The World of Monsieur Dior is now being streamed on YouTube for all to see
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“Couturiers embody one of the last refuges of the marvelous. They are, in a way, masters of dreams,” writes Christian Dior in his autobiography. Perhaps more than any designer, Monsieur Dior personified French fashion, changing the way that women the world over dressed with his New Look, which was introduced in 1947 – a visionary spirit that continues to live on in the house today.
Today, Dior invites viewers to travel back to the house’s origins with a documentary created in 1949 by director Henri A. Lavorel. Titled The World of Monsieur Dior, the film documents the creation of the Autumn/Winter 1949 haute couture collection, from its nascent stages to its salon presentation at 30 Avenue Montaigne. In rare footage, Monsieur Dior is seen speaking about his clothing, finding inspiration in the nature surrounding his country home in Île-de-France and preparing models for the show (it even shows the arrival of several clients – including the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson). As the house says, it offers “an extraordinary introduction to the founding couturier’s ‘kingdom of dreams’ from the comfort of your home”.
It follows Dior’s announcement last week that, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the worldwide lockdowns this has entailed, the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition would be available to view online. The immersive virtual tour – led by curators Florence Müller and Olivier Gabet – takes viewers from Monsieur Dior’s early designs, to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s most recent collections as Dior’s first female creative director, and the several other designers who have helmed the house in between.
Watch The World of Monsieur Dior below.