Friday Fur - Christian Dior, 1953

From Fall/Winter 1953, Christian Dior designed this mink fur jacket from Emba's Lutetia gunmetal gray mink.  Look how Dior wraps the pelts around the sleeves instead of lengthwise from shoulder to cuff.  I love the lines of this little swing jacket.  How about you?

Who Says?

Who says you can't wear black with brown?  I do it all the time.  The fact is, these two colors look great together.  And Christian Dior agrees.  This suit from 1954 is by Christian Dior-New York. 

The ad was put out by DuPont to advertise their trademarked Dacron polyester fiber.  I've shown you ads before of clothing made from DuPont fabrics by Paris couturiers.  The Dior suit shown above was made from wool blended with Dacron to add a wrinkle free quality to the fabric.  OK, enough about the suit.  I want the car!

Inspiration from Christian Dior - 1960

Today's spectacular garment is a strapless ball gown by Christian Dior for Spring, 1960.  This gown was designed by Yves St. Laurent as part of the collection which would ultimately be his last for Dior.  Pink was a hugely popular color in 1960 and this gown is made of a melon pink silk organdy.  The organdy also fashions ruffles that explode at the bodice and hem.

How does this gown inspire you?

1960 Couture Evening Gowns and Party Dresses

Time to tell us, which is your favorite of these couture looks from 1960?

Christian Dior

Carven

Maggy Rouf

Jacques Griffe

Mme. Gres

Jacques Heim

Paris Cocktail Dresses, 1965

The hair! The jewelry! The make-up! But most importantly, the dresses! Today, cocktail dresses out of Paris, spring 1965.

Castillo black sheer cigaline over strapless satin lining.

Pierre Cardin pleated black crepe one shoulder dress with rhinestone bow.

Castillo black lace fitted dress with a ruffled lace overdress.

Simonetta black organza trapeze dress decorated with pleated ruffles
flares over a fitted underdress.

Dior white beaded flowers on silk organza with a matching mink trimmed jacket.

The Little Brown Dress

Christian Dior New York ribbed silk dress with a large bow draped across the bodice.

It is said that every woman should have a little black dress in her wardrobe. But if you subscribe to the "seasonal" skin tone theory, the only people who can truly wear black near their face well are those described as "winter". The rest of us should choose something less harsh like gray, navy, or brown. Granted, I wear black a lot, but rarely on top because I am a "spring". Black near my face tends to accentuate the rings under my eyes and makes me look tired. I do like to wear brown, though. It just works for me. What about you? Do you wear brown as a neutral in your wardrobe?

In the spring of 1949, brown was a popular color of choice for many fashion designers (especially M. Dior), as evidenced in these photos.

Omar Kaim for Ben Reig silk organza and satin evening gown with a large bow at the side.

Christian Dior Couture brown wool suit.

Jo Copeland brown tulle over taffeta dress with low decollete.

Christian Dior Couture silk dress with fly-away skirt panel at the back.

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior, 1971

Another incredible coat, this one by Christian Dior, Fall/Winter 1971. Stripes of black, red, and purple leather are accented with black fox fur. The make-up was done by Serge Lutens. Remember him?

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior, 1949

Staying warm in a Christian Dior red wool coat with black fox fur at the sleeves, 1949.

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior, 1997

John Galliano for Christian Dior Haute Couture, Autumn 1997 two piece suit of gray wool tweed. The jacket peplum is padded and references the jackets of Dior's New Look of 1947. Worn with a choker made of 35 rings of silver. From the collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute.