GRANVILLE, France, Jul 11, 2005/ FW/ --- The Haute Couture season was in high gear this week in Paris, yet in the quiet little town of Granville, in France’s Atlantic Coast, Christian Dior’s hometown is celebrating his 100th birthday with a centenary exhibit of his work.

Being held in his childhood home, which had been turned into the Dior museum, the ‘Le Centennaire’ exhibit gives a bird’s eye-view about the works of the ‘man who made the world look new.’

The grounds and gardens alone already give hints about Christian Dior, starting with the pink and gray flowerbed that he planted with his mother during this childhood. As most fashionistas know, pink and gray are the signature color of the House of Dior.

Scattered around the garden are the ‘scents’ of Dior from J’Adore to Dioressence. Using little platforms wherein one can literally sniff the perfume, the unobtrusive displays add synergy to the manicured garden and flowerbeds.

Beautiful as the garden is, the gem of the exhibition lies inside the house “Les Rhumbs,” which is also the museum.

Showing Christian Dior original creations that are seldom shown to the public, it is a fashionista heaven as it shows the innovations in cut and tailoring created by Dior himself.

Displaying the 22 haute couture collections presented by Christian Dior from 1947 to 1957, from the 1947 “Corolle” (corolla) to the 1957 “Fuseau” (spindle), visitors can see the evolution of Dior’s fashion which took the world by storm in the 1950s.

From day dresses to evening gowns, the airy and ephemeral qualities of Dior couture stood out. And although the clothes were created during the 1940s and 1950s, its timeless elegance still makes them contemporary and modern for today’s women.

Though the gowns are literally museum pieces, it was easy to imagine them being worn in Cannes or in Hollywood red carpets.

To complete the story, works of Dior’s successors from Yves Saint Laurent, to Gianfranco Ferré to John Galliano are also displayed.

The exhibit is about Christian Dior, the man and Maison Christian Dior, the fashion house. It is also about fashion – yesterday, today and tomorrow, because the story is still ongoing, because next year’s exhibit’s theme is “The Men of Dior,” a new facet of the one of the most influential fashion house both in Paris and the whole world.

Dior Centennial Exhibit
May 15 to September 15, 2005
Granville, France

Entrance To Christian Dior's Home

Flower garden planted by Christian Dior and his mother

Christian Dior's childhood home

"The New Look"