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Christian Dior S.A.

Type	Société Anonyme
Traded as	Euronext: CDI
Industry	Apparels, accessories
Founded	16 December 1946
Founder(s)	Christian Dior
Headquarters	Paris, France
Number of locations	210 (as of September 2010)
Area served	Worldwide high-end shopping districts
Key people	Bernard Arnault (Chairman), Sidney Toledano (CEO), Raf Simons (creative director), Kris Van Assche (creative director for Dior Homme), Victoire de Castellane (designer, Dior Fine Jewelry)
Products	High fashion retail
Revenue	€21.12 billion (2010)[1]
Operating income	€4.172 billion (2010)[1]
Profit	€1.261 billion (2010)[1]
Total assets	€41.20 billion (end 2010)[1]
Total equity	€19.57 billion (end 2010)[1]
Employees	76,000 (FTE, average 2010)[1]
Divisions	Christian Dior Parfums (Est. 1947) Christian Dior Cosmetics (Est. 1969) Dior Homme (Est.1970)
Subsidiaries	Christian Dior Couture (Est. 1995),[2] Financière Jean Goujon (42.36% controlling stake in LVMH)
Website	dior.com

Christian Dior S.A. (French pronunciation: [kʁistjɑ̃ djɔːʁ]) (more commonly known as Dior) is a French company which owns the high-fashion apparels and accessories producer and retailer Christian Dior Couture, as well as holding 42% of LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods firm.^[3][4] Both Dior and LVMH are controlled and chaired by businessman Bernard Arnault. The Dior label is the namesake of designer Christian Dior who launched the haute couture empire in 1946. Christian Dior Couture, a division of the whole House of Dior, designs and produces some of the world's most coveted haute couture, as well as luxury ready-to-wear fashion, menswear and accessories. Today, Dior operates about 160 boutiques worldwide with plans to open more in the coming years.

Competitors to the House of Dior include, among many, the fashion houses of Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Versace, MaxMara and Prada.^[5]

History[link]

Founding[link]

The House of Dior was established on 16 December 1946, in "a private house"^[2] at 30 Avenue Montaigne Paris B. However, the current Dior corporation celebrates "1947" as the opening year.^[2] Dior was financially backed by wealthy businessman Marcel Boussac.^[2][5] The new couture house became a part of "a vertically integrated textile business" already operated by Boussac.^[5] Its capital was at FFr 6 million and workforce at 80 employees.^[5] The company was really a vanity project for Boussac and was a "majorly owned affiliate of Boussac Saint-Freres S.A. Nevertheless, Monsieur Dior was allowed a then-unusual great part in his namesake label (legal leadership, a non-controlling stake in the firm, and one-third of pretax profits) despite Boussac's reputation as a "control freak". Monsieur Dior's creativity also negotiated him a pleasant salary.^[5]

The "New Look"[link]

On 12 February 1947, Dior launched his first fashion collection for Spring-Summer 1947. The show of "90 models of his first collection on six mannequins." was presented in the salons of the company's headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne.^[2] Originally, the two lines were named as "cts and doge" and "Huit" (which included the new "Bar suit" silhouette).^[2] However, the new collection went down in fashion history as the "New Look" after the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar Carmel Snow's exclamation, "It's such a New Look!"^[2][5] The signature shape was characterized by a below-mid-calf length, full-skirt, large bust (which had fallen from style in 1912), and small waist. In refutation to the post-war fabric restriction, Dior used twenty yards of extravagant fabrics in his creations.^[5] Over time however, the New Look became revolutionary and strongly popular, influencing fashion and other designers for many years to come. Prominent Hollywood figures and the European upper-class became instant clients. Paris, which had fallen from its position as the capital of the fashion world after WWII, regained its esteemed position due in part to the attention it gained from Dior's New Look. The New Look was welcomed in western Europe as a refreshing antidote to the austerity of wartime, and embraced by stylish women such as Princess Margaret in the UK.^[6]

Dior Parfums[link]

Available references contradict themselves on the topic of when Christian Dior Parfums was established. All claims fall within the years of 1947 and 1948. The Dior corporation itself lists the founding of Christian Dior Parfums as 1947, with the launch of its first perfume, Miss Dior.^[2] Dior revolutionized the perfumery industry with the launch of the highly popular Miss Dior parfum, which was named after Catherine Dior (Christian Dior's sister).^[2] Christian Dior Ltd owned 25%, manager of Coty perfumes held 35%, and Boussac owned 40% of the perfume business, headed by Serge Heftler Louiche.^[2] Pierre Cardin was made head of Dior workshop from 1947 until 1950. In 1948, a New York City Christian Dior Parfums branch was established—this could be the cause of establishment-date issue.^[2] The modern Dior corporation also notes that "a luxury ready-to-wear house is established in New York at the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street, the first of its kind," in 1948.^[2] In 1949, the "Diorama" perfume is released and^[2] by 1949, the New Look line alone made a profit FFr 12.7 million.^[5]

Expansion and death of Dior[link]

Expansion from France began by the end of 1949 with the opening of a Christian Dior boutique in New York City. By the end of the year, Dior fashions made up 75% of Paris's fashion exports and 5% of France's total export revenue.^[5]

In 1950, Jacques Rouët, the general manager of Dior Ltd, devised a licensing program to place the now-renowned name of "Christian Dior" visibly on a variety of luxury goods.^[5] It was placed first on neckties^[2] and soon was placed on hosiery, furs, hats, gloves, handbags, jewelry, lingerie, and scarves.^[5] Members of the French Chamber of Couture denounced it as a degrading action for the haute-couture image. Nevertheless, licensing became a profitable move and began a trend to continue "for decades to come",^[5] which all couture houses followed.^[2]

Also in 1950, Christian Dior was the exclusive designer of Marlene Dietrich's dresses in the Alfred Hitchcock film Stage Fright. In 1951, Dior released his first book, Je Suis Couturier (I am a Couturier) through publishers Editions du Conquistador. Despite the company's strong European following, more than half of its revenue was generated in the United States by this time.^[5] Christian Dior Models Limited was created in London in 1952.^[2] An agreement was made between the Sydney label House of Youth for Christian Dior New York models.^[2] Los Gobelinos in Santiago, Chile, made an agreement with Dior for Christian Dior Paris Haute Couture.^[2] The first Dior shoe line was launched in 1953 with the aid of Roger Vivier. The company operated firmly established locations in Mexico, Cuba, Canada, and Italy by the end of 1953.^[5] As popularity of Dior goods grew, so did counterfeiting.^[5] This illegal business was supported by women who could not afford the luxury goods.

By the mid-1950s, the House of Dior operated a well-respected fashion empire^[5] The first Dior boutique was established in 1954 at 9 Counduit Street. In honour of Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Marlborough, a Dior fashion show was held at the Blemhein Palace in 1954 as well. Christian Dior launched more highly successful fashion lines between the years of 1954 and 1957.^[5] However, none came as close to the profound effect of the New Look.^[5] Dior opened the Grande Boutique on the corner between Avenue Montaigne and Rue François Ier in 1955.^[2] The first Dior lipstick was also released in 1955.^[2] 100,000 garments had been sold by the time of the company's 10th anniversary in 1956.^[5] Actress Ava Gardner had 14 dresses created for her in 1956 by Christian Dior for the Mark Robson film The Little Hut.

Christian Dior appeared on the cover of TIME dated 4 March 1957. The designer soon afterwards died from a third heart attack in 1957.^[2][5] The captivating impact of Dior's creative fashion genius earned him recognition as one of history's greatest fashion figures.^[5] Kevin Almond for Contemporary Fashion wrote that "by the time Dior died his name had become synonymous with taste and luxury."^[5]

Dior without Christian Dior: 1957 through the 1970s[link]

The death of the head designer left the House of Dior in chaos and General Manager Jacques Rouët considered shutting down operation worldwide. This possibility was not received graciously by Dior licensees and the French fashion industry; the Maison Dior was too important to the financial stability of the industry to allow such an action. To bring the label back on its feet, Rouët promoted the 21-year-old Yves Saint-Laurent to Artistic Director the same year.^[5] Laurent had joined the House's family in 1955 after being picked out by the original designer himself for the position of the first ever and only Head Assistant.^[2][5] Laurent initially proved to have been the most appropriate choice after the debut of his first collection for Dior (The mention of Dior from this moment on refers to the company) in 1958.^[5] The clothes were as meticulously made and perfectly proportioned as Dior’s in the same exquisite fabrics, but their young designer made them softer, lighter and easier to wear. Saint Laurent was hailed as a national hero. Emboldened by his success, his designs became more daring, culminating in the 1960 Beat Look inspired by the existentialists in the Saint-Germain des Près cafés and jazz clubs. His 1960 bohemian look was harshly criticized, and even more in Women's Wear Daily.^[5] Marcel Boussac was furious, and, in the spring, when Saint Laurent was called up to join the French army—which forced him to leave the House of Dior—the Dior management raised no objection. Saint-Laurent left after the completion of six Dior collections.^[2]

Laurent was replaced at Dior by designer Marc Bohan in late 1960. Bohan instilled his conservative style on the collections. He was credited by Rebecca Arnold as the man who kept the Dior label "at the forefront of fashion while still producing wearable, elegant clothes," and Women's Wear Daily, not surprisingly, claimed that he "rescued the firm."^[5] Bohan's designs were very well esteemed by prominent social figures. Actress Elizabeth Taylor ordered twelve Dior dresses from Bohan's Spring-Summer 1961 collection featuring the "Slim Look". The Dior perfume "Diorling" was released in 1963 and the men's fragrance "Eau Sauvage" was released in 1966.^[2] Bohan's assistant Philippe Guibourgé launches the first French ready-to-wear collection "Miss Dior" in 1967. This is not to be confused with the already existing New York Ready-to-Wear store established in 1948. Designed by Bohan, "Baby Dior" opens its first boutique in 1967 at 28 Avenue Montaigne. The Christian Dior Coordinated Knit line is released in 1968 and management of the Fashion Furs Department of Christian Dior is taken by Frédéric Castet.^[2] This year as well, Dior Parfums was sold to Moët-Hennessy (which would itself become LVMH) due to Boussac's ailing textile company (the still-owner of Dior).^[2][5] This however had no effect on the House of Dior operations, and so the Christian Dior Cosmetics business was born in 1969 with the creation of an exclusive line.

Following this, Bohan launched the first Christian Dior Homme clothing line in 1970. A new Dior boutique at Parly II was decorated by Gae Aulenti and the "Diorella" perfume was released in 1972. Christian Dior Ready-to-Wear Fur Collection was created in France in 1973, and then manufactured under license in the United States, Canada, and Japan.^[2] The first Dior watch "Black Moon" was released in 1975 in collaboration with licensee Benedom. Dior haute-couture graces the bodies of Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Alexandria of Yugoslavia, and Lady Pamela Hicks (Lord Mountbatten of Burma's younger daughter) for the wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1978, the Boussac Group filed for bankruptcy and so its assets (including those of Christian Dior) were purchased by the Willot Group under the permission of the Paris Trade Court.^[2] The perfume "Dioressence" was released in 1979.^[2]

Under the business leadership of Arnault[link]

A simple Dior Haute Couture evening gown designed by Marc Bohan, from the Spring 1983 collection

In 1980, Dior released the men's fragrance "Jules".^[2] After the Willot Group went into bankruptcy in 1981, Bernard Arnault and his investment group purchased it for "one symbolic franc" in December 1984.^[2][5] The Dior perfume "Poison" was launched in 1985. That same year, Arnault became Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director of the company.^[2] On assuming leadership, Arnault did away with the company's mediocre textile operations, to focus on the Bon Marché department store and Christian Dior Couture. Operations for Christian Dior drastically changed for the better under Arnault. He repositioned it as the holding company Christian Dior S.A. of the Dior Couture fashion business.^[5] On the 40th anniversary of Dior's first collection, the Paris Fashion Museum dedicated an exhibition to Christian Dior.^[2] In 1988, Arnault's Christian Dior S.A.'s took a 32% equity stake into the share capital of Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton through its subsidiary Jacques Rober, creating what would become one of the leading and most influential luxury goods companies in the world. Under this milestone merger, the operations of Christian Dior Couture and Christian Dior Parfums were once again united. Italian-born Gianfranco Ferré replaced Bohan as head designer in 1989.^[5] The first such non-Frenchman, Ferré left behind traditional Dior associations of flirtation and romance, and introduced concepts and a style described as "refined, sober and strict."^[5] Ferré headed design for Haute Couture, Haute Fourrure, Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Ready-to-Wear Furs and Women’s Accessories collections. His first collection was awarded the Dé d’Or in 1989.^[2] That year, a boutique was opened in Hawaii and the LVMH stake by Jacques Rober rose to 44%.^[2]

Further Dior boutiques were opened in 1990 in upscale New York City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo shopping districts. The stake in LVMH rose again, to 46%.^[2] Another collection of watches named "Bagheera" – inspired by the round design of the "Black Moon" watches – was also released in 1990. Having fired the company's managing executive Beatrice Bongbault in December 1990, Arnault took up that position until September 1991, when he placed former Bon Marché president Phillipe Vindry at the post.^[5] In 1991, Christian Dior was listed on the spot market and then on the Paris Stock Exchange's monthly settlement market, and the perfume "Dune" was launched.^[2] Vindry dropped ready-to-wear prices by 10%. Still, a wool suit from Dior would come with a price label of USD 1,500.^[5] 1990 revenue for Dior was USD 129.3 million, with a net income of $22 million.^[5] Dior was now reorganized into three categories: 1) women's ready-to-wear, lingerie, and children's wear 2) accessories and jewelry 3) menswear. Licensees and franchised boutiques were starting to be reduced, to increase the company's control over brand product. Licensing was in fact reduced by nearly half because Arnault and Vindry opted "for quality and exclusivity over quantity and accessibility."^[5] Wholly company-owned boutiques now opened in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Cannes, and Waikiki, adding to its core stores located in New York City, Hawaii, Paris and Geneva. This held a potential to increase direct sales and profit margins while maintaining high-profile locations."^[5] In 1992, Dior Homme was placed under the artistic direction of Patrick Lavoix, and the "Miss Dior" perfume was relaunched.^[2] Francois Baufume succeeded Vindry in 1993 and continued to reduce licenses of the Dior name.^[5]

The production of Dior Haute Couture was spun off into a subsidiary named Christian Dior Couture in 1995.^[2] Also, the "La Parisienne" watch model was released – embodied in the watch "Parisian Chic". By that year, revenue for the label rose to USD 177 million, with a net income of USD 26.9 million.^[5] Under the influence of Anna Wintour, editor and chief of Vogue,CEO Arnault appointed British designer John Galliano to replace Gianfranco Ferré in 1997 (Galliano on CBS News: "without Anna Wintour I would certainly not be at the house of Dior").^[2][7] This choice of a British designer, once again instead of a French one, is said to have "ruffled some French feathers". Arnault himself stated that he "would have preferred a Frenchman", but that "talent has no nationality".^[5] He even compared Galliano to Christian Dior himself, noting that "Galliano has a creative talent very close to that of Christian Dior. He has the same extraordinary mixture of romanticism, feminism, and modernity that symbolised Monsieur Dior. In all of his creations – his suits, his dresses – one finds similarities to the Dior style."^[5] Galliano sparked further interest in Dior with somewhat controversial fashion shows, such as "Homeless Show" (models dressed in newspapers and paper bags) or "S&M Show".^[5] Meanwhile Dior licenses were being reduced further by new president and CEO Sidney Toledano.^[5] On 15 October 1997, the Dior headquarters store on Avenue Montaigne was reopened –it had been closed and remodeled by Peter Marino – in a celebrity-studded event including Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore and Jacques Chirac. That year, Christian Dior Couture also took over all thirteen boutique franchises from Japan's Kanebo.^[2]

Dior Omotesando, 2007

In May 1998, another Dior boutique was opened in Paris. This time the store opened its doors on the Left Bank, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Also this year, Victoire de Castellane became lead designer of Dior Fine Jewellery and the first Dior Fine Jewellery boutique opened in New York City. Paris itself would witness the opening of the first Parisian Dior Fine Jewellery boutique the following year, at 28 Avenue Montaigne.^[2] The perfume "J'adore" was released in 1999,^[2] and on 5 October 1999, Galliano released the Dior Spring-Summer 2000 ready-to-wear fashion show, debuting the new Saddle bag. In the same year, Dior's long watch partner Benedom joined the LVMH group. In 2000, Galliano's leadership was extended to Ready to wear, accessories, advertising and communications. The first campaign under his leadership was photographed by Nick Knight and featured two girls simulating intercourse.

While other brands in the late 1990s, notably Gucci,^[8] had resorted to porn chic as a mean to draw attention, Dior ads had such an impact that porn chic became a trend in most fashion ads. Galliano ignited the escalation of porno chic advertisements, which culminated with Ungaro's zoophilic ads,^[9] shot by Mario Sorrenti, and Gucci's ads, which featured a girl with pubic hair shaped like the gucci logo. As a matter of fact, it is considered that Galliano has revolutionized Dior more through his advertising campaigns then through his designs^[10][11]

On 17 July 2000, Dior Homme lead designer Patrick Lavoix was replaced by Hedi Slimane. Notable Dior releases that year were watches such as the distinctive "Malice", which features bracelets made of "CD" links, as well as the "Riva". Hedi left Dior Homme in 2007 and replaced by Kris Van Assche.

21st century[link]

Dior boutique in The Crystals (Las Vegas)

In 2001, the Dior Homme boutique on 30 Avenue Montaigne reopened with a new "contemporary masculine concept" instilled by its designer Mr. Hedi Slimane. Slimane used this concept in the creation of his first Dior Homme collection.^[2] Soon, Dior Homme gained prominent male clientele including Brad Pitt and Mick Jagger.^[5] On 3 June 2002, Dior Homme designer Hedi Slimane was presented with the "International Designer of the Year" award by the CFDA.

Dior opened the first Dior Homme boutique in Milan on 20 February 2002. By 2002, 130 locations were in full operation.^[5] A second flagship boutique from Christian Dior was opened in the upscale Ginza shopping district of Tokyo in 2004.^[2] An exclusive Dior Homme boutique was opened in 2004 in Paris on Rue Royale, presenting the entire Dior Homme collection. A second Dior Fine Jewelry boutique in Paris was opened at 8 Place Vendôme.^[2] Bernard Arnault, his wife, Chloë Sevigny, and Sidney Toledano witnessed the opening of the Dior flagship boutique in the Omotesando district of Tokyo on 7 December 2003. A Christian Dior boutique was opened in Moscow after the company took control of licensed operations of its Moscow agent.^[2]

The men's fragrance "Higher" was released in 2001, followed by the perfume "Addict" in 2002. The "Miss Dior Chérie" perfume and the "Dior Homme" fragrance were released in 2005.^[2]

Galliano began to release his own Dior watches in 2001, beginning with the "Chris 47 Aluminum" line, marking a new era in Dior watch design. Next, the "Malice" and "Riva" watches were redesigned with precious stones to create the "Malice Sparkling" and "Riva Sparkling" spin-off collections. Inspired by the Spring-Summer 2002 Ready-to-Wear collection, Dior released the "Dior 66" watch, breaking many feminine traditional expectations in design. The "Chris 47 Steel" watch was released in 2003 as a cousin of the original "Chris 47 Aluminum". The designer of Dior Fine Jewelry Victoire de Castellane launched her own watch named "Le D de Dior" (French: "The D of Dior"). signifying the entrance of Dior watches into its collection of fine Jewelry. This watch was designed for women but made use of many design features which are typically thought of as masculine. Slimane next released a watch for the Dior Homme collection called "Chiffre Rouge." This special watch included the signature look of Dior Homme: "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." Fine Jewelry designer de Castellane launched her second line of watches called "La Baby de Dior". The design for this line was meant to be more feminine with more of a "jewelry look." Christian Dior S.A. celebrated the 13th anniversary of Dior Watches in 2005, and, in April of that year, its "Chiffre Rouge" collection was recognized by the World Watches and Jewelry Show in Basel, Switzerland. In 2005, the fashion house also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birthday of designer Christian Dior.^[2] An exhibition, "Christian Dior: Man of the Century," was held in the Dior Museum in Granville, Normandy. Also in 2005, Galliano released his "Dior Christal" watches in which he combined steel and blue sapphires to create a "creative and innovative collection."

In 2006, the Dior watch booth was dedicated to the Dior Canework. This pattern was made by designer Christian Dior and based on the Napoleon III chairs used in his fashion shows. Dior Homme received a new Artistic Director in 2007, Kris Van Assche, who presented its first collection later that year.^[2] The 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Maison Dior was officially celebrated in 2007 as well.^[2] Currently, Dior is featured in countless high-fashion magazines, more prominently Vogue, and advertises its popular Christian Dior Cosmetics and Parfums via prominent fashionistas and models.

Criticism[link]

Christian Dior, together with others in the fashion industry and the culture of the industry as a whole, was criticized by fashion model Inga Radziejewski for promoting anorexia nervosa and unrealistic body image in women, by designing clothes so small that the anorexic model could not fit into them even when she was dangerously underweight.^[12]

Galliano's collection inspired by homeless people also drew a lot of criticism, but also attention, to the house of Dior.^[13]

Galliano controversy[link]

On 23 February 2011, scandal arose when John Galliano was accused of making anti-semitic comments after drinking in Paris. Footage was released of the designer under the influence of alcohol saying "I love Hitler" and "People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be fucking gassed and dead" to a Jewish woman.^[14] He was then accused of allegedly assaulting a gallery curator that same night and verbally insulting her and her boyfriend. Actress Natalie Portman, who was recently made the new face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume, commented on the matter to express her disgust, stating that she will in no way be associated with him. However, another model for Dior, French actress Eva Green, downplayed the seriousness of the incident, stating: "Sometimes, you can make mistakes. I don't think he's anti-semitic. I'm Jewish. I don't think he has anything against the Jews. I think it's more that he was probably a bit drunk."^[15] On 25 February, Dior announced Galliano's suspension pending an investigation, citing that the company has a "zero-tolerance" policy toward anti-semitism.^[16] In France, it is against the law to make anti-semitic remarks of this nature, and can be punishable by up to six months in prison.^[14]

On 1 March 2011, Christian Dior officially announced that it had fired Galliano amidst the controversy.^[17]

On 9 April 2012, Christian Dior announced that Raf Simons, previously the creative director for Jil Sander, would take the place as the Creative Director for Dior.

Ownership and shareholdings[link]

At the end of 2010, the only declared major shareholder in Christian Dior S.A. was Groupe Arnault SAS, the family holding company of Bernard Arnault. The group's control amounted to 69.96% of Dior's stock and 82.86% of its voting rights.^[1] The remaining shares are considered free float.^[1]

Christian Dior S.A. held 42.36% of the shares of LVMH and 59.01% of its voting rights at the end of 2010. Arnault held an additional 5.28% of shares and 4.65% of votes directly.^[3]

Locations[link]

The brand operates a total of 210 locations as of September 2010. Of these, 109 are in Asia, one in Africa (in Casablanca), one the Caribbean (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 45 in Europe, 8 in the Middle East, 48 in North America (Canada, Mexico, and USA), 6 in Oceania, and 2 in South America (including a store in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo).

References[link]

Further reading[link]

	Companies portal
	Fashion portal
	Paris portal

• Jackson, Lesley. The New Look – Design in the Fifties. London: Thames & Hudson, 1991. ISBN 0-500-27644-7

External links[link]

• Official website
• Christian Dior at Chicago History Museum Digital Collections
• Yahoo! – Christian Dior SA Company Profile
• Dior haute couture 60th anniversary runway show review
• "Interactive timeline of couture houses and couturier biographies". Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/explore.php. 

The Christian Dior Home and Museum in Granville (Manche), France.

Christian Dior (French pronunciation: [kʁistjɑ̃ djɔːʁ]) (21 January 1905 – 23 October 1957) was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.

Early life[link]

Christian Dior was born in Granville, a seaside town on the coast of Normandy, France, the second of the five children of Maurice Dior, a wealthy fertilizer manufacturer (the family firm was Dior Frères), and his wife, the former Isabelle Cardamone. He had four siblings: Raymond (father of Françoise Dior), Jacqueline, Bernard, and Ginette (aka Catherine).^[1] When Christian was about five years old, the family moved to Paris, France, but still returned to the Normandy coast for summer vacations.

Dior's family had hopes he would become a diplomat, but Dior was artistic and wished to be involved in fashion. To make money, he sold his fashion sketches outside his house for about 10 cents each. In 1928, Dior left school and received money from his father to finance a small art gallery, where he and a friend sold art by the likes of Pablo Picasso. Three years later, after the death of Dior's mother and brother and a financial disaster in the family’s fertilizer business, during the Great Depression, that resulted in his father losing control of Dior Frères, the gallery had to be closed. From then until about 1940 he worked with fashion designer Robert Piguet, when he was called up for military service.

In 1942, when Dior left the Army, Dior joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong, where he and Pierre Balmain were the primary designers. For the duration of World War II, Dior, as an employee of Lelong — who labored to preserve the French fashion industry during wartime for economic and artistic reasons — designed dresses for the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators, as did other fashion houses that remained in business during the war, including Jean Patou, Jeanne Lanvin, and Nina Ricci.^[2][3] While Dior dressed Nazi wives, his sister Catherine (1917—2008) served as a member of the French Resistance, was captured by the Gestapo, and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, where she was incarcerated until she was liberated in May 1945.^[4]

The Dior fashion house[link]

On 16 December 1946 Dior founded his fashion house, backed by Marcel Boussac, a cotton-fabric magnate. The actual name of the line of his first collection, presented in early 1947, was Corolle (literally the botanical term corolla or circlet of flower petals in English), but the phrase New Look was coined for it by Carmel Snow, the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar. Dior's designs were more voluptuous than the boxy, fabric-conserving shapes of the recent World War II styles, influenced by the rations on fabric.^[5] He was a master at creating shapes and silhouettes; Dior is quoted as saying "I have designed flower women." His look employed fabrics lined predominantly with percale, boned, bustier-style bodices, hip padding, wasp-waisted corsets and petticoats that made his dresses flare out from the waist, giving his models a very curvaceous form.

Initially, women protested because his designs covered up their legs, which they had been unused to because of the previous limitations on fabric. There was also some backlash to Dior's designs due to the amount of fabrics used in a single dress or suit. During one photo shoot in a Paris market, the models were attacked by female vendors over this profligacy, but opposition ceased as the wartime shortages ended. The "New Look" (a name given it by American fashion-magazine editor Carmel Snow) revolutionized women's dress and reestablished Paris as the center of the fashion world after World War II.

Death[link]

Dior died while on holiday in Montecatini, Italy on 23 October 1957. Some reports say that he died of a heart attack after choking on a fish bone.^[6] Time's obituary stated that he died of a heart attack after playing a game of cards.^[7] However, the Paris socialite and Dior acquaintance Alexis von Rosenberg, Baron de Rédé, stated in his memoirs that contemporary rumor had it that the fashion designer succumbed to a heart attack after a strenuous sexual encounter. Some even think that he died because of a seizure. To this day, the exact circumstances remain undisclosed.

Dior was a bachelor.

Tributes[link]

The Paul Gallico novella Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris (1958, UK title Flowers for Mrs Harris) tells the story of a London charwoman who falls in love with her employer's couture wardrobe and decides to go to Paris to purchase herself a Dior ballgown.

A perfume named Christian Dior is used in Haruki Murakami's novel The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle as an influential symbol placed at critical plot points throughout.

The English singer-songwriter Morrissey released a song titled "Christian Dior" as a b-side to his 2006 single "In the Future When All's Well".

American Rapper/Producer Kanye West released a song titled "Christian Dior Denim Flow" as a 2010 Fashion Week single.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Christian Dior official website
• Christian Dior designer profile at Fashion Model Directory
• A biography of Christian Dior
• Sewing patterns by Christian Dior
• "'Bar' Suit and Hat". Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/exhibHighBarSuit.php. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
• "Zémire evening ensemble". Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/exhibHighZemire.php. Retrieved 13 November 2007. 
• Photos of Dior and Samples of New Look Fashion
• "Interactive timeline of couture houses and couturier biographies". Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/explore.php. 
• [1] Documentary film Christian Dior, The Man Behind The Myth
• Christian Dior at Chicago History Museum Digital Collections

Marion Cotillard
Cotillard at the Paris premiere of Public Enemies, July 2009
Born	(1975-09-30) 30 September 1975 (age 36) Paris, France
Occupation	Actress, Singer
Years active	1993–present
Partner	Guillaume Canet (2007–present; 1 child)

Marion Cotillard (French pronunciation: [maʁjɔ̃ kɔtijaʁ]; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress and singer. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in films such as La Vie en Rose, My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument, Taxi, Furia and Jeux d'enfants. She has also appeared in such films as Big Fish, A Good Year, Public Enemies, Nine, Inception, Midnight in Paris, and Contagion.

In 2007, Cotillard starred as the French singer Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, for which she won the Academy Award, the BAFTA Award, the César Award and the Golden Globe Award for best actress. She made film history by becoming the first person to win an Academy Award for a French language performance. In 2010, she received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the musical Nine.

Family and early life[link]

Cotillard was born in Paris and grew up around Orléans, Loiret in an artistically inclined, "bustling, creative household". Her father, Jean-Claude Cotillard, is an actor, teacher, former mime, and 2006 Molière Award-winning director. Cotillard's mother, Monique (now known as Niseema) Theillaud, is also an actress and drama teacher.^[1] She has two younger twin brothers, Quentin and Guillaume. Guillaume is a screenwriter and director. She began acting during her childhood, appearing on stage in one of her father's plays.^[2]

Career[link]

Early work (1993–2002)[link]

Cotillard photographed by Studio Harcourt Paris in 1999.

After small appearances and performances in theater, Cotillard had occasional and minor roles in television series such as Highlander, but her career as a film actress began in the mid-1990s with small but noticeable roles in such films as Arnaud Desplechin's My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument. Cotillard appeared in the comedy La belle verte, directed by Coline Serreau. In 1998, she starred in Gérard Pirès' action comedy Taxi. In the film, she plays Lili Bertineau, who becomes Daniel's girlfriend. Cotillard reprised the role in two sequels. She then ventured into anticipation science fiction with Alexandre Aja's Furia (1999).

Cotillard appeared in Pierre Grimblat's film Lisa as Young Lisa, alongside Jeanne Moreau, Benoît Magimel and Sagamore Stévenin in the Swiss war drama In The Highlands. She starred in Gilles Paquet-Brenner's film Les jolies choses, adapted from the work of feminist writer Virginie Despentes. In the drama, Cotillard portrayed the characters of two twins of completely opposite characters, Lucie and Marie. She was nominated for a César Award for her performance. In Guillaume Nicloux's thriller Une affaire privée she portrayed Clarisse, friend of the disappeared.

Breakthrough (2003–2006)[link]

Cotillard starred with Guillaume Canet in the romantic comedy film Love Me If You Dare as Sophie Kowalsky, the daughter of Polish immigrants. The film was directed by Yann Samuel. Cotillard had a notable supporting role in Tim Burton's film Big Fish, where she appeared alongside Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Allison Lohman. In the film she plays Joséphine, the French wife of William Bloom. She appeared in two critically successful films, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement as Tina Lombardi, for which she won a César Award for Best Supporting Actress, and appeared in the mystery thriller Innocence as Mademoiselle Éva.

In 2005, Cotillard starred in Steve Suissa's romantic drama Cavalcade as Alizée. She also appeared in Abel Ferrara's religious drama Mary alongside Forest Whitaker and Juliette Binoche. Marion played Isabelle Kruger and Alice in the thriller film La Boîte noire, directed by Richard Berry. She appeared in the film Fair Play as Nicole. Cotillard starred in Ridley Scott's romantic comedy A Good Year, in which she portrayed Fanny Chenal, a French café owner in a small Provençal town, opposite Russell Crowe as a Londoner who inherits a local property. She appeared in the Belgian comedy Dikkenek, and learned to play the cello for her role as a soloist in the satirical coming-of-age film You and Me.^[1]

[edit] La Vie en Rose (2007–2008)

Cotillard in July 2009

Cotillard was chosen by director Olivier Dahan to portray the French singer Édith Piaf in the biopic La Vie en Rose before he had even met her, saying that he noticed a similarity between Piaf's and Cotillard's eyes.^[3] Producer Ilan Goldman accepted and defended the choice even though distributors TFM reduced the money they gave to finance the film thinking Cotillard wasn't "bankable" enough an actress.^[4] Her portrayal was widely praised, including by the eminent theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn, who described it as "one of the greatest performances on film ever."^[5] It was dubbed "the most awaited film of 2007" in France, where some critics said that she had reincarnated Édith Piaf to sing one last time on stage.^[6]

On 10 February 2008, Cotillard became the first French actress to be awarded the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role since Stéphane Audran in 1973.^[7] She is the first actress to win a Golden Globe for a foreign language performance since 1972, when Liv Ullmann won for The Emigrants. She is also the first person to win a (Comedy or Musical) Golden Globe for a foreign language performance.^{[citation needed]}

On 22 February 2008, she was awarded the César Award for Best Actress for her role in La Vie en Rose, becoming the first woman and second person (after Adrien Brody, The Pianist) to win both a Cesar and an Oscar for the same performance. Cotillard is the second French cinema actress to win this award and the third overall to receive an Academy Award. She is the first Best Actress winner in a non-English language performance since Sophia Loren's win in 1961.^{[citation needed]} She is also the first and so far only winner of an Academy Award for a performance in the French language. In her Oscar acceptance speech, Cotillard proclaimed "thank you life, thank you love" and, speaking of Los Angeles, said "it is true, there is some angels (sic) in this city!"^{[citation needed]} The day following the ceremony, Cotillard was congratulated and praised by the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy in a statement saying,

I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Marion Cotillard, who has just received the Oscar for Best Actress for her masterful interpretation of Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, directed by Olivier Dahan. Half a century after Simone Signoret, a French artist has received the Best Actress award at the Oscars. It was a good omen that Catherine Allegret, Simone Signoret's daughter, herself had a role in La Vie en Rose. Marion Cotillard embodies an Édith Piaf who is unsettling in her realism, emotion and passion. Her interpretation brings to life the story of a woman who gave French chanson its acclaim and authenticity; a singer, too, who closely united France and America.^{[citation needed]}

As La Vie En Rose was also a Czech production, as she mentioned in her César acceptance speech,^[8] on 1 March 2008, Cotillard won a Czech Lion Award for Best Actress. She could not attend the ceremony in Prague due to the filming of Public Enemies. Her friend Pavlína Němcová – who played the journalist in La vie en Rose – was there to accept the award on her behalf. On 24 June 2008, Cotillard was one of 105 individuals invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Widespread recognition (2009–present)[link]

Cotillard starred alongside Johnny Depp in Public Enemies, which was released in the United States on 1 July 2009. Later that year, Cotillard appeared in the film adaptation of the musical Nine,^[9] directed by Rob Marshall, and co-starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren and Kate Hudson. On 15 December 2009, Cotillard was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for her performance in the film. The film was released on 18 December 2009.

For her role in the musical Nine as Luisa Contini, Time magazine ranked her as the fifth best performance by a female in 2009.^[10] She was ranked just behind Mo'Nique, Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan and Meryl Streep. Cotillard was awarded the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival for the role.

On 15 March 2010 Cotillard was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Letters) by the French government for her "contribution to the enrichment of French culture".^[11]

She appeared as the main antagonist "Mal Cobb" in Christopher Nolan's film Inception, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which released on 16 July 2010.

She appears in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris (2011) alongside Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson, cast as Adriana, a fictionalized mistress of Pablo Picasso. She co-starred alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Matt Damon in Steven Soderbergh's thriller film Contagion.^[12]

On 19 April 2011, Cotillard was signed on to star in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight Rises playing Miranda Tate, a board member at Wayne Enterprises who is also an ally of Bruce Wayne. She will next star in Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone (De rouille et d'os) alongside Matthias Schoenaerts.^[13] The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Her next project is Blood Ties by Guillaume Canet, starring Clive Owen, among others.

Other projects[link]

Cotillard at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007

In addition to her film work, Cotillard is interested in environmental activism, and has participated in campaigns for environmental protection. Cotillard used her high public profile to bring attention to the aims of Greenpeace, working for the environmental organization as a spokesperson, allowing the organization to use her apartment to test products. In 2005, she also contributed to Dessins pour le climat ("Drawings for the Climate"), a book of drawings published by Greenpeace to raise funds for the group.

In 2009, Cotillard was chosen as the face for Dior's "Lady Dior" advertising campaign and was featured in an online mini-movie directed by John Cameron Mitchell about the fictional character created by John Galliano. This campaign has also resulted in a musical collaboration with Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, where Cotillard has provided the vocals for a composition performed by the group, entitled "The Eyes of Mars". Cotillard appeared on the cover of the November 2009 issue of Vogue with Nine co-stars Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Kate Hudson and Fergie, and on the July 2010 cover by herself.

In 2011, she publicly supported the chief Raoni in his fight against Belo Monte Dam.

Personal life[link]

Cotillard currently lives with French actor and director Guillaume Canet. Many reports say the couple prefer to live a simple lifestyle, and they are often spotted in cafes and shopping together in Paris. Neither star discusses their relationship with the media, although photos of the couple being affectionate regularly surface in the European tabloids.^[14] The birth of the couple's first child, called Marcel, was announced on 20 May 2011.^[15]

She is a fan of Radiohead and Canadian singer Hawksley Workman; she has appeared in two of the latter's music videos, including "No Reason to Cry Out Your Eyes (On the Highway Tonight)".^[16] Workman said in interviews about his album Between the Beautifuls that he worked and wrote songs with Cotillard while they both were in Los Angeles during the movie awards season.^[17] She is a supporter of the English football club Leeds United, a passion she developed after her compatriot Eric Cantona's spell at the club in the early 1990s.^[18]

In 2008, Cotillard generated controversy due to the re-publishing of a 2007 interview in which she publicly questioned the official explanation of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and implied the destruction of the World Trade Center towers was an intentional demolition.^[19]

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Cotillard won a César Award for Best Supporting Actress for A Very Long Engagement (2004). Cotillard won an Academy Award for Best Actress, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, a Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama and a César Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007). Cotillard and her co-stars of Nine won a Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture for the performance in the film.

Cotillard also has been nominated for numerous awards, including César Award for Most Promising Actress for Taxi (1998) and Les Jolies choses (2001), and a European Film Award for Best Actress for La Vie en Rose (2007). Additionally, Cotillard was nominated for an Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Nine (2009).

Academy Award milestones[link]

Cotillard received the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2007, becoming only the second French cinema actress, after Simone Signoret in 1959, to win this award and the third overall to receive an Academy Award (Juliette Binoche won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1997 for her critically acclaimed role in the picture The English Patient), although French expatriate Claudette Colbert was given an Oscar in 1934. She is the first Best Actress winner in a non-English language performance since Sophia Loren's win in 1961 and also became the first – and so far only – winner of an Academy Award for a performance primarily in the French language.

Other awards[link]

Cotillard for her portrayal of Lisa Young in the French film Lisa (2001), was the winner of Verona Love Screens Film Festival for Best Actress, she was the winner of Newport Beach Film Festival for Best Actress – Drama for Love Me If You Dare (2003).

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marion Cotillard

• Marion Cotillard at the Internet Movie Database
• Marion Cotillard at AllRovi
• Marion Cotillard at Yahoo! Movies

Awards for Marion Cotillard v t e Academy Award for Best Actress (2001–2020) Halle Berry (2001) Nicole Kidman (2002) Charlize Theron (2003) Hilary Swank (2004) Reese Witherspoon (2005) Helen Mirren (2006) Marion Cotillard (2007) Kate Winslet (2008) Sandra Bullock (2009) Natalie Portman (2010) Meryl Streep (2011) Complete list (1928–1940) (1941–1960) (1961–1980) (1981–2000) (2001–2020) v t e BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2000–2019) Julia Roberts (2000) Judi Dench (2001) Nicole Kidman (2002) Scarlett Johansson (2003) Imelda Staunton (2004) Reese Witherspoon (2005) Helen Mirren (2006) Marion Cotillard (2007) Kate Winslet (2008) Carey Mulligan (2009) Natalie Portman (2010) Meryl Streep (2011) Complete list (1952–1959) (1960–1979) (1980–1999) (2000–2019) v t e César Award for Best Actress 1976 Romy Schneider 1977 Annie Girardot 1978 Simone Signoret 1979 Romy Schneider 1980 Miou-Miou 1981 Catherine Deneuve 1982 Isabelle Adjani 1983 Nathalie Baye 1984 Isabelle Adjani 1985 Sabine Azéma 1986 Sandrine Bonnaire 1987 Sabine Azéma 1988 Anémone 1989 Isabelle Adjani 1990 Carole Bouquet 1991 Anne Parillaud 1992 Jeanne Moreau 1993 Catherine Deneuve 1994 Juliette Binoche 1995 Isabelle Adjani 1996 Isabelle Huppert 1997 Fanny Ardant 1998 Ariane Ascaride 1999 Élodie Bouchez 2000 Karin Viard 2001 Dominique Blanc 2002 Emmanuelle Devos 2003 Isabelle Carré 2004 Sylvie Testud 2005 Yolande Moreau 2006 Nathalie Baye 2007 Marina Hands 2008 Marion Cotillard 2009 Yolande Moreau 2010 Isabelle Adjani 2011 Sara Forestier 2012 Bérénice Bejo v t e Czech Lion for Best Actress Jiřina Bohdalová (1993) • Ivana Chýlková (1994) • Jiřina Bohdalová (1995) • Libuše Šafránková (1996) • Lenka Vlasáková (1997) • Iva Janžurová (1998) • Tereza Brodská (1999) • Anna Šišková (2000) • Stella Zázvorková (2001) • Iva Janžurová (2002) • Anna Geislerová (2003) • Emília Vášáryová (2004) • Tatiana Vilhelmová (2005) • Anna Geislerová (2006) • Marion Cotillard (2007) • Zuzana Bydžovská (2008) • Jana Plodková (2009) • Zuzana Bydžovská (2010) • Anna Geislerová (2011) v t e Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (2001–2020) Nicole Kidman (2001) Renée Zellweger (2002) Diane Keaton (2003) Annette Bening (2004) Reese Witherspoon (2005) Meryl Streep (2006) Marion Cotillard (2007) Sally Hawkins (2008) Meryl Streep (2009) Annette Bening (2010) Michelle Williams (2011) Complete list (1950–1960) (1961–1980) (1981–2000) (2001–2020)

Raf Simons (Dutch pronunciation: [rɑf ˈsimɔns]) (born 12 January 1968) is a Belgian fashion designer. He studied Industrial design, but after a few years of self-study, he became a menswear designer in 1995. Initially, he worked with Walter Van Beirendonck in Paris, where he was exposed to the work of Martin Margiela and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Collections[link]

His collections (menswear only) are strongly influenced by youth culture albeit in an indirect way. His style, described as "tortured youth" or "live fast, die Bohemian" often combines strongly cut classic menswear with sharp lines. He is cited as being one of the most important innovators in contemporary menswear by the international press.^[1]

He presents his collections twice a year, usually in Paris, but works and lives in Antwerp, Belgium. In his early years, his runway shows were unconventional: models running down a street or walking in a parking lot, on a bridge, around a photography studio.

His "Raf Simons" and "Raf by Raf Simons" collections are sold at Barneys and Seven in New York and a variety of locations around the world; stockists are listed on the official website.

Raf Simons also launched a 12-piece collection of polo shirts and knitwear in 2008 as part of a collaboration with Fred Perry. ^[2]

Jil Sander[link]

In summer 2005 he was appointed as creative director for the Jil Sander label, owned by the Prada Group. (The label has since been sold to a private equity firm.)

Critical Review of Raf's Work at Jil Sander

New York Times Fashion Writer Cathy Horyn respects Raf's work at Jil Sander. As she wrote about his Fall 2007 collection, "On Tuesday a little-known Belgian designer named Raf Simons had the full attention of the fashion world. Mr. Simons's collection for Jil Sander, his third since becoming creative director 18 months ago, was perfect. It will make everything else, I bet, seem a little contrived, a little clunky, a little silly."^[3]

She also considers him in the ranks of older, established designers. As she wrote: "There are plenty of designers who have shown that you don't need the crutch of a club or a book to design original clothes, among them Mr. Alaïa, Karl Lagerfeld and Raf Simons."^[4]

Dressing Alpha Career Women

Style.com's Sarah Mower wrote about his Fall 2007 collection that he is one of the only designers whose clothes are appropriate for the high-powered career woman: "Jil Sander may be the last designer resource for alpha-female corporate dressing left unbowed in the twenty-first century—it's certainly the only one that dares to air a full range of navy pantsuits on a runway. That unflinching Belgian pragmatism regarding the need for upper-echelon career clothes has, after three seasons, become Raf Simons' brand-stabilizing trademark, alongside the stamp of calm conceptualism he's bringing to the house."^[5] As she wrote about his Spring 2007 collection, "Simons took on challenges that other designers have been frantically avoiding: working on a pantsuit, coming up with strategies to modernize a dress, making clothes that just might apply to the life of a high-achieving woman."^[6]

In W's March 2007 issue, Ellen DeGeneres admitted to wearing Raf's clothes. "I usually wear Jil Sander, or I wear Marc Jacobs, or I wear Viktor & Rolf…. I love Raf Simons, but I didn't know he was even doing the Jil Sander collection."^[7]

Though Raf's design for Jil Sander often seems geared toward the corporate woman, young women such as Ashley Olsen are also fans.^[8]

Locations

His Jil Sander collections are sold at Jil Sander boutiques worldwide and other retailers. In New York, it is sold at the Jil Sander Store, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's, Jeffrey, and Linda Dresner. His first collection for the label, Fall 2006, sold well: the only pieces of Jil Sander that made it to the Barney's Warehouse Sale were the "sharkskin" blazers and a few pairs of pants. The coats, shirts, sweaters, and dressers had sold in the store.

Bridge Collection

His menswear line, "Raf by Raf Simons", was launched in 2006. His Fall/Winter collection has been recognised by many as one of the most impressive lines of the season.^[9]

Fall/Winter 2008/9 collection in Paris

Simons writes about this collection, "The whole idea of this collection is to work on the body, which is that of a young boy on its journey to grow into that of a mature man - and to capture the budding spirit in between".^[10] Throughout the collection there is a sharp contrast between futuristic robotics and human softness.

Departure

According to a tweet by fashion critic Cathy Horyn on 23 February 2012 in the midst of Milan Fashion Week, Simons would be presenting his last collection for the label, the Fall/Winter 2012/13 collection. It has been rumoured that Jil Sander would return to the helm of the label for a third time as reported by several German tabloids.

Christian Dior[link]

In April 2012, it was announced that Simons would replace John Galliano as creative director at the helm of Dior.^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Raf Simons Official website
• RAF by Raf Simons official website
• Raf Simons designer profile at Fashion Model Directory
• Jil Sander, Jenny Kupfer, Vienna
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