Galeries Lafayette marks the 70th anniversary of Christian Dior

From Sept. 20 to Oct. 10, Dior will take over 11 window displays at the retailer’s Paris flagship on Boulevard Haussmann. In celebration of creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s blue-themed fall collection for the house.

It will also stage a show of original designs by house founder Christian Dior, titled “I Feel Blue,” at its Galerie des Galeries exhibition space.  A selection of Monsieur Dior’s designs from the archives will illustrate his fondness for the colour of the kings of France.

The exhibition is made up in navy shines in all its facets, from the wool Doris coat, emanating from his first 1947 collection forever known as the New Look, to
a blue damask silk afternoon dress, named Billet Doux, designed in 1957 and featuring rose motifs.

Among  Galeries Lafayette widows will be displayed mini Lady Dior bags embroidered with stars and the words “I Feel Blue.” Bootie in tulle embellished with golden threads and pearls embroideries. A limited-edition Navy square navy silk scarf will feature a celestial map of star signs alongside the mention “The 70th Anniversary of Christian Dior.”

There are also embroidered booties, DiorSoRealPop sunglasses, a Rose des Vents bracelet, Boucles d’oreilles, astrological candles among other items. The exhibition will feature 12 Dior vintage outfits ranging from the wool Doris coat from the first collection in 1947 to the Billet Doux silk day dress with a rose motif from 1957, the year of designer death.

On 12 February 1947, Christian Dior presented his very first haute couture collection, shortly afterwards named the ‘New Look’, along with his first perfume, Miss Dior. His show set in motion a revolution in femininity, perpetuated by each of the creative directors who have succeeded him, up to today’s Maria Grazia Chiuri.