La Galerie Dior opened in March 2022 during the last time we were in Paris. Kate and I went in April 2022 just before we left Paris and we were blown away! It was so new and we didn't know what to expect. La Galerie Dior is in Christian Dior's iconic fashion house at 30 avenue Montaigne. Sande and Mike Krieger arrived from their boat in Turkey last week and this was on her list. I was surprised to find it was sold out for about 2 weeks, but we discovered that we could stand in line for same day entry.
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Dior Boutique Window |
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Bags in Dior Boutique Window |
We arrived at 11 am when it opened and there was a line. They estimated an hour wait and we were in by 11:45. So not too bad (except it started raining a bit).
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Entrance to La Galerie Dior |
The most stunning feature of the Galerie is the wall of color around the central spiral staircase. The blocks of color and the miniature dresses and accessories are a lot to take in!
The Apple TV series, The New Look, about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during World War II and the establishment of the House of Dior in 1946 came out last year. I think it has created even more interest in La Galerie Dior and is worth watching before visiting.
In April 1946, Dior stumbled on a metal star in the street as he was on his way to meet with his financial backer, the industrialist Marcel Boussac. He saw this as a sign of destiny and he always carried this star with him. He was very superstitious and regularly consulted his fortune teller before making important decisions. As a child, a fortune teller predicted that women would make him a success and this prediction guided him throughout his life.
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Dior's Metal Star Found on the Street |
He used a star in some of his designs and his successors in the House of Dior regularly use a star motif in honor of him. Dior opened his couture house on December 16, 1946, with three ateliers and a staff of 85 people. His first collection for Spring-Summer 1947 was presented on February 12, 1947. It included the Bar Suit, and the Corolla and En 8 lines that were much more feminine with a narrow waist, soft shoulders and a flared skirt. Carmel Snow, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, declared “My dear Christian, your dresses have such a New Look!”
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The iconic Bar Suit 1947 |
This iconic look has been reinterpreted over the years by subsequent designers at the House of Dior.
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1950s Dior |
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1950s Corolla Line |
Dior grew up in Normandy where he was surrounded by flowers. He was very close with his sister Catherine, who was 12 years younger. She was part of the Resisistance in Paris during the World War II and was caught and sent to a women's concentration camp in the Prussian village of Ravensbruck. Amazingly, she survived. Dior's first perfume, Miss Dior, was named after his sister and the flower theme was prevalent in his clothing and continues to be a theme.
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1960 |
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1960 and 1959 |
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Field of Flowers |
Yves Saint Laurent arrived at the House of Dior at the age of 19 as Christian Dior's first assistant. Two years later, in 1957, Dior died of a heart attack while on a much needed vacation in Italy and YSL took over as creative director. He was only 21!
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1950 Picqué Ball Gown |
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2018 |
There was so much to take in at La Galerie Dior, both old and modern. The white coat below is from Yve Saint Laurent's first Trapeze line in 1958 and the domino coats are from 2018.
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2018 |
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1958 |
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Pre 1960s Magazine Covers |
A protype of each design is made in white muslin fabric. One room contained a display of these "first drafts." You could see the pencil markings on some of them noting changes to be made.
A man was busy in this room hand sewing a corset and told us he was happy to answer any questions.
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Hand sewing a corset |
The corset was to be hand sewn into the bodice of a gown and would never see the light of day. Yet except for the longest seams on the corset with the boning, everything he was doing was by hand. He was sewing grosgrain ribbon as an inside finishing along the top edge. It was a fascinating conversation.
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Dior's Atelier |
Towards the end of the exhibit we entered a room where we could take a much needed rest on a bench and watch and listen to the room change around a couture collection. It was serene and beautiful.
We had worked up an appetite by this time and luckily there is a café in La Galerie Dior. The star theme was everywhere in the café. We shared a vegetarian lasagne and a club sandwich-both of which were excellent.
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Sande with her chocolat chaud |
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Star Coaster under my glass |
La Galerie Dior is definitely worth a visit, even it you can't get a reservation ahead of time and must stand in line. We learned so much about Christian Dior and his genius and saw such beautiful haute couture.