History
1946 On the 8th of October 1946, at the age of 41, Christian Dior, a dress designer at Lucien Lelong, meets Marcel Boussac, a leading French industrialist, and decides to create his own company. The Fashion House is inaugurated on the 16th of December 1946, in the town mansion at 30, Avenue Montaigne, Paris 8.
1947 The 12th of February 1947, the first Christian Dior collection for Spring-Summer 1947, is presented in the salons at 30 Avenue Montaigne. The two lines “Corolla” and “Eight”, including the new “Bar Suit” silhouette, take the fashion world by storm. Carmel Snow, Editor-in-Chief of “Harper’s Bazaar” exclaims: “It is such a New Look!” Launch of “Miss Dior” which revolutionises the world of fragrances.
1950 Christian Dior designs Marlene Dietrich’s dresses for the film“Stage Fright” by Alfred Hitchcock.
1951 Christian Dior writes his first book “Je Suis Couturier” published by Editions du Conquistador.
1953 Christian Dior designs his first line of customised shoe line in collaboration with Roger Vivier.
1954 Christian Dior opens his first Boutique in London, at 9 Conduit Street, and organises a fashion show at Blenheim Palace in honour of Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Marlborough.
1955 Opening of the Boutique on the corner of the Avenue Montaigne and the Rue François 1er.
Yves Saint-Laurent joins the Studio as Christian Dior’s Head Assistant.
1956 Creation of 14 dresses for Ava Gardner for the film “The Little Hut” by Mark Robson.
1957 “Time” magazine, dated the 4th of March 1957 devotes its cover to Christian Dior.
The 24th of October 1957 Monsieur Christian Dior dies of a heart attack. Yves Saint-Laurent is appointed Artistic Director of the Christian Dior Fashion House.
1960 Marc Bohan replaces him as Artistic Director.
1961 Elizabeth Taylor orders twelve dresses from Marc Bohan’s first Christian Dior Haute Couture Collection, for Spring-Summer 1961, featuring the “Slim Look” line.
1967 Presentation of the first Christian Dior collection of Women’s Ready-to-Wear.
Creation of the “Baby Dior” line designed by Marc Bohan and opening of the first Baby Dior Boutique at 28 Avenue Montaigne, inaugurated by H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco.
1969 Creation of the Christian Dior cosmetics line.
1970 Marc Bohan designs the first Christian Dior Monsieur line.
1975 Christian Dior launches its first watch “Black Moon”, stemming from the collaboration between the Couture House and its new licensed partner, Benedom.
1981 For the marriage of the Prince of Wales with Lady Diana Spencer, on the 29th of July 1981, Marc Bohan designs dresses for Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Alexandra of Yugoslavia and Mrs Pamela Hicks, Lord Mountbatten’s niece.
1985 Mr Bernard Arnault becomes Chairman and Managing Director of the Christian Dior Company.
1988 The Fashion and Fragrance activities - which had been split up in 1968 during the sale of the Christian Dior perfumes to Moët-Hennessy - are once again reunited within the same group, LVMH, which thus becomes the world leader in luxury goods.
1989 Gianfranco Ferré succeeds Marc Bohan as Design Director for the Haute Couture, Haute Fourrure, Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Ready-to-Wear Furs and Women’s Accessories collections.
1990 Opening of Christian Dior Boutiques in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
Launch of the “Bagheera” line of watches, inspired by the elegant round style of the “Black Moon”.
1995 Launch of the “La Parisienne” model - “Parisian chic” embodied in a watch.
1997 In October, John Galliano succeeds Gianfranco Ferré as Artistic Director of the Women’s collections.
The 15th of October 1997, the Avenue Montaigne Boutique, now redecorated using a new concept defined by Peter Marino, reopens its doors in the presence of Madame Jacques Chirac, Nicole Kidman and Demi Moore.
1998 In May 1998, Christian Dior opens a new Paris Boutique on the Rive Gauche - Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Victoire de Castellane is appointed Designer of the Dior Fine Jewelry line.
Opening of the first Dior Fine Jewelry Boutique in New-York.
1999 Opening of Dior’s first Fine Jewelry Boutique in Paris, at 28 Avenue Montaigne, on the 6th of May 1999.
Presentation of the new Saddle bag, designed by John Galliano for the Spring-Summer 2000 Women’s Ready-to-Wear Show on the 5th of October 1999.
The long-standing partner Benedom enters the LVMH Group, joining the Watches and Jewelry Division.
2000 Hedi Slimane is appointed Artistic Director of Dior Homme on the 17th of July 2000 replacing Patrick Lavoix.
Launch of the round and square “Malice” watches in steel and gold-plated versions, whose bracelets made of “CD” links celebrate the Christian Dior brand in style. A “wicked” watch, full of humour, the “Malice” has established itself as one of the brand’s best-sellers since 2000. It’s always the same... and yet never absolutely identical. Its secret: its easily interchangeable bracelet, which slides on its two pivoting horns at the top and bottom of the case. “Malice” spontaneously reveals the various facets of its personality, echoing the Dior Couture collections with a variety of bracelets available in leather, satin and other fabrics, changing with the seasons.
Launch of the “Riva” line which soon asserts its identity. Both sporty and ultra-chic, it has very Dior details, an elegant and timeless look. An ample rectangular case, available in medium or chrono versions, coupled with a leather or metal strap and refined dials: artistic perfection allied with technical excellence. With its performance, charm and refinement, the “Riva” wins all hearts.
2001 Re-opening of Dior Homme Boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne, with a new decorative concept defined by Hedi Slimane.
Dior installs its second Paris Fine Jewellery Boutique at 8 Place Vendôme.
The first watch created by John Galliano, the “Chris 47 Aluminum”, makes its alternative, bold design statement. “Chris 47 Aluminum” marks the start of a new era for Dior watches, which is henceforth stamped with Galliano’s innovative style, in original and very creative collections.
Dior Watches turned precious stones into flashes of fantasy by decorating its two key models - “Malice” and “Riva” - with three-grain diamond setting into their cases in an original way. This is the birth of the famous“Sparkling” range which establishes “Riva” and “Malice” as firm best-sellers of the brand. Since 2001, the “Malice Sparkling” and “Riva Sparkling” models have continued to impress and captivate, with the different styles they adopt to match the seasons and the Dior Couture collections: the various “Admit It”, “Girly”, “D’Trick”, “New Look”, “Dior Logo Flowers” and “My Dior” themes have managed to crown these two lines as queens of fashion.
2002 Opening of the first Dior Homme Boutique in Milan on the 20th of February 2002, decorated using the new concept defined by Hedi Slimane.
On the 3rd of June 2002 Hedi Slimane is named “International Designer of the Year” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, at the Fashion Awards 2002 in New York.
Launch of the “Dior 66” watch, whose exclusive design breaks the traditional codes of feminine elegance and is inspired by the Spring-Summer 2002 Ready-to-Wear Collection.
Dior 66 borrows the gleaming chrome look of powerful motorcycles, with its steel link bracelet constructed like a motorbike chain. While remaining in harmony with the Dior style, the Dior 66 strikes a different note in the world of luxury goods and fashion.
With its interchangeable bracelet, the Dior 66 can abandon its all-steel look, depending on the mood of the moment, to don leather or satin bands echoing the fashion collections.
2003 Opening on 7th of December 2003 of the Dior building (1000 m2) on Omotesando in Tokyo, in the presence of Mr and Mrs Bernard Arnault, Mr Sidney Toledano and Chloë Sevigny.
Launch of the “Chris 47 Steel”, acknowledging the strengths of the “Chris 47 Aluminium” and adding to them with its refinement, nobility and sophistication. “Chris 47 Steel” is impressive, with its case now in steel or gold plate, its dials with different colored reflections and its interchangeable bracelets making it possible to adapt to the various Dior Couture collections with the passing seasons.
Birth of the “La D de Dior”, the first watch designed by Victoire de Castellane for Dior, signalling the entry of Dior watches into the world of Fine Jewellery. Inspired by the idea of a man’s watch worn by a woman, the “La D de Dior” plunges, with its unusual design, into the romantic and eccentric world of the designer: oversized (38 and 33 millimetres) round shape, impressive volume, dials in gemstones, bracelets in gold, steel or crocodile skin, jewelled bezel and indexes.
Here jewellery is synonymous with discreet subtlety.
2004 Opening of the Dior Homme Boutique, Rue Royale in Paris, presenting the entire Dior Homme collection.
Launch of the “Chiffre Rouge” watch designed by Hedi Slimane. Faithfully translating the Dior Homme codes, “Chiffre Rouge” has a smooth, asymmetrical and timeless style, for an “everyday” watch enhanced with luxurious details.
“Chiffre Rouge” adopts both Dior Homme’s formal vocabulary and standards of excellence - the happy result of a perfect watchmaking collaboration with the “Zenith” factory. Watch design and technology match each other inseparably, to create the perfect expression of Dior Homme’s artistic excellence and to increase the watchmaking legitimacy of Dior timepieces.
Creation of the “La Baby D de Dior” the latest watch to spring from Victoire de Castellane’s unbridled imagination. The new proportions of the “La Baby D de Dior” (23 millimetres) make it even more feminine and precious - a real little gem. In exclusivity, the dial of the “La Baby D de Dior” is also faced with mother-of-pearl for a stronger “jewellery” look.
2005 Thirtieth anniversary of the creation of Dior Watches. In April, ultimate recognition of the “Chiffre Rouge” line at the World Watches and Jewelry Show in Basel, Switzerland.
The Dior Watches booth is decked with Chiffre Rouge and displays real watchmaking legitimacy at this key event for professionals.
... In May, Dior celebrates the 100th anniversary of Christian Dior’s birthday in the exhibition « Christian Dior Man of the Century » at the Dior Museum of Granville, Normandy.
In September, launch of the “Dior Christal” watch designed by John Galliano. A creative and innovative collection where steel meets sapphire crystal as a decorative element for the first time in the watchmaking universe.
Dior Christal watches and chronographs are available with two bracelet variations and declined in three different colours: soft pink, ice white and mirror silver grey.
2006 The Dior Watches booth, at the annual International Watch & Jewelry Show in Basel Switzerland, is dedicated to the unique Dior Canework, the emblematic pattern created by Mr Dior recalling the back of the Napoleon III chairs of his fashion shows.
For the occasion, the “Dior Christal collection” twinkles this time with black magic on 5 new exclusive timepieces: two exceptionnal fine jewellery designs and three finewatches all in black sapphire christal.
