Marie-Madeleine Dior
The first muse of the couturier was his mother, Madame Marie-Madeleine Dior. Little Christian, the only one of five children, managed to find the key to her stern heart. For this, Marie-Madeleine introduced the boy to the world of fragrant flowers and allowed him to work with her in her favorite winter garden. The delicate taste of Madame Dior was traced in everything: whether it was bouquets made of flowers grown by her, or elegant images in which she always appeared for dinner.
Christian Dior (far left, top row) with his family © facebook.com/Dior
Mother became for Christian Dior the standard of female beauty. The famous image of the “flower woman” was written off from her, and the master dedicated his first collection of evening dresses to her, and then his debut collection of perfumes.
First Christian Dior fashion show, Paris, February 12, 1947 © Pat English
Sketches of the Miss Dior perfume bottle © facebook.com/Dior
Mitza Bricar
A leopard-print scarf on the wrist, a hat with a veil or turban, stiletto heels and a constant string of pearls. This was the image of Mitza Bricar - Christian Dior's friend and muse. In the fashion house he founded, Bricard was responsible for accessories, but, in fact, not a single sketch of the legendary couturier went to work without her approval. In his biography, Dior wrote that Mitz "made elegance the only goal of her existence." At the same time, she led an absolutely bohemian lifestyle. At work, at the Christian Dior atelier on Avenue Montaigne, she rarely showed up before dinner, preferred to drink sweet colonial liqueurs, smoked a lot and was the best in Paris who knew how to wear furs.
Christian Dior and Mitza Bricard at work at the Christian Dior atelier on Avenue Montaigne, Paris 1957 © Getty / Loomis Dean
Inspired by Mitza Bricard, Dior created a collection with predatory prints. And after her death, the fashion house continued to release fragrances and jewelry dedicated to Bricard.
Marlene Dietrich
"No Dior, no Dietrich," Marlene Dietrich said on the set of Stage Fear to Hitchcock himself. So the actress set a condition for the eminent director that she would agree to the role only on the condition of playing in outfits from a novice couturier. Hitchcock obeyed, and after filming gave Dietrich all the requisite wardrobe.
1 of 3 Still from Alfred Hitchcock's "Stage Fear" © Getty / John Kobal Foundation Still from Alfred Hitchcock's "Stage Fear" © kinopoisk.ru Still from Alfred Hitchcock's "Stage Fear" © kinopoisk.ru
Dietrich Dior met Marlene at his first show in 1947. The actress, who had previously worn pantsuits by Coco Chanel, fell in love with elegant outfits designed by the young designer. So much so that Elle magazine advised fans of the actress to remember her slender legs, which will hide for a long time under the long dresses of Christian Dior, which Dietrich immediately ordered about a dozen.
Dior sewed outfits for several more films where Dietrich starred. And the actress "hooligan", inventing new images from his things: she combined the top and bottom of different sets and appeared in public even in silk pajamas.
Madame Delaye
Another woman, without whose advice Christian Dior could not do, is Madame Delaye. She was his personal soothsayer, giving advice on which days it was best to hold shows and which florists to sign contracts with. It was to Madame Delaye that Dior hurried when he received an offer to open his own fashion house. “Agree! You must open a Christian Dior house. Whatever the initial conditions, nothing that you could achieve later can be compared with what you are being offered now!”, The fortuneteller made a verdict. And Dior did not dare to disobey. Only once did a designer not follow Madame Delaye's advice.
Funeral of Christian Dior in Paris, October 1957. The funeral procession passes by the crowd of fans who have come to pay their last respects to the designer. © Getty / PAGES Francois
In 1957, the soothsayer dissuaded the couturier from going on vacation to Italy. Dior went, and on October 24, news spread around the world that the eminent couturier had died of a heart attack.>
