North South Vintage

Today happens to be be my birthday and I am lucky enough to share it with Christian Dior.... the man.

Christian Dior was born with a silver spoon in Granville, France (Jan 21, 1905).

His growing up years were spent in museums and galleries, but instead of taking up art, he studied Political Science at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques (1925).

Two years after graduation, he served the obligatory 2 years in the French Army. After he got out, he opened an art gallery and was an art dealer from 1928-1931.

When the U.S. was undergoing its worst depression in history, Christian Dior felt it in his personal life. In 1931, his mother died of cancer, his father's company declared bankruptcy and Christian Dior himself contracted tuberculosis.

As the saying goes, "When God closes a door, he opens a window," Christian Dior's fashion design talent started to show during this very sad period of his life. He started to work as a fashion illustrator and then as an assistant designer.

But in 1939, the winds of war hit Europe and Christian Dior was one of the many who were deployed by the French Army. After the war, he went back to fashion designing and finally in 1947, he launched the House of Dior and "The New Look."

Considered revolutionary by the fashion press, "The New Look" was actually called "Corolle Line" by Christian Dior himself. It was back to femininity and luxury after the "manly and depraved" look due to the war.

Rounded shoulders, cinched waist and bell skirts created in luxurious fabrics - that was what Christian Dior showed the world in 1947. It was an instant success and assured Dior a place in the annals of fashion history.

Christian Dior's career as a top fashion designer only lasted 10 years (he died in 1957).

The House of Dior continued to live, first under Yves Saint Laurent, and currently under John Galliano. It is now a member of the LVMH group of companies famous for its luxury goods product lines. (excerpt by Boyd Davis)