One of the most influential fashion designers of the twentieth century, Christian Dior revolutionized the industry in 1947 with his first collection, the New Look. His designs expressed nostalgia, fantasy, opulence, and femininity, creating an idealized image of womanhood that dominated fashion throughout the 1950s. Christian Dior believed fashion’s true function is to enhance feminine beauty. After the devastation and deprivations of World War II, in Europe the New Look signaled a return to prosperity and the reestablishment of Paris as the world’s fashion center.

America embraced the devoted housewife as the appropriate symbol of postwar womanhood and encouraged her to seek complete fulfillment in her roles as wife and mother. The New Look emphasized this ideal by focusing on the hourglass figure with a small waist and exaggerated hips, often paired with a full, flaring skirt, replacing the boxy silhouette of the war years. Many women loved this new, feminine style while others opposed it.

The Museum’s collection of Christian Dior (1947-1957) is vast, with an item from almost every collection. Most impressive is our “Maxim” dress from Dior’s historic 1947 New Look collection. It was worn by the famous prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief, during the time she lived in Paris.

Tags: Christian Dior, Couture, Paris, Timothy Long, World War II

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