In 2019, I had a few friends that had seen the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibit while it was in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They raved about the exhibit and how beautiful it was, but they were already there on vacation, and London is a long trip to see an exhibit. Last fall I saw multiple tiktoks showing the largest portion of the exhibit and encouraging viewers to go. In the caption I saw it was at the Brooklyn Museum! That was definitely not too far to go just to see an exhibit. During winter break I drove into the city and stayed in Brooklyn to see the exhibit I had wanted to see for years, and it was just as beautiful in real life.
The first dress you see is Dior’s iconic 1947 black and white bar suit with a straw hat. Immediately recognizing the dress, I became excited for the rest of the exhibit. The first room showed Dior’s earliest designs, starting with his “New Look” collection from 1948. The colors and shapes were neutral and classic, but this collection of his was so influential because it brought back the hourglass shape. It resorted back to before the 1920s with corsets and emphasis on the waist while filling out the hips, as the decades prior and during the war women were wearing straight and more rectangular silhouettes. Across from some of Dior’s first dresses was a wall with a timeline from his birth until his death. This first part of the exhibit was also full of newspaper clippings, sketches, and his most influential fashion photography in chronological order. It was very interesting to learn not only about how his designs and brand had developed over time, but who he was and how he rose to prominence in the fashion industry.
A portion of the exhibit that caught my attention was the showing of his inspirations for design and a timeline of the brand’s creative directors. There was an entire section that portrayed where Dior drew inspiration for his designs. His brand was heavily influenced by the architecture and art of French royalty in the 18th century. Seeing the paintings used for reference created a clear picture of Dior’s vision for his brand. After displaying his original inspiration for the brand, in the next room there was a timeline of each creative director of Dior. It started with his immediate predecessor after death, Yves Saint Laurent, to current director, Maria Grazia Chiuri. It was one of my favorite portions of the exhibit as it showed each director’s interpretation of the brand, while incorporating their own designs.
My favorite piece of new information I learned about the brand was not focused on clothes, it was the history and development of the “Miss Dior” perfume. Before the exhibit I had assumed the name of the iconic perfume was “Miss Dior” because it was a feminine, floral scent, but it was named after Christian Dior’s sister, Catherine Dior. Not only was she just Christian Dior’s sister, she was an inspiration and beacon of strength herself. Catherine was concentration camp survivor and a Nazi resistance fighter. Learning about the strength and resilience of the woman behind the name made me more convinced to buy “Miss Dior” than any commercial. The most well known part of the exhibit I had seen the most on social media was the “Enchanted Garden.” It was even more breathtaking in real life. It shows some of Dior’s most luxurious and glamorous gowns placed on bright sparkling stages. The room perfectly encapsulates the beauty and elegance that Dior had strived for.
Overall, the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” was one of the best fashion exhibits I have seen. Although it hyper focused on one man and one brand, I felt I learned so much. Not only was it extremely informative and thorough, but it was curated beautifully. It felt like a deep dive into not only the brand, but the man behind it and the vision he had. Every room and hallway was well thought-out and tied into the experience of the entire exhibit. Even those moderately or barely interested in fashion could appreciate the beauty and how well the exhibit was done. I brought my dad along who has little interest in fashion, but he enjoyed learning about the historical significance of each design and also was fascinated with the story of Catherine Dior. Before I went to the exhibit I viewed Dior as any other designer brand, but after going to this exhibit, it showed the incredible legacy and work that goes into creating a world renowned fashion house and the unique beauty of Dior dresses.