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Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams Exhibition
A Culinary Fashion Experience

We had the pleasure of attending the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams Exhibition in London on 15th May, with thanks to Safilo; manufacturer of Dior eyewear. This insight into the world of Christian Dior began with a "culinary fashion experience," which was an afternoon tea with a twist. Inspired by the exhibition itself, we were presented with a range of delicious savoury treats including a cheese and truffle eclair, which paid tribute to the title of Dior's self-penned cookbook: La Cuisine Cousu-Main. A collection of sweets followed and included a Normandy cream white and milk chocolate cake labelled 'La Montaigne,' the address of the Paris flagship store, along with a lemon pink macaroon named "the pink house," in reference to Dior's striking pastel-coloured childhood home (which now houses the Christian Dior museum). All washed down with "The Mitzvah" cocktail; tasting delightfully sweet!

The Princess Margaret Dress

We were lucky enough to have a private out of hour's tour at the sold out V&A exhibition. Holding over 200 rare Haute Couture garments drawn from the extensive Dior archives, as well as accessories, photography and Christian Dior's personal possessions, it's fair to say we were extremely excited!


Each room represented a milestone in the history of one of the 20th Century's most influential fashion houses. One that certainly stood out was the off-white gown with mother of pearl embellishments worn by Princess Margaret. This was displayed next to the Cecil Beaton photograph in order to show the difference between the real thing and the artistic interpretation. Our tour guide explained that the Swiss technique of using straw is not something you would normally associate with the royal family, showing how Dior has always set itself apart from the ordinary.

The Iconic Bar Suit

Another key centre-piece at the exhibition was the renowned Dior 'Bar' suit. One of the most iconic designs in Dior's first ever collection, this was labelled the 'New Look' by press all over the world. The suit was shown alongside Dior's notebook, which detailed the technical specifications for the piece, stating "1947 Spring/Summer." 


The tour proceeded as we witnessed the themes of which inspired Christian Dior throughout his lifetime. One of our favourite rooms was "The Garden" as shown below. This was beautifully decorated with Lily of Valley and Princess Margaret-roses which cascaded from the ceiling to complement the colour-coded collection. It was also interesting to see the wall of 123 Dior magazine covers spanning from 1947 to the present day including still-popular titles such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. 

And lastly to "The Ballroom." We can only dream of a walk in wardrobe like this! A celebration of the glamour of Dior, this jaw-dropping display featured the liquid-gold dress worn by Charlize Theron in the J'Adore fragrance adverts (below, bottom right), glamorous dresses worn by Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna, and of course, the Dior dress designed for Diana, Princess of Wales to wear in 1996 (below, bottom right in blue).

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