Multi-national luxury fashion house Dior was started by fashion iconoclast Christian Dior in 1946, establishing his atelier on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. 1947 saw the release of Christian Dior’s "New Look," a term coined by Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow. The New Look is credited with revolutionizing fashion, reinvigorating the enthusiasm for haute couture with its youthful spirit, nipped waists, and full skirts.
The house of Dior achieved major success throughout the 1950s and 1960s, expanding into furs, watches, ready-to-wear, fragrance, and many other categories. However, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dior’s holding companies filed for bankruptcy, ushering in a management change. Enter Bernard Arnault purchased the brand for a single symbolic franc in 1984. Arnault’s developments and leadership led to the steady opening of Dior boutiques worldwide, re-positioning Dior as one of the most influential luxury brands in the world. In current times, Dior has reestablished itself as a purveyor on the pulse of modernity, teaming up with Stone Island to design a collection of sneakers, accessories, and ready-to-wear, such as the Dior x Stone Island B30 Sneaker. Stone Island is an Italian brand that is hyper-focused on fibers, fabrics, and innovative design while also maintaining a presence in the art and music worlds.
Dior continues to lend its excellence and distinct aesthetic to other worthwhile partners. Dior collaborated with American footwear monolith Nike to create a series of Jordan 1 sneakers, which dutifully express the spirit of both brands. While Dior represents the history and caché of French modernity, many of the most storied fashion houses have embraced the high-low aesthetic that has become dominant in the 2000s. Couture lovers can find a wealth of brand collaborations that meld the talents of high fashion with the functionality of streetwear, such as Louis Vuitton.
