1. Christian Dior was born in Granville, a seaside town on the coast of Normandy, France.
27 Facts About Christian Dior
1. 2.
Christian Dior was the second of five children born to Maurice Dior, a wealthy fertilizer manufacturer, and his wife, formerly Madeleine Martin.
3.
Christian Dior had four siblings: Raymond, Jacqueline, Bernard, and Catherine Dior.
4.
When Christian Dior was about five years old, the family moved to Paris.
5.
Christian Dior's family had hoped he would become a diplomat, but Christian Dior was interested in art.
6.
Alongside managing his art gallery, Christian Dior cultivated friendships with influential artists, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, and Alberto Giacometti.
7.
Christian Dior had no choice but to find another source of income to support himself.
8.
In search of work, Christian Dior again created and sold fashion sketches.
9.
From 1937, Christian Dior was employed by fashion designer Piguet, who gave him the opportunity to design for three collections.
10.
Christian Dior left Piguet when he was called up for military service.
11.
In 1942, when Christian Dior left the army, he joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong, where he and Balmain were the primary designers.
12.
In 1947, Christian Dior named his debut fragrance Miss Christian Dior in tribute to her.
13.
Christian Dior often consulted his astrologer before making decisions, and his collections frequently featured talismanic symbols.
14.
Christian Dior carried a cluster of lucky charms with him, believing they brought him good fortune.
15.
At a pivotal moment when industrialist Marcel Boussac offered six million francs to establish Maison Christian Dior, Dior accepted only after receiving approval from two separate clairvoyants.
16.
Christian Dior refused, wishing to make a fresh start under his own name rather than reviving an old brand.
17.
In 1946, with Boussac's backing, Christian Dior founded his fashion house, ensuring exclusive control over the company and securing a third of all profits in addition to his salary.
18.
Christian Dior's designs were more voluptuous than the boxy, fabric-conserving shapes of the recent World War II styles that had been influenced by the wartime rationing of fabric.
19.
Christian Dior's collection was an inspiration to many women post-war and helped them regain their love for fashion.
20.
Christian Dior believed that fashion was more than clothing; it was an art form and a continuation of French cultural heritage.
21.
Christian Dior described maintaining the tradition of fashion as 'an act of faith,' a way to preserve the mystery and beauty that fashion brought to society.
22.
Christian Dior told Saint Laurent's mother in 1957 that he had chosen Saint Laurent to succeed him at Christian Dior.
23.
Christian Dior indicated later that she was confused by the remark, as Dior was only 52 at the time.
24.
Christian Dior died of a sudden heart attack while on vacation in Montecatini, Italy, on 24 October 1957 in the late afternoon while playing a game of cards.
25.
Christian Dior was survived by Jacques Benita, a North African singer three decades his junior, the last of a number of discreet male lovers.
26.
Christian Dior was nominated for the 1955 Academy Award for Best Costume Design in black and white for the Terminal Station directed by Vittorio De Sica.
27.
Christian Dior was nominated in 1967 for a BAFTA for Best British Costume for the Arabesque directed by Stanley Donen.