Fashion File - Christian Dior

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2007

Lately, the Dior prêt-a-porter collection has been a master class in translating the extreme ideas of John Galliano’s haute couture into accessible clothes, and this was similarly derived from the combination of armoured knight and damsel in a dress that he presented at haute couture last July. Some loved it, some thought it was boring - what do you think?

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Fall/Winter 2006

Set in a Renaissance garden, this season's Dior haute couture is the usual romp through everything ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. Joan of Arc, Botticelli, and dresses that combine a princess and her knight in shining armour all meet on Galliano's runway. Enjoy the ride...

Christian Dior - Fall/Winter 2006

Once again, Galliano has distilled his most recent haute couture collection into ready-to-wear – this time it was Spring’s controversial, blood-splattered vision of the French Revolution. Have a look at this season's gothic princess, and the celebs that are feeling for the dark side this fall...

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2006

As couturiers set to work on their spring/summer 06 collections, Paris was consumed with two things: Sophia Coppola’s film on Marie Antoinette, and the rioting of North African Muslims in the suburbs. Themes from both have resurfaced at Dior haute couture.

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2006

This collection was an exercise in developing an idea Galliano introduced in Dior’s Fall 05 haute couture collection. The concepts of transparency and nude body suits with tromp l’oeil embroidery have grown into a complete spring wardrobe - lined for wearability and with the additions of retail favourites like denim and washed leather. This is how the couture laboratory becomes profitable.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Fall/Winter 2005

A young Christian Dior scampers from his mother’s carriage and a legend comes to life. More than just teaching history, this collection was a master class in trompe l’oeil, the figure 8 shape, and using transparency to show-off the atelier’s talents. It is also a rare example of couture transcending cloth and clients and inviting the viewer to believe in fairy tales, fairy godmothers, and the possibilities of the perfect dress.

Christian Dior - Fall/Winter 2005

The runways of fashion genius John Galliano are most often laboratories for his creative brilliance. Chock-a-block with new ideas and propositions, the wear ability of a collection comes second. In a new twist, his fall show for the house of Christian Dior struck a balance between commerce and creativity.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2005

Taking his cues from Warhol’s factory, Galliano built one of his own, replacing his high tech stage with a low tech, cabaret setting, and in a very Warholian move - produced a film documenting the creation of the collection and the collective in his studio. But film has nothing on a live presentation…

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2005

What was he thinking?! In his most shocking move in many seasons John Galliano sent out a collection of easy to understand, completely wearable clothes. Editors are delighted, retailers are ecstatic, and Dior fans are taking it all in stride.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Fall/Winter 2004

According to the fashion press, haute couture is nearing the end of a losing battle. Versace and Ungaro have folded under the pressure this season, and the others are surely close behind. According to John Galliano at Dior, this is a perfect season to pile on the extravagance with a collection fit for a royal court.

Christian Dior - Fall/Winter 2004

Always known for his colorful and often odd combinations, John Galliano’s latest collection for Christian Dior was no exception. This time it was Elvis meets Edwardian England.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2004

Walk like an Egyptian dictates Dior, but the severity of this line coupled with beaded platform shoes made walking of any sort a tricky achievement. While these items featured structural feats like shoulders set back in jackets, and elaborate tricks of corsetry and construction, once the photos and accolades have flooded the media, Galliano’s real job as a couturier begins – working with clients to take ideas, looks and pieces from the collection to create striking, but wearable, clothes.

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2004

One of the biggest exhibitions in Paris over the last year, was devoted to Marlene Dietrich, and her perfectly manicured hand lies heavy on John Galliano’s latest collection for Christian Dior.
Marlene, the mother of all ambiguity and artistry was a client of Monsieur Dior’s and John Galliano glorified all the tricks Dior used to keep her in and up.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Fall/Winter 2003

Pulling from cultures of dance around the world and through the ages, John Galliano took a familiar starting point and, through the prism of his atelier, finished by giving fashion a dance lesson. Fall’s couture collections focused on the body, and Dior’s erotic and energetic collection was a tribute to how beautifully it moves.

Christian Dior - Fall/Winter 2003

Every season, John Galliano goes all out for the house of Christian Dior, making full use of his brilliantly twisted imagination and his highly talented supporting team. Always a colorful spectacle, the Dior runway show is consistently adored by the fashion crowd, whether they’re watching the show, or in it. Maybe it’s because John Galliano is never afraid to throw whatever happens to be on his mind up on to his runway.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2003

Master dream weaver, John Galliano, showcased a Chinese magical mystery tour for his Dior Haute Couture collection for Spring 2003. Chinese circus characters and Chinese monks hit the catwalk alongside models for an exquisite presentation of awe-inspiring theatricality and sumptuous design.

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2003

«Hard Core Dior » was this collection by name and by nature, as trashy glamour and seriously blatant sex appeal mixed on the runway. Emphasizing bias cut jackets and the shortest skirts of the season, this collection was an extreme presentation of essentially wearable silhouettes and separates trying to tempt the Dior consumer with the faithful allure of colour and fun.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Fall/Winter 2002

At the hands of John Galliano, Christian Dior haute couture shows long ago became famous for a few things: original productions of epic proportion, fantastical clothing that unwittingly courts controversy, and themes derived from such a hodge-podge of sources that pinpointing anything backstage is next to impossible. Supported by the London Community Gospel choir, Dior's haute couture collection was a riot of exaggerated shapes, Marilyn's silhouette from the Seven Year Itch and feathery headgear that defies description. In short, the stuff dreams are made of for a new generation of punk femininity.

Christian Dior - Fall/Winter 2002

For the spring couture, John Galliano and the house of Dior blew the auspices of haute couture wide open with an over-the-top parade of Mongolian gypsy fantasia. A few months on and his pret-a-porter collection for Fall still bears an indelible ethnicity - albeit blurred, brimming with enthusiasm, and determined to showcase Galliano as a commercial designer.

Christian Dior Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2002

Mixing the Koto drummers of ceremonial Japan, Russian icons and Mongolian nomads, John Galliano brings the spectacle of his mix of costume and modern couture to the rarified runway of Christian Dior in an over-the-top show of gargantuan proportions.

Christian Dior - Spring/Summer 2002

John Galliano's homage to streetwise styles from the four corners of the globe brought to light the beauty and harmony to be found in contrast, this spring at Christian Dior. With typically mad references that drew from such themes as urban boudoir, Indian Elvis, and a very special take on the Las Vegas showgirl, Galliano persists in driving fashion forward and changing the face of beauty.