Wonderland.

CHRISTIAN DIOR: DESIGNER OF DREAMS

The UK’s largest ever Dior exhibition is coming to the V&A.

(LEFT) Christian Dior with model Lucky, circa 1955. Courtesy of Christian Dior.
(RIGHT) Christian Dior with model Sylvie, circa 1948. Courtesy of Christian Dior.

Christian Dior with model Lucky, circa 1955. Courtesy of Christian Dior.

Christian Dior with model Sylvie, circa 1948. Courtesy of Christian Dior.

For those of us already feeling nostalgique for Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week, you’re in luck. In February, London’s V&A will host the UK’s largest ever Dior exhibition to date.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will feature 200 haute couture garments, as well as accessories, fragrances, sketches, fashion photography and some of the designer’s personal possessions, making up over 500 objects from the Dior archives in total.

Based on last year’s hugely popular Paris-based exhibition, Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve, it’ll also include a new section focused on Christian Dior’s affinity for “English traditions, English politeness, English architecture… even English cooking”.

Spanning from its first collection in 1947 to the present day, Designer of Dreams will also look at the designers that have succeeded Christian Dior, observing the unique aesthetics of Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano, Raf Simons – right up to current creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s feminist vision of fashion.

Until then, join us wistfully bidding for vintage Dior bags on eBay and look back on some of their iconic designs below.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is at the V&A from 2 February – 14 July 2019 and tickets will go on sale from the Autumn. For more info visit vam.ac.uk.

(LEFT) Pérou short evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1954 Haute Couture collection, H line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, gift of Cecil Beaton. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.
(CENTRE) Écarlate afternoon dress, Autumn-Winter 1955 Haute Couture collection, Y line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.
(RIGHT) Soirée de décembre evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1954 Haute Couture collection, H line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, gift of Dame Margot Fonteyn. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.

Pérou short evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1954 Haute Couture collection, H line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, gift of Cecil Beaton. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.

Écarlate afternoon dress, Autumn-Winter 1955 Haute Couture collection, Y line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.

Soirée de décembre evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1954 Haute Couture collection, H line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, gift of Dame Margot Fonteyn. Courtesy of Laziz Hamani.

(LEFT) Sketch by Christian Dior for model Oxford, Spring-Summer 1947 Haute Couture collection. Courtesy of Christian Dior.
(RIGHT) Sketch by Christian Dior for model Londres, Autumn-Winter 1950 Haute Couture collection. Courtesy of Christian Dior.

Sketch by Christian Dior for model Oxford, Spring-Summer 1947 Haute Couture collection. Courtesy of Christian Dior.

Sketch by Christian Dior for model Londres, Autumn-Winter 1950 Haute Couture collection. Courtesy of Christian Dior.