La Galerie Dior
“When Maison Dior first opened, it had three Ateliers under the eaves of 30 Avenue Montaigne, a tiny studio, a salon in which to show the dresses, a cabine or dressing room for the models, an office, and six small fitting rooms,” recounted Monsieur Dior in his memoirs. For the couturier, it was love at first sight for this hôtel particulier that has since become a legend. Newly transformed and enhanced, this “refuge of the marvelous,” the beating heart of the House of Dior since its founding, has now been reinvented and is home to La Galerie Dior, a testament to the visionary boldness of Christian Dior and his six successors: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
“When the Maison Dior first opened, it had three Ateliers under the eaves of 30 Avenue Montaigne, a tiny studio, a salon in which to show the dresses, a cabine or dressing room for the models, an office, and six small fitting rooms”
It is within these walls that the Dior Collections have been created for more than 70 years, starting with the iconic New Look, a revolutionary event in the history of fashion. This silhouette, so named by Carmel Snow, editor-in-chief of the American magazine Harper’s Bazaar, after Dior’s debut fashion show on 12 February 1947, embodies the attitude of a woman who asserts her femininity. Radiant, confident, and aware of her powers of seduction in that post-war period of reconstruction. A woman whose body in movement was enhanced by Christian Dior. Bearing witness to this historic turning point, the emblematic 30 Avenue Montaigne was jam-packed with guests and friends of Monsieur Dior, from clients to some of the era’s most high-profile celebrities, who traveled from near and far to discover this kingdom dedicated to dreams.
Featuring a unique scenographic narrative, La Galerie Dior embodies the spirit of Parisian Haute Couture while perpetuating the memory of this historic address, displaying looks, original sketches, and archival documents, as well as accessories and exceptional pieces, many of which are being exhibited for the first time.
Multiple sources of inspiration are presented: from the splendor of gardens to the sumptuousness of balls, the beauty of the petites mains’ gestures, and artistic affinities, with each space evoking one of the many facets of the priceless heritage that the House of Dior has preciously preserved since its founding and continues to enrich.
La Galerie Dior reflects the singularity of this House, which, more than any other, is aware of the richness of its past, a priceless source of inspiration for Dior’s Creative Directors as they seek to capture the spirit of their time and reveal, as Christian Dior put it, “women’s secret aspirations.”
“Fashion designers offer one of the last refuges of the marvelous. They are, in a way, the masters of dreams...”
