Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the Dior exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. I was extremely excited about it as I am a great fan of Dior’s work. The exhibition looked at the first decade of his career. The designs, accessories, and perfumes that were created for a clientele of “habitually well-dressed women.” It explored the construction and materials to understand how the House reinvented modern dress-making, by reviving forgotten historical skills and fusing them with unprecedented cuts, designs and materials.*

After the Second World War, Dior wanted to create a lighter, more feminine silhouette from the rather drab wartime clothing. His first collection featured garments which accentuated the waist and bosom, with softer shoulders and long fuller skirts. He also took inspiration from 19th century fashions and offered designs with multiple parts for different occasions. For example a look could have two bodices, one for late afternoon and the other evening. These garments could only be described as masterpieces. They were often remarked upon as technically extraordinary. He also revived the art of cut, shaped, and boned corsetry.

It’s undeniable that Christian Dior is one of the most renowned fashion designers of the 20th century. In just 10 short years, he reinvented fashion. He created 22 collections during this time and accounted for 5 percent of all French exports. The workmanship in these garments was absolutely exquisite!