Thursday I managed to sneak into the hottest show in town, the Christian Dior exhibit at musee des Arts Decoratifs. By the time I got out 2 hours later, extensive lines and anxious faces were waiting in the rain. I've heard of some taking 5 hours to see the Dior. I probably will go back for more.
If you're headed to Paris get your tickets online and go early. The show is on through 7 January 2018
A history wall in the first room. I'm sure there are still some French viewers reading every detail.
Dior's early sketches when he worked for designer lucien lelong.
Later with his own couture house on famous avenue Montaigne.
Dior said he wanted to make women feel like princesses. He dressed many including princesses Margaret, Soraya, and Grace.
In his 20s he was a gallerist. He adored art and collecting. Later many of the same artists collaborated on his collections.
Ball gowns inspired by elaborate antique wallpapers.
Details in classical French paintings by Elizabeth Vignee le Brun influenced Dior's styling
Dior's bouffant taffeta dresses will never go out of style in my opinion.
His taffeta bows, sashes, rosettes, roses...pink pink pink
Dior perfume bottles mirror the female figure. Shape and form was everything to him.
The designers who followed in the house of Dior are featured. Galliano drapping a muslin form.
Raf Simons, his seemstresses and fitting model.
One of his two-tiered pleated gowns in motion.
Audrey Hepburn in Dior shot by Avedon.
Yves saint Laurent worked first at Dior. His loose distinctive sketches with fabric swatches.
An entire room floor to ceiling of original muslin forms. I put a video on my Instagram. Link below.
A grand hall of Dior's classic tailored suits
The same suits dans le rue.
At last a huge ballroom with a dazzling light show and music, full of glorious gowns designed by Dior and other house designers. Do not miss this show please! Did you see a Dior gown you would like me to paint? Let me know. Thank you for reading parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and Dior watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. Visit my INSTAGRAM for more Dior pictures.
That is Princess Margaret not Princess Grace. Thought you would want to know.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to receiving and I really enjoy your Paris Breakfast
Ahem...please re-read.
DeleteI did not identify princess margaret being self-evident IMHO.
I may not be able to spell but I do know my princesses. 👑👑👑
OK, I added in other princesses. The truth is I have a problem spelling Margaret...😕
DeleteMy husband's aunt use to make muslin dresses before she made the real thing. She made her own dress for the presidential inauguration (several presidents ago). I wish I had quizzed her more. Lovely post. I love it almost as when you show us pastry. :)
ReplyDeleteIn design school (Parsons) they were referred to as just 'muslins'. Its the pattern shell where all the drapping and adjustments go on. They should be pristine. Mine were a wreak...breakfast stains etc. i was a sketcher-designer, never a draper-designer. Not good with 3-D at all. TMI
DeleteYou always make me smile. :)
DeleteOh my gosh. Thanks for the eye candy. Would sure love to see this show in person!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting these gorgeous shots! I am enamored with Dior's designs and when I saw this exhibit will still be going while I am there this fall, I nearly fell off my chair. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your experience so that I can be there vicariously.
ReplyDeleteI. Am. Speechless.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible blog
The show 'Outlander' used the Door bar suit as an inspiration for one of Claire's outfits when she and Jamie lived in Paris.
ReplyDeleteThanks. i did not know the New Look was called 'the bar suit'.
DeleteOh how I would ❤️ This show! What a beautiful post. That red taffeta dress ...oh my! If you'll pardon the pun ... how 'fitting' .., my birthday is January 7th .., now if only I were there!
ReplyDeleteI think I will paint that red taffeta dress...
DeleteNOW THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! How I would love to attend this event. Dior is one of my favorite designers, and I would love the history. Keep posting. It is probably as close as I will ever get to Paris, France. Maybe I will have to settle for Paris, Texas!
ReplyDeleteLove your backless dress painting! That little squiggle on her back just makes you think you can reach out and touch her!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is beating a bit faster after viewing your drawings and photos of the Dior show. Spectacular, indeed!
ReplyDeleteDior blog is perfection!!!! September letter great, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing exhibition, thanks for sharing! Luckily I'll be visiting Melbourne next weekend where they have a smaller Dior exhibition on at the moment, so I'll have to settle for that instead. I love your paintings of the Dior dresses!
ReplyDeleteThis post is STUNNING.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
It was not until I saw your post that I realized I missed a major part of the Dior Exhibit.
ReplyDeleteI exited the perfume gallery & didn’t see signage nor know there was a whole other part of the show.
It was easy to miss if someone hadn't directed us to the other half..
DeleteThank you, having just read about the queues, I went on line and brought my ticket for Thursday, cant wait! And will make sure to look the other side of the staircase......
ReplyDeleteThis show was the highlight of my Paris trip! Breathtaking! Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDelete