He truly is the Designer of Dreams, but what does this title really insinuate? As it turns out, it is also the name of the curated exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which will be unveiling a whimsical journey to the fashion scene, starting July 5, 2017. Indeed, the exhibition celebrates the 70th anniversary of the creation of the house of Dior, guiding visitors through the designer’s career from its start, all the way to his successors’ reigns, from Yves Saint Laurent to Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Over 300 haute couture gowns designed from 1947 up until now are at the heart of the exhibition, along with a series of ateliers toiles and fashion photographs, illustrations, sketches, documentary photographs, letters, notes, advertising documents and most importantly, fashion accessories.
Christian Dior was an art-lover and he reflected his endearment for museums in a riot of designs, as two worlds came together to create a fusion of couture and all forms of art. Florence Müller and Olivier Gabet, the two curators of the exhibition, brought forth a chronological timeline spanning over 3000 square meters. Guests will be able to discover how Dior himself and his six successors carried on the legacy of a House that is the embodiment of Haute Couture. Every single one of the artistic directors preserved Dior’s spirit, carrying on the House’s heritage ever-so eloquently. Alongside the fabulous Haute Couture creations, come Frédéric Castet’s fashion fur designs, beauty creations by Serge Lutens, Tyen and Peter Phillips and Francois Demachy’s perfume creations. It all begins with Christian Dior’s childhood in Granville, moving on to the roaring twenties when he discovered the art world, his training as a fashion illustrator and finally, his debut in the world of haute couture. A series of paintings and sculptures bring back the sweet memories of when Dior ran an art gallery from 1928 till 1934, revealing that the designer drew inspiration from his love for art to create his gowns. The exhibition also shows Dior’s spirit evolving with the different artistic directors, whereby six galleries intricately analyze the importance of each one’s contribution to the House’s vision. There was Yves Saint Laurent’s daring choices, Marc Bohan’s rational outlook, the flamboyant arrival of Gianfranco Ferré, the dramatic era of John Galliano, Raf Simons’ minimalism and finally, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s feminist vision. The Haute Couture magic is represented throughout an atelier surrounded by models, dressmakers and sketches, while another gallery depicts the evolution of Dior. The Dior journey unravels into a vivid representation of a ballroom, where a fury of sumptuous ball gowns worn by the likes of Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Diana, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence take center stage.
The Photo Gallery, right this way…
