An exhibition exploring the work and enduring legacy of fashion designer Christian Dior opens on Saturday at London's V&A museum.
Dior: Designer of Dreams showcases over 500 objects, with 200 haute-couture garments exhibited alongside accessories, fashion photography, perfume, original makeup, illustrations, and magazines. It will also include a selection of Christian Dior's personal possessions.
The Ballroom explores 70 years of formal wear by the designer
Divided into 11 sections, the exhibition ? overseen by the V&A's curator of modern textiles and fashion Oriole Cullen ? traces the history and impact of Christian Dior and the six artistic directors who succeeded him.
It moves from the designer's early life to his Belle Epoque-inspired couture gowns, as well as showcasing pieces worn by Princess Margaret, ballet dancer Margot Fonteyn and actress Jennifer Lawrence. The Atelier room showcases toiles from the Dior ateliers
"In 1947, Christian Dior changed the face of fashion with his New Look, which redefined the female silhouette and reinvigorated the post-war Parisian fashion industry," said Cullen.
"The influence of Christian Dior's design was all-pervasive and helped to define an era. In their own individual ways, each of the house's successive artistic directors has referenced and reinterpreted Dior's own designs and continued the legacy of the founder ensuring that the house of Christian Dior is at the forefront of fashion today," she con...