Couture — the highly-specialized form of dressmaking, governed by France’s Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, in which garments are executed to order for extremely wealthy customers — is a slowly dying art form. A new book looks back at the glory days. “Dior Couture,” which features stunning photographs by Patrick Demarchelier, pays tribute to Christian Dior, one of the most legendary couturiers of time.
Dior revolutionized the world of haute couture with his 1947 collection, dubbed the “New Look” for its then-groundbreaking hour-glass silhouettes. Although he would die 10 years later at age 52, Dior had cemented his name, inspiring Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano.
“The delicate stitches of Christian Dior’s couture are reminiscent of a spider’s web, mirroring nature, and these photographs capture the silhouettes like flower buds about to bloom,” Jeff Koons writes in the book’s foreword.
Demarchelier — a veteran fashion photographer who has shot editorials for the likes of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, along with campaigns for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel — captured gowns from the entire span of Christian Dior haute couture, from Dior himself to Galliano. Beautiful locations — like a Beijing movie studio, New York’s Times Square, and Paris’s Opéra Garnier — serve as the backdrop for the billowing pieces, worn by models including Gemma Ward, Karlie Kloss, and Natalia Vodianova. Ingrid Sischy, international editor for Vanity Fair’s European editions and former Interview magazine editor, provides the text.
Click through the photo gallery to a preview of images from “Dior Couture,” published by Rizzoli.