- CHRISTIAN DIOR -

2008年10月6日星期一

2006 Ready to wear

2006 SS
Hems of large bubbly organza blouses are dyed with degraded pinks - nude to fuchsia or nude to orange.

2006 FW
Black and high value analogous colors - metel rock & wild.

2008年10月5日星期日

2007 Ready to wear

2007 SS
Low value earth tone & achromatic colors- pale & calm

2007 FW
Mixing use of primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

2008年10月4日星期六

Christian Dior was born in Normandy, France in 1905, and channeled his love for art by opening an art gallery.

In 1938, he entered the fashion world as a designer for Robert Piquet. After serving in World War II, Dior returned to Paris and had a very successful collaboration with Pierre Balmain at Lucien Lelong.

Dior described himself as a silent, slow Norman, shy and reticent by nature, strongly attached to his friends. He loved good food, architecture, fortune telling as well as beautiful clothes. He dreamt of flower - like women with rounded shoulders, feminine busts, tiny waists and enormous spreading skirts.

With the financial help of Marcel Boussac, Dior was able to open his own fashion house in 1946. In the spring if 1947, he presented the 1st New Look collection. He refined and expanded his talent continually. In 1952, he began to loosen the waist, freed it even more with the H-line in 1954, the A-line and Y-line in 1955. His opulent designs made him successful in the post-war era, and his brand quickly expanded into furs, perfumes and accessories.

The New Look

Y Line dress - Autumn/ winter 1955-56

The new "H" Line - collection 1954

In 1957, Dior suddenly died and Yves Saint Laurent became the head designer. Since Saint Laurent, other well-known designers at this fashion house include Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano.

John Galliano

Reference: http://www.designmuseum.org/design/christian-dior

2008 Fall Haute Couture

John Galliano called this collection "fresh couture" , which is restrained and refined.

Mostly framed in black and white, with tints of gray, caramel, Parma violet, mint, and chartreuse to follow. (Style.com)

A number of hues were used, they look harmony as they are of the same value - all of them are low value light colors.

2008年10月3日星期五

2008 SS

2008 SS Ready to wear

This season, high chroma colors are widely used. Models on runway look vivid and very shiny.

2008 SS Haute Couture

2008 SS Handbags and accessories

For handbags, pink is Dior's favourite color in recent years to create a feminine image.
This year, we can see different pinks and even shocking pink and sharp red. (e.g.: Dior's latest accessories collection: Dior 61) It's a change in the way that Christian Dior uses color.

In addition, we can see some purple items too, like this Amethyst Dior Charming Shopping Bag:

The colors of the outer fabric and the leather trimmings are of the same hue, but in different values. The magenta lining is so sharp that it jumps out visually and gives energy to the bag.

In fact, the color of the lining is analogous with the outer fabric. That's why they match each others

2008年10月2日星期四

Vintage Dior bags

Vintage Christian Dior bags are not in high chroma, and the colors are analogously combined that brings harmony and calm feeling.

This classic carrying box was produced above 30years ago:

Reproduced version monogram bag in recent years:

Besides the silhoutte and materials, what makes the modern collection looks sharper, more energetic?

Let's compare their color families:


*Vintage in 60s	*Reproduction in 90s

Although the monogram pattern remains, colors slightly changed.
The color family of the modern version has same hue, but in lower value. Thus, the monogram pattern looks sharper, more contrasting with the leather trimming.