Christian Dior 1940

When Christian Dior died, Yves Saint Laurent took over the French fashion house in accordance with Dior's wishes. Saint Laurent had joined Christian Dior's atelier two years earlier, at the age of 19. He remained the creative director until 1960, following his conscription into the French military and a prolonged illness. In 1962, Saint Laurent established his own eponymous fashion house in Paris. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Christian Dior apparel, bags and accessories.

Christian Dior used natural fabrics in his designs. The most common ones were cotton, silk and wool. Most of the fabrics came from Europe. You'll find a variety of vintage Christian Dior apparel from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Christian Dior apparel and accessories are made in a number of locations. Shoes and ready-to-wear apparel come from factories in France and Italy, while workshops in Switzerland manufacture watches. Parisian ateliers produce all of the French luxury fashion house's jewelry. Sunglasses and scarves originate from Italian artisans. Shop a selection of Christian Dior apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

After seven years as an art dealer, Christian Dior retrained as a fashion illustrator, eventually landing a job as a fashion designer for French fashion designer Robert Piguet. In 1941, following a year of military service, Dior joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong. Five years later, he was able to open a fashion house of his own at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. At 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of vintage and modern Christian Dior clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques.

The fabrics Christian Dior used included cotton, wool and silk. And, in the late 1940s, in an era of rationing materials and wartime austerity, the legendary couturier’s New Look collection definitively declared that opulence, luxury and femininity were in.

Dior’s debut Spring/Summer haute couture collection, christened “The New Look” by the fashion press in 1947 owing to its novelty, is characterized by soft, rounded shoulders; a prominent bust; waspish waistlines; and long, voluminous skirts. His return to a “pretty,” highly feminized style was a reaction to the miserable years of war, and this cinched-waist, ladylike ideal quickly became the predominant silhouette of the 1950s.

Dior’s skirts could have 40-meter-circumference hems, and outfits could weigh up to 60 pounds. They were cut and shaped like architecture, on strong foundations that molded women and “freed them from nature,” Dior said. Buyers paid to attend his official fashion shows, and his models demurely strolled through a salon in the maison, its interiors bedecked with moldings, sconces and gilt-edged mirrors.

Dior introduced lavish hourglass ball gowns and evening dresses while his Bar Suit comprised an ivory silk-shantung jacket with soft shoulders, nipped waist and padded hips over a voluminous black wool skirt. Rather than rationing, Dior’s ladies wanted reams of fabric and 19-inch waists enforced by wire corsets, and the fashion world concurred.

Find 1950s Dior dresses and other vintage clothing on 1stDibs.

Some Christian Dior products are made in Germany. The German designers, Henkel and Grossé, were active in the 1950s and onwards. Their designs can be recognized by a “Made in Germany” stamp. Shop a collection of vintage and new Christian Dior bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

Yes, Christian Dior makes jewelry. The French luxury fashion house offers many fine jewelry pieces, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and wedding and engagement rings. In addition, Dior has a line of more economically priced fashion jewelry. Shop a range of Christian Dior jewelry on 1stDibs.

No, Christian Dior shirts generally do not run small. Most people find that they are true to size. However, some shirts feature a more fitted modern cut. For a looser fit, you may wish to buy one size up. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Christian Dior apparel.

To tell if a Christian Dior bag is vintage, check for a date code inside. Normally, it appears on a stitched leather tag in the lining. If the date is more than 20 years old, the bag is vintage. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Dior handbags.

Christian Dior is known for designing a dress style called the New Look in 1947. It had soft rounded shoulders, a fitted waist and a full A-line skirt. It was a dramatic departure from the simpler frocks worn by women during World War II. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Christian Dior apparel.

No, authentic Christian Dior scarves are not made in China. Authentic Christian Dior scarves are crafted in Italy and made of premium silk, cashmere and wool. You’ll find a large range of scarf styles, including authentic Christian Dior, from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Whether or not Christian Dior jewelry is real gold depends on the type in question. Dior often uses genuine 18-karat gold for its fine jewelry pieces. Fashion jewelry is usually not real gold. Instead, the brand applies a gold-tone finish to a base metal. Silver-tone pieces typically feature the same base metal under a layer of palladium. Find a large collection of Christian Dior jewelry on 1stDibs.

No, Dior does not make nightgowns. A number of the French luxury brand’s vintage nightgowns can be found online from a variety of platforms, and while Dior garments are among fashion’s most collectible items, treasure hunters may be able to track down Dior slip dresses by visiting a favorite reseller’s physical storefront. Find an alluring assortment of vintage Christian Dior slip dresses and other dresses from top boutiques on 1stDibs.

An authentic Christian Dior scarf is hand-rolled and hand-stitched. The scarf is rolled in towards the logo and hand-stitched so that the material comes from the back to the front. The pattern should be symmetrical with no irregularities. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary Christian Dior scarves on 1stDibs.

To tell if Christian Dior jewelry is real, study the hallmarks carefully. Over the years, the French luxury fashion house has used different styles of markings. If you know roughly when your piece was made, you can compare its hallmarks to images of the stamps on authentic pieces produced around the same time to get an idea of its authenticity. Also, examine hardware like O-rings and clasps carefully. On genuine pieces, the hardware should be well-made and display no visible glue or soldering marks. For help with authentication, consult a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Christian Dior jewelry.