Christian Dior was born in France in 1905. He started out in fashion as an illustrator, and later went to work for Robert Piguet and then Lucien Lelong. He launched his own fashion house in 1946, and his 1947 “New Look” collection — pinched waist, soft shoulders, full skirts — put his house on the map and reestablished post-war Paris as the center of world fashion. Christian Dior passed away in 1957 at the age of 52.
After Dior’s death, his 21-year-old assistant, Yves Saint Laurent, took over as the house designer. He was succeeded by Marc Bohan, then Gianfranco Ferrè. John Galliano became creative director of the women’s line in 1996. He was fired in early 2011.
Hedi Slimane oversaw the men’s line from 2000 through 2007, when he was replaced by Kris Van Assche.
The Dior fragrance line
Christian Dior Parfums is now part of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy.
Miss Dior was launched in 1947. After that came Diorama (1949), Eau Fraiche (1955), Diorissimo (1956), Eau Sauvage (1956), Diorling (1963), Diorella (1972), Dioressence (1979), Dior Dior and Jules (1980).
Other well known Dior fragrances include Poison (see below), Fahrenheit (1988), Dune (1991), Dolce Vita (1995), J’Adore (1999) and Addict (2002).
Les Créations de Monsieur Dior
In 2009, the company reissued and/or repackaged a collection of older fragrances under the name Les Créations de Monsieur Dior. The original collection included Diorissimo, Diorella, Diorissimo, Eau Fraîche and Forever and Ever Dior. In 2011, Diorama was added to this series.
Poison and Poison flankers
Poison, released in 1985, was the first feminine fragrance without the word Dior in the name, and was followed by the flankers Tendre Poison (1994), Hypnotic Poison (1998), Pure Poison (2004), Pure Poison Elixir (2006), Midnight Poison (2007), Poison Elixirs (2008), Hypnotic Poison Eau Sensuelle (2010).
Other recent releases
2005: Miss Dior Cherie, Dior Addict 2, Dior Homme.
2006: Midnight Charm.
2007: Fahrenheit 32, Dior Addict 2 Summer Peonies, Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Toilette, Dior Homme Cologne, Eau Sauvage Fraicheur Cuir, Dior Addict Shine & J’Adore Le Jasmin, J’Adore L’Absolu, Dior Homme Intense, La Collection Particuliere Passage N°4, N°8 & N°9.
2008: Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Printemps, Escale a Portofino, Dior Addict 2 Summer Litchi, Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet, Dior Homme Sport.
2009: Miss Dior Cherie L’Eau, J’Adore L’Eau Cologne Florale, Escale a Pondichery, Fahrenheit Absolute, Ambre Nuit
2010: Escale aux Marquises, J’Adore l’Or, La Collection Christian Dior.
2011: Aqua Fahrenheit, Addict to Life, Patchouli Imperial.
Where to buy
At major department stores or at the online fragrance discounters.
Website
Further reading
See all articles on Now Smell this tagged Christian Dior.
See pictures of the New Look fashions, and read more about Dior’s designs at designmuseum.
