Earlier this year, the FIDM Museum had the honor of participating in a special collaboration with Christian Dior – and we're finally able to share the stunning results with you!
The famed French fashion house will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2017. To mark this milestone, Dior partnered with Assouline to publish the ultimate anthology of the brand's history. The set will be comprised of seven individual volumes, one for each Head Couturier: Christian Dior (1947 – 1957); Yves St. Laurent (1958 – 1960); Marc Bohan (1961 – 1989); Gianfranco Ferré (1989 – 1996); John Galliano (1997 – 2011); Raf Simons (2012 – 2015); and Dior's newest leader as of July 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Fashion historian and curator Olivier Saillard, director of the Palais Galliera museum in Paris, authored the volumes, with photography by Laziz Hamani.
In addition to photographing pieces in their own archive, the house of Dior reached out to museums, cultural institutions, and private archives around the world to fully represent the long history of the brand. The FIDM Museum was thrilled to provide fifteen total ensembles for the project. Photographer Laziz Hamani, Photographer Assistant Nicolas Guérin, and Photo Editor Perrine Scherrer of Christian Dior Couture traveled to Los Angeles in May 2016 and spent three days in photography at the FIDM Museum. Dior sent dress forms in advance to create a streamlined look for each volume produced.
Marlene Dietrich Suit, c. 1950
Christian Dior
FIDM Museum : Department of Recreation and Parks, City of Los Angeles
L88.1.250AB
One of the FIDM Museum objects photographed appears in the first volume dedicated to founder Christian Dior. This grey suit was worn by Marlene Dietrich and is part of the Museum's Hollywood Costume Collection. Dietrich was famously photographed wearing the Dior suit on December 21, 1950 after arriving in New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Other Dior designs from our collection will be featured in future volumes; we have a robust collection of Dior by Marc Bohan, thanks to our beloved donor Betsy Bloomingdale.
Dior by Christian Dior - the first volume in the series - will be released in the United States on February 17, 2017. The book is certainly a collector's piece, but if you can't live without it in your library it's available for pre-order now! We hope you enjoy delving into the elegant, glamorous, and always beautiful world of Christian Dior.
Marlene Dietrich photographed wearing the Dior suit on December 21, 1950 after arriving in New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Credit: Bettmann/Contributor.
Evening Gown
Marc Bohan for Christian Dior
Spring-Summer 1963
77.116.3
Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale
A selection of the fifteen total Dior ensembles that were photographed for the project
Evening Gown
Marc Bohan for Christian Dior
Spring-Summer 1963
77.116.3
Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale
Marlene Dietrich Evening Dress, c. 1954
Christian Dior
FIDM Museum : Department of Recreation and Parks, City of Los Angeles
L88.1.251
The Photography team (L to R): Associate Curator Christina Johnson, Curator Kevin Jones, Photographer Laziz Hamani, Photographer Assistant Nicolas Guérin, Photo Editor Perrine Scherrer, Christian Dior Couture
The cover of Dior, Volume 1
The Dior Complete Set, Volumes 1 – 7, scheduled for publication in 2018
