The Allure of Dior
For most fashion lovers, all you have to say is the word Dior, and we are listening. Dior has been in the headlines of many collector FB pages and blogs recently because of a brand new exhibition in China right now. It is called Le Petit Théâtre Dior.
The exhibit is patterned off of the Théâtre de la mode exhibition that opened in Paris in March of 1945. Théâtre de la mode brought together European design houses to exhibit couture designs on small wire mannequins. It was done to reinvigorate a flagging fashion industry after World War II. The current beautifully constructed Dior exhibit also uses smaller mannequins to display some of Dior’s most famous fashions past and present. The fact that these are shown in small scale is enough to get me excited about this traveling exhibit ( oh please, please, please bring this one to the States!). The real bonus is…and here I concur with my friend Rogier who writes the very informative Dutch Barbie World blog…the exquisite sets they have designed for these small recreations. To a diorama enthusiast, these are pure heaven. Yes I would be one of those annoying people at this exhibit who simply would NOT move so you could see what was inside the case. I would need the entire day to commit to memory every detail in every display. Seriously….I am not kidding.
One of the cornerstones in this new exhibition appears to be the “Miss Dior” gown. The original “Miss Dior” gown was designed by Christian Dior in 1949
source: www.dior.com
Raf Simons, the current designer for the house of Dior, resurrected this design in his Fall 2012 couture collection and added a more modern spin.
source: www.style.com
It was used in the ad campaigns for the Miss Dior perfume.
source: www.dior.com
Mr. Simons even designed a black version of the gown
source: http://thestatementbox.com/2013/11/19/miss-dior-exhibition-at-the-grand-palais/
With this new exhibit, Dior has created a small scale version of the iconic gown from 1949 and gave us an absolutely mesmerizing video to show the making of.
source: www.dior.com
source: www.dior.com
Many, many collectors are just blown away by this gown and are lusting after it for their diminutive diva’s. Wouldn’t you just love to have this in your collection? Well…maybe you can….or at least something very close to it. The talented Hilda of Bellissima Couture will be holding a silent auction for a 1/6 scale replica of the “Miss Dior” gown. Information about the auction should be on her blog today, June 12th.
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 
I love Dior and these fashions are breathtaking! I’m looking forward to Hilda’s auction, but fear I will lose early!!
June 13, 2014 at 6:21 am
you wrote “I would need the entire day to commit to memory every detail in every display.” I had the chance to see the ” petit theatre de la mode” (at least part of it) when it was in exhibition in Seattle MOHAI (museum of history and industry) I was absolutely under the charm of those little creations. I am fortunate to have by my side a very patient hubby, I came back 3 times inside to see and “visit” again there is so much to see.
June 13, 2014 at 6:58 am
Love that you highlighted this Dior exhibition !! Wish I could get to China and see it 😉
Can’t wait to see the new film “Dior &I” that just premiered at the TriBeCa Film Festival, about Raf Simmons first Collection for the House of Dior.
Historically, the Theatre de la Mode was so amazing to show the French Collections in miniature on wire dress forms, because war-torn Paris during WWII could not afford to put on a presentation with all of the costs that this would involve, so the miniatures were easier to finance, create, and ship around the world, so that couture customers could still order a dress or suit from their favorite Couturier 😉 Vey inspiration story Raberry65 !! I remember seeing David Seidner photographs of the miniatures at an ICP exhibit a few years back in NYC. so haunting and beautiful ….
June 13, 2014 at 11:04 am