Book

Dior: The Collections, 1947-2017

by Adélia Sabatini

📖 Overview

Dior: The Collections, 1947-2017 catalogs seventy years of fashion from the House of Dior through photographs and archival materials. The book presents over 180 collections, featuring both runway images and behind-the-scenes documentation. The volume begins with Christian Dior's revolutionary "New Look" collection and chronicles the house's evolution through subsequent creative directors, including Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Each designer's tenure receives dedicated sections with collection highlights and historical context. Technical details of garment construction appear alongside fashion photography, sketches, and documentation of the atelier's craftsmanship. The book includes commentary from fashion historians and critics, placing each collection within its cultural moment. This comprehensive archive serves as both a visual record of Dior's influence on fashion and a document of changing aesthetics in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The collections reflect broader shifts in society's views on femininity, luxury, and the role of haute couture.

👀 Reviews

Readers highlight this book's comprehensive photographic documentation of 180 Dior collections. Many note the value of having both runway and atelier images in one volume. Multiple reviews mention the quality of the printing and paper stock. Likes: - Clear chronological organization - Inclusion of collection descriptions and historical context - Coverage of all creative directors from Christian Dior to Maria Grazia Chiuri - Large format showcases details Dislikes: - Some find the text too brief - A few readers wanted more behind-the-scenes images - Price point mentioned as barrier by several reviewers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.7/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (156 ratings) Notable review quotes: "The definitive archive of Dior's history in one book" - Amazon reviewer "Worth every penny for serious fashion students" - Goodreads user "Could use more detail about construction techniques" - StyleForum member

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🤔 Interesting facts

🎀 The book features over 1,100 images cataloguing all of Christian Dior's haute couture collections, including more than 180 previously unpublished photographs ✂️ Each collection in the book is accompanied by original catwalk notes and quotes from Christian Dior himself, offering intimate insights into his creative process 👗 The publication coincided with the 70th anniversary of Dior's revolutionary "New Look" collection, which debuted on February 12, 1947, and transformed post-war fashion 🎨 All seven of Dior's artistic directors are featured: Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri 📚 The book weighs over seven pounds and contains 632 pages, making it one of the most comprehensive visual histories of the House of Dior ever published