Dior's New Look

Inspired by the "New Look" by Christian Dior, I found it to be important to help people understand the origin for most modern fashion. I took it upon myself to dedicate this post to the 68th anniversary of the debut of the "New Look" itself and recreate the look that started it all.

Here is the famous 1947 "New Look" by Christian Dior:

"We were emerging from the period of war, of uniforms, of women-soldiers built like boxers. I drew women-flowers, soft shoulders, fine waists like liana and wide skirts like corolla." -Christian Dior

On February 12, 1947, in Paris, France, Christian Dior released his latest fashions to the press. He was told his looks were so new looking, and soon it caught on as a slogan. Within the following days, the "New Look" by Dior was known globally. Although they may have been such extraordinary looks for the time, they did not come without controversy. Just two years after World War Two, and rationing still in effect, people were outraged at the length of the skirts and the amount of fabric being used. At a decade of strictly knee length skirts, when the hemline was lowered by 30 centimeters, it caused quite the alarm with women around the world. Soon the trend caught on and every celebrity and woman of status had to own a piece of Dior.

  Christian Dior was unhappy working with the standard Stockman mannequins, so with the help of a hammer he took it upon himself to construct his visions on his own. In the words of his dear friend Suzanne Luling, "And so, with big, nervous blows of the hammer, he gave the mannequin forms of the ideal woman for the fashion he was to launch." 

"I wanted my dresses to be 'constructed', molded on the curves of the female body whose contours they would stylize. I accentuated the waist, the volume of the hips, I emphasized the bust. In order to give my models more hold, I had nearly all the fabrics lined with percale or taffeta, renewing a tradition that had long been abandoned." -Christian Dior

(Christian Dior posing with his models in 1950)

Today Christian Dior is still running as one of the most famous fashion houses in the world. After his death in 1957, the fashion world thought that would be the end of an era. But, his legacy still lives on today through his clothing that still demonstrates class, elegance, and beauty. 

Here are some videos that will give a more broad history on Christian Dior himself and the birth of the "New Look". To read more about it, head to http://www.dior.com/couture/en_us/the-house-of-dior/the-story-of-dior/the-new-look-revolution