Christian Dior

John Galliano Fired From Dior

Filed under: Apparel

Dior fashion designer John Galliano has been fired from his role as head designer at Christian Dior after video of him using anti-Semitic language surfaced. In a short statement Sidney Toledano, Dior's president and chief executive officer, said that the remarks made by Galliano were a "total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior.

Galliano also has his own eponymous label which is set to have a show on Sunday during Paris Fashion Week. According to Vogue UK, Natalie Portman, who is the face of Dior's Miss Dior Cherie fragrance, also came out against Galliano and said that she will no longer be associated with him in any way. She had planned to wear Dior on the red carpet for the Academy Awards but made a last minute switch to a Rodarte gown in light of the controversy.

Galliano spent part of Monday in a police station in Paris with his lawyer begin questioned about the incident in which he got into a scuffle with another patron at a restaurant. The video shows Galliano telling two women at the Paris cafe, "I love Hitler" and going on to say that people "like them" wouldn't be alive today because their mothers and forefathers would be gassed. Galliano appears to be drunk in the video which has surfaced on YouTube.

The shocking incident has stunned the fashion world. Galliano has always been considered a bit avant garde but he has also been credited with bringing excitement and drama to the world of couture. He has also served as a designer for Givenchy.

UPDATE: International Herald Tribune fashion writer Suzy Menkes says that Galliano is headed to rehab.

Tags: christian dior, dior, john galliano, john galliano arrested, natalie portman

The Fashion Statement: Haute Couture's Lightness of Being

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The Haute Couture Spring 2011 shows have yet to wrap up in Paris this week and, already, we know the end of the story. Designers are walking the tightrope between pale blush, pinks and nudes on the one side, and bright saturated jewel tones on the other. Similarly, styles are either soft, feminine and ethereal or dramatic and rich.

"There's a sense of lightness that we're seeing, particularly in the materials," says Joanna Manganaro, an editor specializing in womenswear at trend forecasting firm Stylesight. "Chiffon, tulle--everything is done in a light-handed way. It feels featherweight. It's something more modern, more uplifting."

That was clearly the case with Givenchy. Riccardo Tisci, a designer better known for being dark and severe, delivered a collection of gowns in pale yellows, barely-there pinks and light nudes as a tribute to Butoh dander Kazuo Ohno. In the end, he remained true to his reputation for boldness. When the models turned, they revealed the backs of the gowns that were embroidered in neon orange, chartreuse and fuchsia.

Christian Dior (pictured above) had a more traditional view of things. John Galliano paid tribute to René Gruau, an illustrator who created the house's iconic images from the '40s and '50s. Remember Dior's New Look from the '40s? Galliano (who has a new look himself--a shag haircut) reinterpreted the New Look in in electric blue, fuchsia, brown, emerald green and red taffeta and satin. One of the highlights was a flaring white skirt topped with a burnt-orange jacket with shoulders out-to-there.

Gallery: Full Bloom

Tags: armani prive, Chanel, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Haute Couture Shows, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Kazuo Ohno, Lady, Rene Gruau, RiccardoTisci, Stylesight

Continue reading “The Fashion Statement: Haute Couture's Lightness of Being”

The Fashion Statement: Will 2011 be the Year of the Hat?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Hats worn for the express purpose of style hasn't been widely popular since the '20s. Millinery did have a brief comeback in the '80s when Princess Diana gave visibility to the British tradition of wearing hats for special occasions. Now Kate Middleton is again putting a modern face under the British topper. And numerous designers on both sides of the pond made the hat a central focus of their spring/summer runway collections. And then there is Lady Gaga entertaining us all with her theatrical chapeaus.

Not since the '80s have we seen so many hats! So we wonder: Could 2011 be the year of the hat?

Arguably the most buzzed about accessory of the season was the colorful, wide-brimmed hat like the one above at Prada. Badgley Mischka and Marc Jacobs channeled Jodi Foster in Taxi Driver with their bright pink versions shown over hair that had been appropriately curled and frizzed. Sally Field in The Flying Nun would have fit right in at Missoni where almost every model wore hats that flapped down the runway like wings. And Alberta Ferretti went boho by pairing floppy fringed brims with her collection of gauzy ethereal gowns.

Gallery: Hat Gallery

Tags: Alberta Ferretti, ann demeulemeester, Anna Sui, BadgleyMischka, Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, dsquared2, Giles Deacon, Hermes, issey miyake, John Galliano, John paul gaultier, just cavalli, Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga, Missoni, moschino, Prada, Princess Diana, Sonia Rykiel, YohjiYamamoto

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Avedon's Dovima Goes To Dior

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

That massive image of model Dovima posing with an elephant that sold at the Richard Avedon auction at Christie's Paris last weekend found a fitting home. Avedon's 1955 photo "Dovima With Elephants" was bought by the Christian Dior fashion house. Dovima is wearing a Dior evening gown in the fashionable photo. The seven-foot tall print was made for the tour of Avedon's 1978 Metropolitan Museum of Art fashion retrospective. After the tour it stood near the entrance to Avedon's New York studio for 25 years. Since 2005, it has been installed inside the entrance to the offices of The Richard Avedon Foundation. The print sold for 841,000 euros, approximately $1.1 million, in the sale which made a total of $7.5 million.

http://www.elleuk.com/news/fashion-news/dovima-finds-a-new-home-at-dior/(gid)/698788

Tags: art, christian dior, christies, photography, richard avedon

The Fashion Statement: Paris Couture Pares Back

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The haute couture shows in Paris are in full swing, but rather than enjoy the spectacle, fashion watchers have the nagging suspicion they are witnessing the end of an era.

Sure, clothing that can cost as much as a house, have little relevance in today's world-only a handful of women in the world can afford the custom-made pieces. And fashion houses like Jean Paul Gaultier, pictured above, create the looks mostly for press and to promote brand awareness and maintain an image. (Dita Von Teese guest strutted in black wire and stockings.) But the Great Recession has sped up the decline of an institution of fashion, the highest level a designer can achieve, the crème de la crème of the biz. It's sad!

Signs of decline are all there. Shows have been reduced to six spanning three days. Sets have been pared back. Givenchy eschewed a show altogether to stage "presentations," or museum like display on dress forms-a sure sign of financial conservatism.

"Why not just hang a sign on the door that says, 'Shut?'" wrote Cathy Horyn yesterday in The New York Times.

Tags: Chanel, Christian Dior, Dita Von Teese, Elie Saab Couture, Givenchy, haute couture, jean paul gaultier, Paris Fashion Week, Paris haute couture, runway, runway fashion, runway models, runway shows, RunwayFashion, RunwayShow, Valentino

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The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athenee: Rejuvenate in the City of Lights

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée is a luxurious spa ensconced in a sumptuous hotel located in one of the most splendid cities in the world – Paris. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Institut is a nominee for a Luxist award in the best day spa category.

The connection between the Plaza Athénée and Christian Dior dates back to 1947, when the fashion house's namesake and founder chose the hotel as a place to photograph and showcase his models. Soon he began to invite his best customers there for lunch, or eat by himself in a private dining room. Dior even named a couple of his designs "Plaza" and "Athénée."

Gallery: Dior Institute Plaza Athenee

The Dior Institut was established to promote Christian Dior's goal to make women "prettier and happier," with a focus on reversing the effects of aging. The spa boasts five individual treatment rooms, including a VIP couples' room. There is also a fitness center, a sauna and a steam bath on the premises for clients to relax in after receiving treatments.

The typical treatment at Dior begins with a "Lifting 3D" massage, designed to raise energy levels and transform the guest's posture. Next, micro-abrasion revitalizes tissues and skin. Finally, Dior's anti-aging potions are applied to stimulate, reoxygenate and decongest skin. What better way to prepare for a night on the town in the City of Lights?

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Tags: awards-main, best day spa, christian dior, ChristianDior, day spa, dior institute, dior institute at the plaza athenee, luxist-awards, paris, paris spas, plaza athenee, spa, spa-main

Backstage Dior, An Eye-Popping All-Access Pass

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books

Renowned photographer Roxanne Lowit has been chronicling the fashion scene for the past 30 years; early on she staked out the backstage areas at fashion shows, where the really interesting action takes place, as her prime hunting ground for capturing the most beautiful people in their natural habitat. Now Lowit, whose work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum and others, has an incredible new book just published by teNeues, focusing on brilliant, flamboyant Dior deigner John Galliano's couture concoctions which she chronicled for over a decade. Backstage Dior, with a foreword by Galliano, mixes black-and-white and color images, candids and close-ups, delving into the fascinating details behind the scenes. The book is a must for any devotée of fashion, spectacle, photography, or all three.

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Dior, fashion show, Fashion Week, FashionShow, FashionWeek, French fashion, FrenchFashion, John Galliano, JohnGalliano, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MetropolitanMuseumOfArt, models, photographer, photography, Roxanne Lowit, RoxanneLowit

Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag is a terrific holiday purse for merry days of shopping and candlelight dinners alike.

This Italian patent lambskin bag is ravishingly quilted in Dior's Cannage pattern, and not over-designed -- the shiny red is enough. While this would look great with black, we'd love to see this on the arm of a lady bundled up in a pretty white coat.

The bag features bright silvery chain links and a push-lock closure, and will be available in ecru with goldtone hardware in 2010. We love the leather detail at the top of the strap to protect your shoulders, hands and clothes from having to touch the hard metal -- how very considerate.

The Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag is available from Neiman Marcus for $1,750.00.

Tags: cannage, christian dior, ChristianDior, dior, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, purse, red, shoulder bag, ShoulderBag

Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag is an unmistakably luxe choice for your spring wardrobe.

This fresh new design in a bright poppy rouge features generous silver chain links, oversized diamond stitching and dainty, only-from-a-French-design-house ruffle trim. The bag and logo hangtag are crafted from the finest lambskin, and the flap-top closes with an engraved silver push lock.

This spring, expect to see lots of silver, khaki, white and pale neutrals ... and this, as it will surely stand out if you see it coming down the street.

The Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag is available for pre-order from Neiman Marcus for $2,050.00 and is expected to ship no later than January 6.

Tags: christian dior, ChristianDior, dior, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, purse, red, shoulder bag, ShoulderBag

EXCLUSIVE: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

Maurice-Richard Hennessy spent his childhood years in France's famed Cognac region. A direct descendant of the founder of the Hennessy company, he belongs to the eighth generation of the prestigious family that came to France from Ireland in 1765. The cognac gene is firmly established in his DNA, along with his love for the Charente countryside, vine-growing and fine gastronomy. He joined the family firm, now a cornerstone of the LVMH luxury goods empire, in 1975 and was given an in-depth training in all the Hennessy professions, from distillation to bottling, as well as commercial and marketing activities.

He began by traveling for Hennessy and then in 1979 settled in London for five years to work on the promotion of the brand in England and Ireland. At that time he also travelled regularly to the United States and Canada. So it is natural that Monsieur Hennessy, with his famous name, became the incarnation of the brand and its global ambassador. As familiar with the history of the company as he is with cognac, he owns vineyards himself, distilling and selling his eaux-de-vie to the Hennessy firm, and is an expert on all facets of cognac production. In the gallery, Hennessy reveals his 10 essential luxuries and explains what makes them a must.

Gallery: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

A seat at Bayreuth Festspielhaus for the Wagner Festival

Proper ice cubes made of non-chlorinated water

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Cognac, France, Hennessy, LVMH, Ruinart

M. Sturman Jewelry on the Set of the New Sex and the City Movie

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

M. Sturman Jewelry may not yet be a household name, however should the pieces that were sent to the set of the newest Sex in the City movie make final cut that should change. Nothing seems to stamp an item as a "must have" faster then when it is seen adorning Carrie or one of her closest friends on their glamorous romp through life . The fictitious foursome have become a hallmark of what constitutes high end fashion.

It was exciting to learn that not all the pieces selected for the movie, and possibly destined for stardom themselves, are already part of the fashion elite's wardrobe. This New York City based jewelry designer uses a collection of unique pearls, stones, beads and vintage pieces, including Swarovski cabochons and blown glass to create the unusual items in her collection. A stand out piece features Swarovski stones ordered by Christian Dior prior to World War II. Inspired by the colors, shapes and textures of the raw materials the designer painstaking crochets or weaves each piece in her New York City Studio.

The designer Peggy Sturman has a background in art history and floral design which is easily seen in her work. Will she be the next "it" girl of the fashion industry? Only time will tell, but Carrie and the girls could certainly give her a leg up. All the pieces featured above and in the gallery are currently on the set of the new movie.

Gallery: M Sturman Jewelry

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, jewelry, sex and the city, SexAndTheCity, swarovski, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystals

Claridge's Debuts Exclusive Dior Dressing Table

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services, Spirits, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Famed French fashion house Dior has created a bespoke, Art Deco-inspired dressing table service for guests of Claridge's, the landmark London hotel (above) whose devotees include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, Mick Jagger, Madonna and Victoria Beckham. Designed as the ultimate luxury amenity for glamorous occupants of the hotel's Viscount David Linley-designed suites, the service offers all the essentials necessary for a glamorous night out on the town. The Dior Dressing Table includes a carefully curated range of timeless accessories, including an elegant silk Claridge's dressing gown and slippers; a cashmere eye mask; a selection of classic Dior fragrances and beauty products; cocktails from a special 1930s menu; and era-appropriate books and music for entertainment.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Angelina Jolie, AngelinaJolie, Art Deco, ArtDeco, beauty, Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Claridges, David Linley, DavidLinley, Dior, hotel, London

The Fashion Statement: Stripes Have a Checkered Past

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Several years ago, designer Andrae Gonzalo (of Project Runway fame) sent me a terrific little book on the history of stripes called The Devil's Cloth. I fished out the book recently and inside the jacket found Gonzalo's personal note: "From one zebra to another. Now you're really ready for spring 2002!" Back then, I was reporting for Women's Wear Daily and I had been talking to Gonzalo-at that time a buyer for the American Rag boutique in Los Angeles-about the chicest look of the season: stripes.

Cut to fall 2009. Little has changed. From Christian Dior Haute Couture in Paris to New York It boy Prabal Gurung, designers continue to send stripes down the runway. Whether zebra or nautical, it seems there's always demand for the clean and crisp, yin-yang pattern. A classic.

So it might shock you, as it did me, to learn that striped cloth was once a controversial religious garment not unlike the burqa today. According to the book, a few striped-clad monks called the Carmelites moved from Palestine to Paris where they were ridiculed and jeered. They were accused of greed, hypocrisy and treachery and even seen as the henchmen for the devil and the Antichrist. All because of their stripes.

The scandal got so out of hand, a Pope stepped in to ban all monks from wearing striped habits. Here's the kicker: Some 19th Century scholars believe Western Europeans had such a fit because the cloaks–probably resembling something like striped djellabas–had Asian or Middle Eastern origins.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: Stripes

Source

Tags: Black and white, BlackAndWhite, Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture, ParisFashionWeekHauteCouture, Stripes, Zebra prints, ZebraPrints

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Christian Dior's French Chateau For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Sometimes it helps for have friends who speak Russian. That's how I found this article which indicates that Christian Dior's French castle is up for sale. A little digging led me to what looks to be the listing for Chateau de la Colle Noire, Dior's home in the south of France.

Dior bought the property in 1950 and spent considerable time and money restoring it. After his death in 1957 it passed through various hands and as of late has been available to rent for weddings. The band Oasis even recorded there in 1999. The castle has 30 rooms with 18 bedrooms and several outbuildings as well as a chapel, tennis court and swimming pool.

[Thanks, Lana]

Gallery: Chateau de la Colle Noire

Tags: chateau, christian dior, ChristianDior, france, real estate, RealEstate

Dior Two-Textured Leather Satchel, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Dior Two-Textured Leather Satchel is an unusual find!

If you think you know Christian Dior, you're probably surprised. With its unusual shape, gothic buckles, and innovative texture, this purse seems to come from a whole new Dior genre!

Perhaps its a 1980s Vivienne Westwood inspiration -- the 80s is definitely back. In any case, this 20"W X 11"H X 4"D purse is crafted from pebble leather and croc-textured leather, giving it a truly unique look. The adjustable buckle strap, grommet and buckle details, and bold black shape make it truly anomalous.

That, along with the durable nylon lining and soft leather exterior make this a perfect bag for a night of rock and roll and unexpected excitement. The phrase "buckle up" comes to mind ...

The Dior Two-Textured Leather Satchel is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $2,950.

Tags: christian dior, dior, handbag of the day, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue