interesting to read. Now the exhibition has closed if you didn't get a chance to go and see it I hope this is the next best thing!

Here is some further reading if you are interested in Dior:

Dior: Designer of Dreams

View this post on Instagram

This sleek, silk dress by Dior Creative Director John Galliano features the embroidery and luxurious fringing of traditional Chinese export shawls. Originally made in China for export to Europe, these shawls were decorated with typical motifs such as peonies and butterflies – like this detail from our collection dated 1870–1920. Just five weeks left to see our blockbuster exhibition – book now #DiorDesignerofDreams Supported by @swarovski with further support from @americanexpress

A post shared by Victoria and Albert Museum (@vamuseum) on Jul 31, 2019 at 4:13am PDT

Until next time..

Also I have uploaded new highlights to my Instagram!