Christian Dior: The Early Years 1947-1957 [Hardcover]

Esmeralda de Rethy (Author), Jean-Louis Perreau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2001

Christian Dior presented his first collection to a bleak, post-war Paris in 1947. It caused a sensation. The dazzling clothes, cut to emphasize the female form and made out of seemingly endless metres of luxurious embroidered and beaded cloth, were revolutionary. Dior's collection was pronounced "The New Look" and made him a star. This illustrated book is based entirely on documents and photographs from the first decade of the House of Dior, a time when Dior himself supervized every detail of his enterprise, and created a team of devoted collaborators and a large atelier of adoring seamstresses. He not only drew every dress himself but also fitted most of his clients, among whom were Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman and the Duchess of Windsor. Until his early death in 1957, the modest and unassuming Dior was adored by everybody whose life he touched. This book celebrates the glorious days when haute couture was about elegance rather than rank sensationalism.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

About the Author

Esmeralda De Rethy is a royal Belgian princess, niece of the present King. Her mother Princess Lilian of Belgium, was one Christian Dior's first clients and knew everybody in the house by first name. She studied law before becoming a journalist in Paris, where she interviewed everybody from Moshe Dayan to Donald Trump for French magazines and newspapers. A renowned conservationist, she is head of the King Leopold III Fund for the Exploration and Conservation of Nature.

Jean Louis Perreau is a fashion historian and researcher living in Paris.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Vendome Press (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086565249X
• ISBN-13: 978-0865652491
• Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 10.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,541,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MEMORABLE VISIT WITH DIOR, June 12, 2002

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Dior: The Early Years 1947-1957 (Hardcover)

Born in a small village in Normandy, Christian Dior did not hesitate to disobey a parental injunction to undertake a "serious occupation." He knew what he wanted and fled to Paris where he became a designer at Robert Piguet.

The City of Lights was gray in 1946; there had been the war, German occupation, and rationing. But, luck was with Dior. He met the country's richest and most powerful industrialist, Marcel Boussac, who offered to back the young designer. Space became available at 28-30 Avenue Montaigne, an address well known to fashion aficionados today.

In 1947 Dior introduced his first collection, and the world was ready for his innovative return to the feminine figure with narrow waists, long skirts, and an attractive bustline. The rest, as they say, is history.

All interested in the world of fashion will delight in this detailed history of the workings of Dior's fashion house, and the remarkable people who worked for him in developing a boutique and perfume which would enjoy worldwide acclaim. Also included are stories of his famous clients, such as Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Ingrid Bergman, and the Duchess of Windsor.

Enriched with some 100 illustrations this keepsake volume concludes with "Monsieur Dior's Fashion Vocabulary" and a timeline noting events after Dior's death in 1957 to the present day.

- Gail Cooke

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World-class achievements in clothing & style, April 12, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Dior: The Early Years 1947-1957 (Hardcover)

Christian Dior: The Early Years 1947-1957 by Esmeralda de Rethy (daughter of Princess Liliane of Belgium who was one of Christian Dior's very first clients) and fashion historian Jean-Louis Perreau is an incredible, superbly illustrated and informative coffee table book providing a vivid fashion record perfectly capturing the founding of an empire of style in the post-World War II decade. Full-page photographs, some color, some black and white, many nearly half a century old, adorn the pages along with Dior's original sketches and commentary. The text traces the travails, efforts, and world-class achievements in clothing, style, and love of life in this high society treasury. Christian Dior is very highly recommended reading for students of 20th Century fashion history in general, and the influential contributions of Christian Dior in particular.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides the inside story at the House of Dior, August 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Dior: The Early Years 1947-1957 (Hardcover)

Christian Dior: The Early Years provides the inside story at the House of Dior, from its introduction of the 'New Look' to 1957, upon Dior's sudden death. When Christian Dior presented his first collection, the young designer presented clothing which featured narrow waists and beautiful evening dresses: a new look for the fashion world of the mid1940s. He drew each dress himself and his designs would change the fashion world of his times. The oversized presentation of this volume allows for fullpage displays of his works accompanying a biography of his life and achievements.