Dior: the most beautiful archive photos of the House revealed in a book

Yesterday, as Dior opened Paris Fashion Week with its spring-summer 2025 show, Maria Grazia Chiuri made no secret of being inspired by the iconic “Amazone” dress from 1951. This connection with the past resonates all the more strongly as the most beautiful archives from this period are now brought together in the book Christian Dior Visionary. 1947-1957 by Alexandra Palmer (released September 27, 2024), published by Éditions de La Martinière. This evocative title pays homage to the creative genius of Christian Diorwho, from 1947 and in less than ten years, revolutionized the female silhouette with his legendary New Look. The impact was immediate, international, and lastingly changed the aesthetics of the catwalks and the streets.

However, this golden decade, the one that would forge Dior’s legacy to this day, had never been explored with such precision. Alexandra Palmer delves into previously unpublished archives to offer a new, detailed look at this founding period, revealing the innovative and visionary facets of the house at 30 avenue Montaigne.

Drawing on rare archives – photos of fittings, sketches and period advertisements – Alexandra Palmer reveals the visionary beginnings of Christian Dior, a period when the designer shook up not only fashion, but also the codes of luxury commerce .

What emerges throughout these pages is the precision with which Dior, much more than a couturier, revolutionized the entire industry. He was one of the first to build a global empire through licensing deals, propelling his name beyond catwalks and couture workshops. From his stockings to his ties, including perfumes and jewelry, each Dior creation became the embodiment of a true art of living, an omnipresent and inimitable luxury.