The importance of fashion illustration

Dior is mostly known for his 1947 fashion reveal featuring the famous “Bar Suit” and the tonnage of fabric used in employing the design; not necessarily for its beauty.

Dior’s decollates, cinched waists and miles of fabric.

Coming out of the war this suit and his collection were a “shocker” because of the miles of fabric used in addition to Dior bringing back the feminine “confined” look that was associated with corsets—something CoCo Chanel took women away from years earlier.

Women had become accustomed to “rationing” during the war. The average housewife made aprons from flour sacks and 1 yard or less of fabric. Others were making do with what was available-what we’d call today by “recycling” and “redesign”.

Those that were unhappy were in the minority as evidence by Dior’s massive success.

Before Dior became famous, literally an overnight success, and then dying at the height of his career a mere 10 years into his fame, Dior was an artist that also loved gardens and flowers.

Dior, along with his simple, not very detailed, but beautiful fashion illustrations and his petite mans became the House of Dior.

Dior didn’t sew, drape or cut dresses or patterns.

He envisioned the fashion, sketched the illustration and others translated those ideas into reality.

Dior said flowers reminded him of women and that many of his designs stemmed from flowers.

Christian Dior also worked with the illustrator Rene Gruau, including illustrating for other designers before settling into his own.

Illustration by: Calandra Cooper