Besides doing its part in chipping in to produce 10 million masks every week in France – three times the capacity before the COVID-19 pandemic took place, Dior has also recently released a never-before-seen video of the making of the enchanted Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition, held at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, from July 5, 2017 to January 7, 2018.
The exhibition was an escapism and wonder to fans in the United Kingdom as well, when it showcased at the V&A Museum in London from February 2 to September 1 in 2019.
Close to 600,000 visitors attended the exhibition at the museum, overtaking the 2015 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition by 100,000 more visitors, making Dior’s exhibition the museum’s most-visited exhibition ever.
While the world is currently on lockdown, Dior has decided that now is a good time to recapture the escapism the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition has provided to so many in the past, but this time, virtually. And perhaps, for an hour out of a long day in self-quarantine, everyone gets to run away for a little while to a world filled with Christian Dior’s enchanting creations.
Over 70 years of creation is revealed through iconic haute couture dresses, precious archival photographs, sketches by Christian Dior, objects, accessories, original paintings by great masters, a cabinet of curiosities conceived as a sweeping display of color, and much more.
With iconic highlights from the exhibition, such as the Pérou short evening dress (autumn/winter 1954), the Écarlate afternoon dress (autumn/winter 1955), and the revered Bar Suit of spring/summer 1947 – each imbued with dreams and desires, a wealth of works and emblems that made up this extraordinary celebration of beauty and elegance.
Viewers will be captivated by the visionary virtuosity of Monsieur Dior and the Creative Directors who have succeeded him – from Yves Saint Laurent to Maria Grazia Chiuri – and perpetuated his passion and sense of daring.
(Re)discover, once again, the gracefulness of iconic haute couture designs, and through the scenography, recreate their sense of movement and the shows in which they were worn.