biography for christian dior

Christian Dior

(1905-1957)

Who Was Christian Dior?

Legendary fashion designer Christian Dior exploded onto the Paris fashion scene with designs that flew in the face of wartime restrictions and reintroduced a femininity and focus on luxury to women's fashion. His resulting success, based on the innovation of both his designs and his business practices, made him the most successful fashion designer in the world. His designs have been worn by film stars and royalty alike, and his company continues to operate at the forefront of the fashion industry.

Dior was born on January 21, 1905, in Granville, a seaside town in the north of France. He was the second of five children born to Alexandre Louis Maurice Dior, the owner of a highly successful fertilizer manufacturer, and his wife, Isabelle. When he was a boy, Dior's family moved to Paris, where he would spend his youth. Although Dior was passionate about art and expressed an interest in becoming an architect, he submitted to pressure from his father and, in 1925, enrolled at the École des Sciences Politiques to begin his studies in political science, with the understanding that he would eventually find work as a diplomat.

Early Work in Fashion

Following the closing of his gallery, Dior began to make ends meet by selling his fashion sketches, and in 1935, landed a job illustrating the magazine Figaro Illustré . Several years later, Dior was hired as a design assistant by Paris couturier Robert Piguet. However, when World War II began the following year, Dior served in the south of France as an officer in the French army.

Following France's surrender to Germany in 1940, Dior returned to Paris, where he was soon hired by couturier Lucien Lelong. Throughout the remaining years of the war, Lelong's design house would consistently dress the women of both Nazis and French collaborators. During this same time, Dior's younger sister, Catherine, was working for the French Resistance. (She was captured and sent to a concentration camp, but survived; she was eventually released in 1945.)

In 1957, several months after appearing on the cover of Time magazine, Dior traveled to Italy to vacation in the town of Montecatini. While there, on October 23, 1957, he suffered what was his third heart attack and died, at the age of 52.

Marcel Boussac sent his private plane to Montecatini to bring Dior's body back to Paris, and Dior's funeral was attended by an estimated 2,500 people, including all of his staff and many of his most famous clients. He was buried in Cimetière de Callian, in Var, France. At the time of his death, Dior's house was earning more than $20 million annually.

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the designer's first presentation, the National Gallery of Victoria in 2017 published The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture . The 256-page coffee table book, through a series of breathtaking photographs, provides an in-depth look at the evolution of the French fashion house over the years.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Christian Dior
• Birth Year: 1905
• Birth date: January 21, 1905
• Birth City: Granville
• Birth Country: France
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Christian Dior was a French fashion designer whose post–World War II creations were wildly popular, and whose legacy continues to influence the fashion industry.
• Astrological Sign: Aquarius
• École des Sciences Politiques
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1957
• Death date: October 23, 1957
• Death City: Montecatini
• Death Country: Italy

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Christian Dior Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/christian-dior
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 3, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
• A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.
• My dream is to save women from nature.

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Christian Dior

By Bibby Sowray

Christian Dior was a French couturier, best known for his eponymous fashion house which is often referred to as just Dior.

Born in the seaside town of Granville on the coast of Normandy in 1905, he was the son of a wealthy fertiliser manufacturer and was one of five children. Aged five, he moved with his family to Paris.

Although his parents had hopes of him becoming a diplomat, Dior was artistically inclined and began to sell his sketches on the street to make pocket money. Upon leaving school, Dior took over a small art gallery which his father bought for him, where he and a friend sold work by artists including Pablo Picasso.

Following the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, the death of both his mother and his brother, and the collapse of his father's business, Dior was forced to close his art gallery. He then went to work with fashion designer Robert Piguet until he was called up for military service in 1940.

At the end of his service in 1942, he began working for couturier Lucien Long, where he and Pierre Balmain were the primary designers. During the war, Lelong - like other French ateliers including Jeanne Lanvin and Nina Ricci - dressed the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators as a way of preserving the fashion industry throughout the conflict for both economic and artistic reasons.

At the same time, Dior's younger sister Catherine joined the French Resistance, resulting in her capture by the Gestapo and subsequent imprisonment at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. She survived and was liberated in 1945. In 1947, Dior named his debut fragrance Miss Dior as a tribute to her.

He founded the house of Christian Dior on December 16, 1946 at 30 Avenue Montaigne Paris, backed by Marcel Boussac, a cotton-fabric magnate. Officially, the house of Dior considers 1947 to be the year of conception as that is when Dior showed his first collection.

On February 12, 1947, Dior showed his debut collection,

presenting the 90 different looks. Named "Corolle" and "Huit", the

By Emma Spedding

By Joy Montgomery

lines were quickly christened the "New Look", a phrase coined by

US *Harper's Bazaar * magazine editor Carmel Snow.

The look consisted of a calf-length, full skirt, a cinched waist

and fuller bust than had been seen since the turn of the century. A

rebuttal to post-war fabric restrictions - the average dress used

20 yards of fabric - the look received some criticism upon release.

The opulence of his designs contrasted with the grim post-war

reality of Europe, and helped re-establish Paris as the joyful

fashion capital it had once been.

The house was inundated with orders and world-famous stars such as Rita Hayworth and Margot Fonteyn bought and wore pieces, raising Dior's profile significantly. Dior was even invited to stage a private presentation of the collection for the British royal family - although King George V reportedly forbade the young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, from wearing the New Look in case it set a bad example at a time when rationing was still in force.

He was known to be very superstitious, a quality which increased with age. Each collection included a coat named after his place of birth, Granville; in each show at least one model wore a bunch of his favourite flower, lily of the valley; and he never began a couture show without having consulted his tarot card reader.

Dior established a luxury ready-to-wear house on the corner of 5 th Avenue and 57 th Street in New York in November 1948. It was the first of its kind. In the same year, he launched Dior Parfums - with Miss Dior being the first fragrance to launch, and Diorama launching the following year.

In 1949, Dior was the first couturier to arrange licensed production of his designs. Having realised the importance of the complete look - and that the New Look could not be successfully achieved without the correct Dior shoes, gloves and hat - Dior, together with business partner Jacques Rouët, licensed his name to a range of luxury accessories. Furs, stockings, ties and perfume were also manufactured in regional centres across the world, spreading his brand name quickly around the globe. Although this move was heavily criticised by the French Chamber of Couture - who denounced the move as cheapening the haute couture industry - licensing became a profitable move for Dior and the atelier's lesson was followed by nearly all of the period's fashion houses.

In 1955, the 19-year-old Yves Saint Laurent became Dior's design assistant. Christian Dior later met with Yves Saint Laurent's mother, Lucienne Mathieu-Saint Laurent, in 1957 to tell her that he had chosen Saint Laurent to succeed him at Dior. She said at the time she had been confused by the remark, as Dior was only 52 at the time.

Shortly after his meeting with Saint Laurent's mother, Christian Dior suffered a fatal heart attack on October 24, 1957, leaving the house in disarray. Some 2,500 people attended his funeral, including all of his staff and famous clients led by the Duchess of Windsor. In an attempt to stabilise the label, Jacques Rouët appointed the then-21-year-old Yves Saint-Laurent as artistic director.

Saint Laurent remained in the position until he was conscripted into the army, during which time he was dismissed from Dior by Rouët and replaced by Marc Bohan. Bohan proved very successful as Saint Laurent's replacement, defining a new era and new silhouette for Dior, the Slim Look, a more modern and svelte version of Dior's iconic shape.

In 1978, the Boussac Group filed for bankruptcy and its assets, including Dior, were sold to the Willot Group. After it went into administration, Bernard Arnault and his investment group purchased the Willot Group's holdings for "one symbolic franc" in 1984. On assuming power, Arnault drastically altered Dior's operations. In 1985, Arnault became chairman, CEO and managing director of Christian Dior. He repositioned it as the holding company Christian Dior S.A and in 1988, took a 32 per cent equity stake into the share capital of LVMH creating one of the leading and most influential luxury goods conglomerates in the world, whilst Christian Dior remains to stand alone as a megabrand in it's own right.

Gianfranco Ferre was made stylistic director of Christian Dior in 1989, replacing Marc Bohan. He remained in this position until 1997.

In 1997, Arnault appointed British designer John Galliano to replace Marc Bohan at the creative helm. "Galliano has a creative talent very close to that of Christian Dior. He has the same extraordinary mixture of romanticism, feminism and modernity that symbolised Monsieur Dior. In all of his creations - his suits, his dresses - one finds similarities to the Dior style," said Arnault of Galliano.

Galliano was creative director of Christian Dior until March 2011, when he was dismissed after being filmed slurring anti-Semitic remarks and allegedly assaulting a member of the public whilst heavily intoxicated in a Paris bar. Galliano's former-design director Bill Gayten headed up the house until April 9 2012 when it was announced, after more than a year of rumour and speculation, that Raf Simons had taken over as 'artistic director' at the house.

By Lilah Ramzi

By Radhika Seth

By Hayley Maitland

By Alice Cary

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

Christian dior (1905–1957).

• House of Dior

"Pisanelle"

"Partie Fine"

"La Cigale"

"Arsène Lupin"

Evening dress

Beth Duncuff Charleston The Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

based on original work by

Harold Koda The Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2004

Christian Dior’s reputation as one of the most important couturiers of the twentieth century was launched in 1947 with his very first collection, in which he introduced the “New Look.” Featuring rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and very full skirt, the New Look celebrated ultra-femininity and opulence in women’s fashion. After years of military and civilian uniforms, sartorial restrictions and shortages, Dior offered not merely a new look but a new outlook.

Born and raised in Normandy, France, Dior moved with his parents to Paris when he was ten. After studying political science, he served in the military. His design career did not begin until 1935, when he returned to Paris and began selling sketches. The designer Robert Piguet hired him in 1938. During World War II, Dior served in the south of France, then returned again to Paris in 1941 and worked for Lucien Lelong at a much larger design house. In 1946, backed by textile manufacturer Marcel Boussac, he opened his own house.

Dior helped to restore a beleaguered postwar Paris as the capital of fashion. Each of his collections throughout this period had a theme. Spring 1947 was “Carolle” or “figure 8,” a name that suggested the silhouette of the new look with its prominent shoulders, accentuated hips, and small waist. The spring 1953 collection, dubbed “Tulip,” featured an abundance of floaty, flowery prints. Spring 1955’s “A-line,” with its undefined waist and smooth silhouette that widened over the hips and legs, resembled a capital “A.” Some of Dior’s designs simulated Second Empire and other historical styles, but he was also creating menswear, trompe-l’oeil detailing, and soft-to-hard juxtapositions, making them part of the modern wardrobe. By his final collections, Dior, feeling the need for a more limber silhouette and lifestyle, was designing chemises, narrow tunics, and sari-like wraps.

Together with his partner Jacques Rouet, Dior pioneered license agreements in the fashion business. By 1948, he had arranged lucrative licensing deals for fur, stockings, and perfumes, which not only generated revenue but also made him a household name. While the House of Dior is still a thriving business today, Dior’s untimely death in 1957 left the fashion world without a great dictator of style. Christian Dior designed under his own name for only a decade, but his influence will be felt for many years to come.

Charleston, Beth Duncuff. Based on original work by Harold Koda. “Christian Dior (1905–1957).” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dior/hd_dior.htm (October 2004)

Further Reading

Martin, Richard, and Harold Koda. Christian Dior . Exhibition catalogue. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996. See on MetPublications

Additional Essays by Beth Duncuff Charleston

• Charleston, Beth Duncuff. “ Cristobal Balenciaga (1895–1972) .” (October 2004)
• Charleston, Beth Duncuff. “ The Bikini .” (October 2004)

Additional Essays by Harold Koda

• Koda, Harold. “ Dress Rehearsal: The Origins of the Costume Institute .” (October 2004)
• Koda, Harold. “ Classical Art and Modern Dress .” (October 2003)
• Koda, Harold. “ Classicism in Modern Dress .” (October 2003)
• Koda, Harold. “ Orientalism: Visions of the East in Western Dress .” (October 2004)
• Koda, Harold. “ The Chiton, Peplos, and Himation in Modern Dress .” (October 2003)
• Koda, Harold. “ The Greek Key and Divine Attributes in Modern Dress .” (October 2003)
• Koda, Harold. “ Paul Poiret (1879–1944) .” (September 2008)
• Koda, Harold. “ Contemporary Deconstructions of Classical Dress .” (October 2003)
• Koda, Harold. “ Haute Couture .” (October 2004)
• Koda, Harold. “ The Chopine .” (October 2002)

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Artist or Maker

• Dior, Christian

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From the birth of Christian Dior to the designers who succeeded him, the house is steeped in history.

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1905: Christian Dior is born in the French seaside town of Granville to an affluent family of agricultural industrialists.

1919: Dior meets a fortune-teller, who says he will find success through women.

1923: Dior enters a prestigious political science university in Paris.

1932: Dior and Pierre Colle open a gallery on Rue Cambacérès on the Right Bank in Paris, where they later display Surrealist works by Salvador Dalí , Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso and Man Ray.

1934: Struck with tuberculosis, Dior retreats to the Pyrenees mountains and decides to turn to fashion.

1935:  Dior does illustrations for the daily Le Figaro and fashion magazine Le Jardin des Modes and begins to sell drawings to couture houses including Jean Patou, Nina Ricci, Maggy Rouff and Balenciaga.

1938: Dior is hired by couturier Robert Piguet, where he creates the Café Anglais dress.

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1941: Dior becomes a designer for Lucien Lelong, where he plays with pencil skirts and rounded pleats.

1946: Supported by industrialist Marcel Boussac, Christian Dior establishes the Christian Dior Couture house and opens workshops at 30 Avenue Montaigne, employing 85 people.

1947: Dior presents his first collection under his own name. Winning the Neiman Marcus “fashion Oscar” in Dallas, he tours Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

1948: Christian Dior establishes a shop on Fifth Avenue in New York.

1950: Dior receives the French Legion of Honor award for his role in the fashion and textile industry and presents a collection in London to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

Marlene Dietrich wears a Christian Dior wardrobe in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “Stage Fright.”

1951: Staff levels at Christian Dior swell to around 900 people.

1953: Christian Dior opens a store in Caracas, Venezuela, and travels in South and Central America.

1955: Yves Saint Laurent becomes Dior’s design assistant.

The house opens a Victor Grandpierre-decorated boutique on the corner of Avenue Montaigne and Rue François I-er in Paris.

1957:  Dior appears on the cover of Time magazine. The designer dies of a heart attack in Montecatini Terme, Italy.

Yves Saint Laurent becomes creative director of the fashion house.

1958: The Trapèze line of Yves Saint Laurent’s first collection marks a shift for the house. Roger Vivier launches a shoe brand under the Dior label.

1960: Marc Bohan becomes creative director of Christian Dior and later introduces the Slim Look.

1967: Philippe Guibourgé creates the Miss Dior ready-to-wear line.

Princess Grace of Monaco inaugurates the Baby Dior boutique at 28 Avenue Montaigne.

1970: Marc Bohan creates Christian Dior Monsieur.

1983: Marc Bohan wins the Golden Thimble for his spring haute couture collection.

Dominique Morlotti becomes creative director of Christian Dior Monsieur .

Bernard Arnault buys the Financière Agache group, owner of Christian Dior Couture.

1985: Bernard Arnault becomes chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture.

1987: François Mitterrand inaugurates a retrospective exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs for the house’s 40th anniversary.

1989: Italian couturier Gianfranco Ferré becomes the designer for Christian Dior and wins the Golden Thimble for his first fall haute couture collection.

Bernard Arnault takes over the LVMH group, owner of Parfums Christian Dior, bringing couture and perfumery back under the same roof.

1992: Patrick Lavoix becomes creative director of Christian Dior Monsieur .

1995: Bernadette Chirac presents Diana, Princess of Wales, with a brand new Dior bag named Lady Dior .

1996: John Galliano succeeds Gianfranco Ferré as designer for Christian Dior.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York celebrates the 50th anniversary of the house of Dior with an exhibit. At the Met Gala, Lady Diana wears the first Dior dress designed by Galliano.

1997: John Galliano presents his first haute couture collection for Dior. Nicole Kidman wears a dress from his collection at the Oscar ceremony.

The Christian Dior museum opens in Christian Dior’s family home, the Villa Les Rhumbs in Granville.

1998: Dior Joaillerie is founded with Victoire de Castellane as creative director.

2000: Hedi Slimane becomes creative director of Christian Dior Monsieur and changes its name to Dior Homme.

2007: Kris Van Assche becomes creative director of Dior Homme .

2011: Bill Gaytten becomes the designer for Christian Dior.

2012: Raf Simons is appointed creative director of women’s wear for Christian Dior and presents his first haute couture collection.

2013: The Museum of Contemporary Art stages an exhibit called “The Dior Spirit” in Shanghai with over a hundred pieces from 1947 to 2013.

2016: Maria Grazia Chiuri becomes Dior’s first female creative director.

2017: The House of Dior celebrates its 70th anniversary with major exhibits in Paris and Granville, France; Melbourne, Australia; and Toronto, Canada.

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Tracing Christian Dior’s Evolution, From the Postwar ‘New Look’ to Contemporary Feminism

An exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York chronicles the fashion house’s 75-year history

Isis Davis-Marks

Correspondent

In the aftermath of World War II, French fashion designer Christian Dior spearheaded a new era of style with his extravagant , ultrafeminine creations. Now, writes Miles Pope for Vanity Fair , a new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York is chronicling the House of Dior ’s 75-year history, “masterfully blend[ing its founder’s] artistry and legacy.”

Titled “ Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams ,” the 22,000-square-foot show features more than 200 haute couture garments, photographs, videos, sketches, accessories and other items, some of which are on public display for the first time. As Hamish Bowles reports for Vogue , “Designer of Dreams” features garments by both Dior and his successors at the fashion house, including Yves Saint Laurent , Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and current artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri .

For the new exhibition, curators converted the museum’s Beaux-Arts Court into something straight out of the pages of Vogue . Designs on view “exemplify ... the French couturier’s fabled silhouettes, including his groundbreaking ‘ New Look ,’ which debuted in 1947,” according to a statement . “... The exhibition also brings to life Dior’s many sources of inspiration—from the splendor of flowers and other natural forms to classical and contemporary art.”

In addition to tracing the brand’s evolution, “ Designer of Dreams ” includes dresses inspired by 18th-century fashions, a “colorama” display of Dior accessories and a gallery outlining Dior’s dressmaking process. Compared with the original version of the show, which debuted at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2017, the New York iteration is more focused on the present, dedicating a significant amount of space to Chiuri’s creations.

“Chiuri is, of course, the first woman to helm Dior, which is a big deal, but the exhibit doesn’t really explore what that means beyond ... catchphrases” like “We Should All Be Feminists and “Would God Be Female,” writes fashion critic Vanessa Friedman for the New York Times .

In Paris, Friedman adds, “I actually learned something about Dior the man, who started his career as a gallerist. And it was convincing in presenting the way he established the vocabulary of the house: the extravagant yet trim femininity of the ‘New Look’; his lush color palette; his fascination with flowers, filigree and tarot.”

Born into an affluent family in Granville, France, in 1905, Dior was one of the leading designers of the 20th century. He trained under couturiers Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong before establishing his own fashion house in 1946. Over the next several years, Dior developed his trademark “New Look,” which featured lower waistlines, smaller shoulders, defined waists and voluminous skirts—a marked departure from wartime padded shoulders and short skirts.

“What was heralded as a new style was merely the genuine, natural expression of the kind of fashion I wanted to see,” the designer once said . “It just so happened that my personal inclinations coincided with the general mood for the times and thus became the fashion watchword. It was as if Europe had tired of dropping bombs and now wanted to let off a few fireworks.”

Writing for Deutsche Welle in 2017, Jan Tomes argued that Dior’s vision of “radical femininity” appealed to the postwar public’s sense of nostalgia. He “didn’t want to create everyday clothes for the pragmatic woman of the fast-moving century but rather sell a dream of the good old days, when women could afford to be extravagant and deliberately glamorous.”

Dior’s relatively conservative designs attracted criticism from those who accused him of “taking away women’s newly attained independence by lacing them up in corsets and making them wear long skirts again,” per Deutsche Welle. As fashion designer Coco Chanel commented , “Dior doesn’t dress women. He upholsters them!”

Despite these critiques, Dior’s designs remained immensely popular both during his lifetime (he died of a heart attack in 1957) and in the decades after. But the fashion house’s legacy isn’t limited to its founder, Chiuri tells Booth Moore of Women’s Wear Daily .

She adds, “I hope people see how the history of the brand was shaped by so many, because sometimes when we speak about Dior, we don’t realize how many designers worked at this brand, and it’s very important because it’s not only the history of Mr. Dior, but also Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan and John Galliano.”

“ Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams ” is on view at the Brooklyn Museum in New York through February 20, 2022.

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Isis Davis-Marks is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. Her work has also appeared in Artsy , the Columbia Journal , and elsewhere.

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There's a Reason Everyone Still Loves Dior

The brand has a rich history, full of impressive creatives and classic designs.

Hedy Phillips is a freelance lifestyle and entertainment writer. Her work has appeared in HelloGiggles, POPSUGAR, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, and more. She devotes 99% of her time to snuggling with her cats and 100% of her money to following Harry Styles around on tour.

• The Beginning

Dior’s New Look

Dior goes global, the introduction of yves saint laurent.

• Christian Dior's Death
• Creative Leaders and the LVMH Purchase

John Galliano and the Dior Saddle Bag

Raf simons takes over, maria grazia chiuri joins dior.

Though the Dior brand was founded on ideals of feminine beauty and classic, timeless fashion, over decades, it has evolved into bold, feminist, and powerful designs. Ahead, learn about the history of Dior and how the brand grew into what it is today.

The French brand , which dates back to the 1940s, has been providing customers all over the world with some of the most beautiful garments, whether it's a ready-to-wear dress fit for a cocktail party, or a haute couture, red carpet gown that will command the attention of everyone in the room.

Christian Dior's eponymous brand is also one that has stood the test of time, evolving with each creative leader that has walked through its doors. The fashion house has hosted some of the most incredible talent in the industry and will surely continue to do so for years to come.

Where and When Christian Dior Began

Despite being created in 1946, the Dior brand claims 1947 as its beginning year because that's when the fashion house's first collection debuted. Christian Dior started the brand in Paris at 30 Avenue Montaigne. It took less than three months from the brand's creation to show its first collection on Feb. 12, 1947.

Dior had a deep love of art and ran an art gallery in France before going into fashion. After closing his gallery during the Great Depression, he worked under fashion designer Robert Piguet and then-couturier Lucien Lelong. Dior was ready for his own work to be showcased though, which is what brought him to create his own fashion house in 1946 , and Christian Dior was born.

It was at Dior's very first show that he coined the "New Look." The thought behind the collection was to showcase the end of World War II , according to Culture Trip , and it came with structured silhouettes, cinched waists, and shorter, billowy skirts. The garments were opulent, each dress using an average of 20 yards of fabric. Dior's designs were revolutionary for the time period and quickly put the fashion house on the map as one of the most sought after and adored.

Stars flocked to Christian Dior; everyone from Rita Hayworth to Margot Fonteyn wanted outfit themselves in this New Look that was ahead of its time. With such high-profile women donning his clothes, the brand grew quickly and cemented itself as one of the most iconic in sartorial history.

Soon, Dior went global. A store on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in New York City was opened in 1948, bringing Dior stateside for the first time. With the global launch came an expanded collection as well. Dior started with fragrance, introducing Miss Dior, which he dedicated to his sister. It was also around this time that Dior realized that to continue his New Look, his brand needed to provide the entire fashion experience. That meant licensing the Dior name for accessories. Now, the Dior customer could have the coats, shoes, hats, and every other piece necessary to fully capture the New Look from head to toe.

The Dior brand continued to grow and Dior himself continued to dress the biggest stars of the time. He even outfitted Marlene Dietrich for her 1950 role in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright . His designs remained a fixture in her closet, as well as plenty of other starlets in the late '40s and early '50s.

A fresh-faced and eager Yves Saint Laurent started working with Christian Dior in 1955 when he was just 19 years old. He began at the fashion house as Dior's assistant, but it didn't take long for the creative genius behind the label to spot the potential in the young Frenchman. According to Vogue , Dior met with Saint Laurent's mother in 1957 to tell her that he'd chosen her son to succeed him at the brand when the time comes. Though he was a mere 21 years old at the time, Dior was able to quickly recognize his eye for fashion and talent for creation.

Christian Dior's Death

Dior died in 1957 of a massive heart attack at the age of 52. The entire fashion world grieved the loss of the industry icon gone too soon. To maintain the soul of the brand after Dior's death, Saint Laurent was given the role of artistic director.

The 21-year-old carried on Dior's legacy, largely keeping the original creative vision intact. However, he sought to bring the brand into a softer silhouette, loosening the cinched waists and letting out some of the structure. The collections were hit or miss as the industry tried to reconcile someone else leading the Christian Dior brand. When Saint Laurent was called to serve in the French army in 1960, he was released from the brand.

Dior's Impressive Creative Leaders and the LVMH Purchase

After Yves Saint Laurent's departure, Marc Bohan took over, making the label's designs more aligned with Christian Dior's classic vision. He took Christian Dior's concept and brought it into the 1960s by streamlining it slightly, which gave it a more modern twist while staying true to the Christian Dior look. With Bohan at the helm, Dior reclaimed its place as the brand beloved the world over.

Bohan stayed with Dior for more than a decade, continuing to build the brand and make it even more internationally successful. He launched ready-to-wear and baby clothes, making Dior more accessible than ever. Stores started popping up in more cities like London and Hong Kong, and the Dior brand was catapulted to the top of the fashion world.

In 1978 however, Dior's parent company, the Boussac Group filed for bankruptcy . Christian Dior was purchased by Bernard Arnault, the billionaire behind LVMH Moët Hennessy. When Arnault took charge of Christian Dior , he assumed the roles of chairman, CEO, and managing director. Despite being folded into LVMH, Christian Dior continued to be its own impressive standalone brand.

With the new direction, Gianfranco Ferre was hired as stylistic director in 1989, who formally founded Dior Haute Couture, a vital arm of the Christian Dior brand. Ferre elevated the brand to new heights, injecting his own creative vision, which included a more refined look than the brand was known for.

Dior Homme, otherwise known as Dior's menswear division, also came about in 2001, with Hedi Slimane serving as its creative director.

After Ferre's tenure, John Galliano took over as creative director, who led Dior into the new millennium, outfitting every star you can imagine — including Princess Diana of Wales. Not only did the princess wear Galliano's couture, but she was partial to his handbags as well. Though Galliano's saddle bags, which have become a staple for the Dior brand, became immensely popular, Princess Diana's go-to was a bag that Galliano later dubbed Lady Dior , with Diana's blessing. She carried her black handbag with her everywhere, helping to expand Dior's leather goods.

Galliano's vision for Dior was a dramatic departure from the creatives who came before him. Though it was embraced by some, it wasn't universally loved. When he exited the brand in 2011, Raf Simons assumed creative directorship and sought to bring Dior closer to its roots. Simons designs were more understated and feminine, reminiscent of the classic Dior.

Dior made history in 2016 when the fashion house hired its first female artistic director: Maria Grazia Chiuri , formerly of Valentino. While it certainly turned heads when she was hired — being the first woman at the helm of the luxury brand — she didn't love that it was the focus. She told Vogue in 2018, "I think, in a way, when people point it out, they're not recognizing that I have a talent. I'm not here because I'm a woman, but because I'm good at what I do."

Chiuri added a woman's touch to the style at Christian Dior, famously creating her feminist-centric line, yet her direction still felt in line with what Dior created all those years ago. Although all the male creative directors who came before her were all in their own way instrumental for the brand, Chiuri brought bold, social consciousness to the label, taking the brand from feminine to feminist. In doing so, she seized an important place for Dior in fashion that is modern, relevant, and classic, all at the same time.

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• Christian Dior

Born in Granville, a commune in France, Christian Dior was the epitome of excellence in fashion design. It will be strange to imagine anybody from the fashion world not knowing who this great personality was and what contributions he made. Dior is remembered to date for his exemplary aesthetic sense. His work is thoroughly researched upon and often taken as inspiration by the several designers who came after him.  At the time he lived, he was a highly acclaimed fashion designer of France.

Dior belonged to a family of five children; his father was a wealthy businessman. At the age of five, although his parents along with all their kids settled in Paris, the family frequently visited the Normandy cost for vacations. Dior’s parents wanted their son to to become a diplomat when he grow up, however the young boy had a creative flair and desired to be involved in artistic activities. Less do people know, Dior was a homosexual but he never exposed himself as one. As he grew up, Dior traded his sketches to people outside his home for ten cents each. This was how he initially began to represent his arty side. Seeing the response and the talent his son had, Dior’s father let him leave school and gave money to open a small gallery to display artworks by Dior and his friend. Unfortunately, three years later the place had to be closed since Dior’s mother and a brother died, as well as the family business suffered great loss due to the Great Depression.

In order to not stop the flow of his creativity, Dior worked with Robert Piguet until 1940 and then went to serve the military. In 1942, when his term in the army was over, Christian Dior joined Lucien Lelong’s fashion house. During the second world war when the Nazis were in power, Dior designed dresses the wives of French collaborators and Nazi officials. The reason for doing this was to preserve the country’s fashion industry during political, social and economic upheaval. Other labels, such as Jeanne Lanvin, Jean Patou and Nina Ricci , also participated in the cause.

On the other hand, Dior’s sister who was among the members of the French Resistance , was imprisoned by Gestapo into the Ravensbrück concentration camp but liberated in May, 1945. It was rather paradoxical that one sibling served the Nazis and the other was incarcerated by them.

Anyhow, once the war was over, Christian Dior had the chance to flourish his career. In 1946, he founded his label under his name. The fashion house was supported by Marcel Boussac , a fabric mogul. Right after the war, styles were material-conversing and there was no innovation or out of the box approach. At this time, Dior became the hope of the industry, since he introduced voluptuous designs. He became the master of silhouettes and shapes. His dress designs broke the barrier of rigidness and flares came into existence – giving women the perfect feminine and curvaceous look.

His designs were initially criticized for two main reasons: his dress patterns required a lot of fabric and the apparel he made covered the legs of women who were used to wearing less cloth on the body. Otherwise, once the war shortages were revived, people realized the fact that he revolutionized the fashion industry with his ideas.

The designer died in 1957 in Italy while on a vacation. Countless theories spurred the media regarding his death and the reason was that he died from a heart attack.

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Christian Dior

Born: Granville, France 1905 Died: Montecatini, Italy 1957

Copyright © AFP / Collection Roger-Viollet

Born into a wealthy family, Dior was destined for a career in architecture.  But, after studying political science at Ecole des Sciences Politiques in Paris, he received money from his father to finance a small art gallery.  However, the gallery failed forcing Dior to join the French Army in 1940.

After two years he left the Army and joined fashion house Lucien Lelong, where he worked alongside  Pierre Balmain  as the house’s main designers.

On the 16 th  December 1946 Dior founded his fashion house with the help of Marcel Boussac, a cotton-fabric magnate. By 1947 Dior had attracted attention with his overt use of fabric, bustier-style bodices, wasp waists and curvaceous silhouettes. Crowned creator of the ‘New Look’, Dior was heralded as an overnight sensation.

Taking inspiration from his original desire to become an architect, Dior stated that ‘as a designer, he had to follow the rules and principles of architecture and respect the law of gravity’.

The cinema rushed to use Dior’s designs and the world’s most elegant and fashionable women of the time chose his designs, including the Duchess of Windsor,  Rita Hayworth , Ava Gardner and  Marlene Dietrich . Dior designed Dietrich’s entire wardrobe in “Stage Fright” by Alfred Hitchcock.

With his favourite places to sketch being in the bath or bed, his designs dominated the pages of fashion magazines.  New silhouettes and lines were created including the Oblique line in 1950, the Oval line and Envol line in 1951, the Princess line and Profile line of 1952, the H line in 1954 , the A line followed by the Y line in 1955. His radical change from austerity fashions helped re-establish Paris as the centre of the fashion world after World War Two.

In 1957 Dior became the first designer to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine proving he was true fashion royalty.

Christian Dior’s died in Italy in October 1957 leaving one of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world without its founder and leader.

Having worked as a design assistant for Dior,  Yves Saint Laurent  was appointed head designer aged 21. He worked there for two years before being conscripted into the army.

Marc Bohan  succeeded Laurent and remained for 28 years.  Bohan pushed Dior’s traditional refinement and elegance.

The house still held onto its prestigious reputation after Dior’s death. Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi chose Dior for her coronation and  Marilyn Monroe  wore Dior in her last ever photo shoot.

In 1984 the fashion house was bought by Bernard Arnault and Gianfranco Ferré was appointed as Artistic Director succeeding Bohan. Ferré brought his excitement and love of baroque to the collections.

With the designer’s intense creativity, the fashion house had brought back theatricality to the fashion world.

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John Galliano replaced Ferré in October 1996. Galliano was publicly sacked from Dior in 2011 due to anti-semantic remarks. Bill Gaytten ex Galliano assistant for both his own brand and Dior took his place as interim designer. After receiving mixed reviews, Gaytten was replaced by  Raf Simons  in April 2012.

[sublimevideo poster=”/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/christian_dior.jpg” src1=”/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/christian_dior.mp4″ width=”” height=””]

A master of shapes and silhouettes, Christian Dior turned the traditional feeling of couture upside down. Creating contemporary fashion, Dior is credited with creating the ‘New Look’, the style helped propel a fashion and social revolution.

Raf Simons emerged as an unexpected choice and was hailed as a “dark horse” among other high-profile designers considered for the creative director position at Dior. The company strategically drew comparisons between Simons and Christian Dior himself to underscore the suitability of his selection. The appointment of Simons, driven by Bernard Arnault and Dior executives, marked a shift away from the Galliano era. Despite lacking a background in haute couture, Simons immersed himself in the Dior archives to familiarise himself with the brand’s heritage. His debut collection, the Fall-Winter 2012 haute couture line, was highly anticipated and hailed as “the new couture,” signalling a fresh start for Dior. The collection paid homage to Mr. Dior’s post-World War II designs, and the show itself was an exclusive event held at a private residence near the Arc de Triomphe. Notable figures from the fashion industry, celebrities, and select top clients attended the discreet affair.

In subsequent years, Dior made headlines with various collaborations and appointments, including Rihanna as the first black woman to be the brand’s official spokeswoman, Maria Grazia Chiuri as the women’s artistic director, and Kim Jones as the men’s artistic director.

The brand effectively engaged with a wider audience by partnering with Hollywood celebrities and social media influencers, such as Jennifer Lawrence and Lupita Nyong’o.

Notable campaigns, like the Secret Garden featuring Rihanna, further solidified Dior’s modern and inclusive image. The brand’s ongoing evolution and commitment to innovation were evident in the reopening of 30 Avenue Montaigne, the historic location where Christian Dior unveiled his first collection.

With Delphine Arnault assuming the role of chairperson and CEO, Dior’s leadership continues to drive the brand forward into the future.

Christian Dior Biography

Written by Saxony Dudbridge

Saxony Dudbridge was one of the first contributors to the Catwalk Yourself project, Saxony studies International Fashion Marketing and she is responsible for our great History and Designers Biographies sections.

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The True Story of Catherine Dior, Christian Dior’s Renegade Younger Sister

By Radhika Seth

In the first episode of The New Look , Todd A. Kessler’s glossy new Apple TV+ period drama charting the epic rivalry between Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, we meet not only the feuding designers (as played by a grizzled Ben Mendelsohn and a glamorous Juliette Binoche) but also those in their illustrious circle, including couturier Lucien Lelong (John Malkovich), his then design assistant Pierre Balmain (Thomas Poitevin), and Chanel’s German lover, the Nazi-affiliated Hans Günther von Dincklage (Claes Bang). But, there’s one character who quickly emerges as one of the most fascinating: Christian Dior’s heroic younger sister, Catherine Dior.

We meet her in 1943, three years into the Nazi occupation of Paris, as she, embodied by Maisie Williams, is accosted by officers who demand to see her papers. When she flees, they chase her and pin her against a wall—only for her to then turn the tables on them. Two members of the French Resistance suddenly appear and shoot the soldiers, and Catherine, startlingly composed, escapes with them. You realize that she was never the damsel in distress—she’d simply set a trap that the Nazis walked into. She is a woman who, despite all the chaos around her, seems to be fully in control of her own destiny.

But who was the real Catherine Dior? What was her life actually like during the Second World War? And how did she go on to influence the work of her brother? As the show continues to air, we present a full breakdown below.

Born in 1917 in Granville, in northwestern France, Catherine grew up the youngest of five children born to industrialist Maurice Dior and his wife, Madeleine. Maurice managed a firm which specialized in producing fertilizer, and grew the business into a success, soon moving his growing family into a grand villa. (Their candy-colored mansion now houses the Musée Christian Dior.) However, tragedy was just around the corner: Madeleine died in 1931 and, soon after, an economic downturn and failed real estate ventures decimated the family’s fortune. Maurice’s remaining assets were liquidated, the company sold, and the family forced to vacate their stately home in favor of a dilapidated farmhouse in Provence. There, Catherine supported the family by growing green beans and peas; she would remain green-fingered her whole life.

By the late 1930s, both Catherine and Christian were living in Paris, but when the Second World War broke out, they returned to the south of France and grew vegetables that they sold in Cannes. It was then that Catherine’s life changed forever—she met Hervé des Charbonneries, a passionate member of the French resistance. Despite him being a married father of three, as well as more than a decade older than her, Catherine fell in love with Hervé, and soon joined the Resistance herself.

Hugo Becker as Hervé des Charbonneries and Maisie Williams as Catherine Dior in The New Look.

She used her brother’s Paris apartment to host underground Resistance meetings, and things went well for a time, but then, in 1944, she was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo. Remarkably, she never betrayed any of her comrades. The Nazis then dispatched her to a French prison and, later, a series of concentration camps: Ravensbrück, Torgau, Abteroda, and, finally, Markkleeberg in 1945. Christian repeatedly tried but failed to arrange her release. As the Allies approached, remaining prisoners were sent on a death march but, somehow, Catherine managed to escape and eventually returned to Paris. She later testified against her torturers and was awarded several medals for her bravery, including the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre, the Combatant’s Cross, and the King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom.

By Irene Kim

By Audrey Noble

Not long after Catherine and Christian were reunited, the latter presented his era-defining New Look collection in 1947. As attendees took in the wasp-waisted jackets and frothy skirts, they could also detect a sweet scent in the air—Miss Dior, the maison’s new fragrance, which had been diffused around the room. It’s believed that it was named after Catherine—the story goes that while Christian was in a meeting with his colleague, Mizza Bricard, Catherine entered the room and Bricard exclaimed, “Ah, here! Miss Dior!”

Catherine, however, had little interest in fame or fortune. She lived the rest of her life away from the spotlight on a farm in Provence, and sold blooms alongside Hervé des Charbonneries at the flower market in Paris’s Les Halles. Upon her brother’s untimely death in 1957 at the age of 52, she devoted herself to preserving his legacy, carefully cataloging the contents of his home and serving as the honorary president of the Musée Christian Dior until her own passing in 2008, aged 90.

While many Christian Dior devotees may still not know Catherine’s name, the house of Dior has not forgotten the impact she had on him; she remains a frequent muse for the maison’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, who references both her fierce modernity and rebelliousness, as well as her love of flowers across the brand’s designs, campaigns, and runway shows. With the release of The New Look , Catherine is sure to win more fans—and it feels like only a matter of time before a standalone big-screen biopic is given the green light.

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Christian Dior: The Biography Paperback – July 28, 2009

• Print length 320 pages
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• Publication date July 28, 2009
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Christian Dior Bryan 1

Omar Lewis May 10, 2024

USC Viterbi graduate Christian Dior Bryan giving her commencement address at the Galen Center ceremony

Published on May 10th, 2024

Last updated on May 10th, 2024

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How Alexandra Daddario Transformed Into a “Woodland Nymph” for the 2024 Met Gala

Bazaar goes behind the scenes of the Met Gala with the actor as she gets glammed up with Dior beauty

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“For tonight’s Met Gala, my inspiration was a woodland nymph,” Stannard tells Bazaar in an exclusive. The White Lotus actor’s custom gown was embroidered with butterflies and surrounded by delicate lace, and she topped off the look with a thin crown formed by two undulating serpents encircling her head. “When I saw the snake crown, I knew that I wanted to play up her eyes and embrace the theme of ‘Garden of Time.’ Alex looks as if she dwells in the forest.”

Here, the artist shares exactly how to copy Daddario’s “golden tears” makeup look at home:

“To start, I prepped skin with Capture Totale Le Sérum on the entire face and then Capture Totale Hyalushot around the mouth and eyes to smooth,” Stannard says. “For lip prep, I applied the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in #020 Mahogany to hydrate. The skin finish was very important, so I used Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in shade 0 not only as a primer on her face, but also as a glowy body makeup.”

The right base makeup is key for any red-carpet event, Stannard notes: “Her complexion was perfected by applying Dior Forever Glow Foundation in #1 and Forever Skin Corrector in #00 and #0.5N .”

Daddario’s striking eyes were the focal point of the makeup look. “To create the halo eye, I used Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #594 Brown on the inner and outer corners of the eyes and blended under the eyes. To intensify, I blended the deepest brown from the Diorshow 5 Couleurs in #559 Poncho over the brown liner,” the artist says. “To apply the gold in the center of the eye, I first applied the Dior Forever Glow Maximizer in Pearl and, while still damp, pressed the gold glittery shadow of the Diorshow Mono Couleur in Shade #616 Gold Star on top in the center of the lid and applied loosely under the eye exaggeratedly, creating almost a golden tear effect.”

Next, says Stannard: “I highlighted her cheeks by mixing Dior Forever Glow Maximizer in Gold and Pearly together. Then, using a draping motion, I applied Rouge Blush in #277 Osée to the high cheek. For lips, we did a soft rose nude with Rouge Dior Lip Contour in #300 Nude Style and Rouge Dior Lipstick in #220 Beige Couture Velvet .”

Final touches included a little black liner and a coat of Dior’s cult-y mascara. “The look was finished with Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #099 Black in the water liner and a coat of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in #090 Black ,” the artist says.

Daddario’s final look—from the snake crown to her shimmery golden tears—was perfectly on theme for the Met Costume Institute’s spring exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” as seen here on the carpet:

Jenna Rosenstein is the Beauty Director at Harper's BAZAAR across both print and digital. While attending NYU, she held internships at Women’s Wear Daily, Bloomingdale’s, Harper’s BAZAAR, and Allure, the latter of which she parlayed into her first job as the Beauty Assistant. She left Allure three years later as the Senior Beauty Editor. She spent a few months at Refinery29 overseeing branded content in the same title, before finally landing back at BAZAAR to manage all beauty content. When she's not testing every lipstick known to mankind, getting zapped by new lasers, or interviewing experts and celebrities, you can find Rosenstein at home in New Jersey with her son, husband, and black cat named Maddie.

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10 Objects of Appreciation From Christian Dior's 2024 Mother's Day Gift Guide

M other’s Day is fast approaching. Here at theFashionSpot, ahead of Mothering Sunday on May 12, we present to you our mini Objects of Appreciation series. All your last-minute gift-giving requirements and recommendations in one place. In the spirit of showing appreciation to our mothers, grandmothers, aunties or any motherly figure in your life – we’ve put together a carefully-curated gift guide from our favorite fashion houses from across the globe. First on our list is Christian Dior.

From the absolutely adorable My Dior Mini Bag crafted in power pink lambskin to a pair of resin pearl stud earrings suspending a dragonfly in matte gold-finish metal – here’s theFashionSpot’s 10 Objects of Appreciation from Christian Dior’s 2024 Mother’s Day Gift Guide:

#1 My Dior Mini Bag:

The My Dior mini bag expands the line with an elegant and functional design. Crafted in powder pink Cannage lambskin, it features a flap enhanced by D.I.O.R. charms on the front. Equipped with compartments and card slots, the functional accessory will hold any essentials and is the ideal day and evening companion. A top handle completed by a removable chain punctuated with resin pearls allows the bag to be carried by hand or worn crossbody ( $2850.00 ).

#2 Dior Tribales Earrings:

The Dior Tribales earrings are a new interpretation inspired by the graceful flight of dragonflies dancing in a starry sky. Hallmark resin pearl studs suspend a dragonfly in matte gold-finish metal, pavé set with white resin pearls and silver-tone crystals. Enhanced by an openwork CD signature, the delicate and timeless earrings can be worn with other pieces from the Dior Night Herbarium line ( $820.00 ).

#3 DiorCannage Sunglasses:

The DiorCannage S1U sunglasses are an elegant style adorned with hallmark details. The gold-finish metal square frame stands out with delicate engraving on the temples showcasing the Cannage motif and CD signature. Completed by gradient purple-to-pink lenses, the sunglasses will lend a modern and refined touch to any attire ( $520.00 ).

#4 Dior Caro Freesia Card Holder:

The Dior Caro Freesia card holder is an elegant and functional accessory. Made in white calfskin, it features the multicolor Dior 4 Saisons Été motif by Pietro Ruffo, showcasing summer flowers and plants in a bucolic design. Accented by a CD signature on the front and equipped with five card slots, the refined style will fit anywhere and can be coordinated with other Dior Caro creations ( $440.00 ).

#5 Small Lady Dior My ABCDior Bag:

The Lady Dior My ABCDior bag epitomizes Dior’s vision of elegance and beauty. Sleek and refined, the timeless style is crafted in powder pink lambskin with Cannage stitching, creating the instantly recognizable quilted texture. Pale gold-finish metal D.I.O.R. charms further embellish its silhouette with an elegant touch. Featuring a shoulder strap that can be personalized with badges, the small, unique design may be carried by hand or worn crossbody ( $6000.00 ).

#6 J’Adior Slingback Pump:

The J’Adior slingback pump is a prime example of Dior’s savoir-faire. Crafted in the Christian Dior Italian ateliers, the silhouette is distinguished by nude technical fabric. The two-tone embroidered ‘J’ADIOR’ ribbon is embellished with a flat bow and the 10 cm comma heel offers the final elegant touch for an evening look ( $1050.00 ).

#7 Petit CD Double Bracelet:

The Petit CD bracelet presents the ‘CD’ signature on one of its two gold-finish metal chains. A favorite symbol of Christian Dior, a sparkling star with a pavé of white crystals adorns the other chain, also decorated with a discreet small white crystal. Timeless and elegant, the bracelet may be worn daily ( $520.00 ).

#8 Dior Herbarium 90 Square Scarf:

A vibrant homage to Mr. Dior’s passion for botanicals, the square scarf presents the Dior Herbarium print. Inspired by House archives, it showcases a collection of wild plants and flowers accented by dragonflies and bees. Crafted in ivory and light pink multicolor silk twill, the double-sided design with hand-rolled edges is further enhanced by a contrasting jacquard band displaying the Christian Dior signature in the center. The square scarf can be worn around the neck or tied at the head to complete a Dior look ( $590.00 ).

#9 Dio(r)evolution Ring:

The Dio(r)evolution ring is both modern and timeless. Made with gold-finish metal, the style features a central Dior signature with a crystal pavé. The ring can be paired with other Dio(r)evolution creations ( $390.00 ).

#10 Medium Dior Book Tote:

Introduced by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Christian Dior, the Dior Book Tote has become a staple of the Dior aesthetic. Designed to hold all the daily essentials, the style is crafted in powder pink raffia embellished with the emblematic Cannage stitching. Adorned with the Christian Dior Paris signature on the front, the medium tote exemplifies the House’s signature savoir-faire and may be carried by hand or worn over the shoulder ( $3700.00 ).

The post 10 Objects of Appreciation From Christian Dior’s 2024 Mother’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on theFashionSpot .

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The Dior multi-use and waterproof concealer provides a high-coverage finish and a natural glow. Infused with caffeine, the formula immediately delivers a fresh, revitalizing effect to the eye contour area.

The texture of the concealer blends seamlessly with the skin for a flawless complexion. Correct, even, sculpt and brighten your face in one easy step with the ultra-precise applicator.

The texture of the concealer blends seamlessly with the skin for a flawless complexion. Correct, even out, sculpt and brighten your face in one easy step with the ultra-precise applicator.

The Dior Rosy Glow reacts to the unique chemistry and moisture of the skin to give the complexion a natural glow and a touch of "custom" color. Its texture blends seamlessly with the skin for a long-wearing makeup result.

For a flawless Dior complexion, team the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation with the Dior Backstage Face & Body Flash Perfector Concealer.

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Sam Rubin, Longtime KTLA Entertainment Reporter, Dies at 64

Sam Rubin , a popular entertainment reporter on KTLA since 1991, died Friday. He was 64.

Rubin died at his home of a heart attack. His last appearance on KTLA was on May 9. He did not appear Friday on KTLA’s 7-9 a.m. “Morning News” as usual. KTLA reported that Rubin’s colleagues said he “showed no outward signs of illness” the day before.

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“Sam was an icon in Los Angeles and the entertainment industry and he was a beloved member of our Nexstar Nation. My prayers are with his family and the KTLA family as we mourn his passing. He will be missed,” Sook said in a statement.

KTLA, one of the nation’s pioneering TV stations and the first commercial outlet to hit the airwaves on the West Coast in 1948, praised the journalist who became synonymous with the station. KTLA news anchor Frank Buckley was visibly choked up as he reported Rubin’s death on-air Friday afternoon.

“Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades,” KTLA said in an X post. “His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most. Our thoughts are with Sam’s family during this difficult time.”

KTLA 5 is profoundly saddened to report the death of Sam Rubin. Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades. His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving… pic.twitter.com/eG0tQswBSH — KTLA (@KTLA) May 10, 2024

“Everyone is going to feel like they lost a family friend,” publicist Jamie Gruttemeyer Symonds told Variety in response to the news of Rubin’s death.

Actor Yvette Nicole Brown echoed that sentiment in an X post, calling Rubin “a friend” and noting “I enjoyed all the times I got to visit him at KTLA.”

This is shocking news. @SamKTLA was a friend. I enjoyed all the times I got to visit him at KTLA. Life is short. Live, love and laugh every chance you get. And let the folks you love know that you do. ❤️ https://t.co/INaLghcwla — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) May 10, 2024

I last talked to Sam Rubin at the Critics Choice Awards this year. His smile and his genuine excitement for all things Hollywood ever present. In nervous situations he was a buoy of kindness. I will miss him. pic.twitter.com/rAG8DZ777q — Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) May 10, 2024

The news of Rubin’s death hit Hollywood hard with an outpouring of sadness and tributes from actors on both coasts. Dave Foley, Kiefer Sutherland, Marlee Matlin, Jerry O’Connell, Paul Feig, Ben Stiller, Greg Grunberg and more shared their memories and continued to praise Rubin’s kindness in the business.

This is dreadful news. One of the true delights of being in show business was the opportunity to chat occasionally with Sam Rubin. In fact, I was looking forward to seeing Sam in a couple of weeks. He was a wonderful part of life in Los Angeles. I’ll miss him. https://t.co/XI0evw65kS — Dave Foley (@DaveSFoley) May 10, 2024

I am shocked and saddened by the news of Sam Rubin’s untimely passing. If you look up “kind” you would see his picture. RIP, Sam.. you will definitely be missed by me. pic.twitter.com/MsHYoXnnvs — Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) May 10, 2024

Sam Rubin was a LEGEND. Rest In Peace KING. pic.twitter.com/KlvC6oiIJm — Jerry O'Connell (@MrJerryOC) May 10, 2024

Devastated by this news. I truly loved Sam, who was so supportive of me and the industry in general. He was the best. I can’t quite process him being gone. Sending so much love to his family and friends. So sad. RIP Sam. Love you, pal. https://t.co/w4TxOcSsZa — Paul Feig (@paulfeig) May 10, 2024

Truly heartbreaking to hear of the passing of Sam Rubin from KTLA morning news. He made my mornings, my band and me, more interesting and entertaining than they deserved to be… Thank you Sam, Rest Easy 🙏💚 pic.twitter.com/xkqGMeyKyV — Mark McGrath (@mark_mcgrath) May 10, 2024

I am numb and shocked at the news of my friend Sam Rubin passing. He cared about everyone that he met and always took the time to smile and ask about family and was the best at what he did. I can’t believe this news. So devastating and sad. Thinking about his beautiful family… pic.twitter.com/xthdAOvGha — Greg Grunberg (@greggrunberg) May 10, 2024

So sad and sorry to hear of Sam Rubin’s passing. Consummate pro. I did my first interview with him in something like ‘93, and countless times over the years. He loved actors and movies. He made everyone feel comfortable and it was always fun and easy. He was an institution. We… — Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 10, 2024

In addition to his work as an anchor, Rubin’s television production company SRE, Inc. has produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming including “Live From” red carpet shows and 120 episodes of talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”

Rubin was a co-founder of the Critics Choice Association. The organization paid tribute to him, calling him a “guiding force” for the organization that bestows awards for movies and TV shows.

“Sam’s generous spirit, unfailing good humor and deep knowledge of “Hollywood” made him a legend in the entertainment business and a trusted friend to millions of viewers – and to hundreds of stars who relaxed in easy conversation with him on his set at KTLA and on countless red carpets,” Critics Choice said.

In 1996, Rubin teamed with his crosstown rival, KTTV entertainment reporter Dorothy Lucey, as hosts of the daytime syndicated talk show “Scoop with Sam & Dorothy,” which ran for a few months.

Rubin was the recipient of a Golden Mic award, a lifetime achievement award from Southern California Broadcasters Association and winner of best entertainment reporter from the Los Angeles Press Club. He penned two celebrity biographies over his long career, one about Jacqueline Kennedy Onnassis and a 1990 book about Mia Farrow co-authored with Richard Taylor.

Early in his career, Rubin covered entertainment news for Group W Television and he was a correspondent for the 1980s New York-area cable channel Movietime.

According to his KTLA bio, he supported several organizations including the MS 150 Bay to Bike Tour and supports L.A. schools and literacy programs.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Rubin had been on the air Friday on “KTLA Morning News.”

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