Dior Museum's Latest Exhibition Is An Ode To Monsieur's Love Of Nature
Following the success of Christian Dior, Couturier Visionnaire , the Christian Dior Museum is back with a new exhibition in the form of, Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs. As the name suggests, the retrospective pays homage to Monsieur Dior and his eternal love for nature as it traces the history and the identity of the Maison.
French fashion designer Christian Dior (1905 - 1957) sits on a sofa for a broadcast of the CBS celebrity interview program 'Person to Person,' November 7, 1955. (Photo by CBS) Getty Images
Unfolding in Granville, in the park surrounding the villa Les Rhumbs – his Belle‑Époque childhood home, and now a dedicated Christian Dior Museum — the exhibition is amongst fragrant pine trees overlooking the sea, where he first developed his taste for the great outdoors. He recalls, 'Having inherited a passion for flowers from my mother, I particularly enjoyed the company of plants and gardeners,' and this is central to the exhibition.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
For his debut show in 1947, we saw the 'New Look,' in which he designed the Corolle line, and here, the dresses were cut in a way that alluded to upturned flowers in full bloom (the corolla being the botanical term for the ring of petals around a flower's center). This gave rise to the nickname 'femmes-fleurs' a.k.a 'flower-women' which the Monsieur used to describe the Dior woman: delicate and graceful.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
In 1948 Christian bought an old mill in Milly-la-Forêt close to Paris, and what he referred to as is 'hermitage necessary for rest.' Later, he found another retreat in Montauroux at the Château de la Colle Noire, a regal Provençal estate, and set in 50 hectares he planted fields of jasmine, May roses, and lavender.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
In that year, Christian Dior, along with his good friend and French perfumer, Paul Vacher, also sketched an olfactory portrait of a dream garden through the bouquet of Miss Dior, a floral chypre that evoked his vision of modern femininity.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
Throughout the seasons, Dior continued to draw inspiration from nature as revealed in his archives, and this was translated both in his couture and his scents, from the floral elegance of Diorama with its notes ylang-ylang to the subtle lily of the valley hints found in Diorissimo, and these set against the sea-inspired Eau de Cologne Fraîche – Dior's own signature scent – all coming together to represent his obsession in olfactory form.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
Through the gardens and the rooms of Genville we see the evolution of the Maison, yet the enduring reference to gardens and blooms by Dior's successors and collaborators, cue the interpretations by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Francis Kurkdjian, Stephen Jones, Victoire de Castellane, Cordelia de Castellane, Peter Philips that represent evening from womenswear to makeup.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
In further homage, is Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs , published by Rizzoli, documents the role of gardens and flowers in the life and work of Christian Dior.
"Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs" exhibition at the Christian Dior Museum RAPHAEL DAUTIGNY
Dior, Jardins Enchanteurs runs until the 2nd of November, 2025 at the Christian Dior Museum, 1 Rue d'Estouteville, 50400 Granville, France.
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