Christian Dior's development in 22 collections (Spring/Summer 1947 - Autumn/Winter 1957)

 1947-1950: New Look. The first collection called "Corolle", inspired by flower shapes, develops the theme of the flower woman, the second collection deepens it: "Soft shoulders, slender waists, rounded hips and new lengths, emphasizing the mystery of the leg.*

 References to fashion of the eighteenth and nineteenth century become apparent from the lines "Zig-Zag" and "Envol" in 1948. Over the coming years, innovations in sportswear fashion can be found in the evening silhouettes. The "Trompe l'oeil" and "Milieu du siècle 1949-1950" lines are the pinnacle of this style which flourishes in spectacular garments such as "Venus" and "Scarlatti".

 The years 1950-1953: New Look full of nuances. In 1951, Christian Dior announces a unified silhouette from the hat to the shoes. In 1952, the "Profilée" line exalts construction and moves from curves to angles, which foreshadows a reversal of lines in 1953. The "Tulipe" line in spring offers the blossoming of the bust in a typical design of the 1950s. Finally, the summer of that year is marked by the "Vivante" line with a supple waist and where much shorter skirts predominate.

 From 1954, Christian Dior's collections, and more particularly the "lunch / dinner" outfits, adapted to the lifestyle of modern women, emphasize the naturalness of fashion. The three following collections refer to the geometry of the H, A and Y lines. A woman's body is now a slender body. The lines enhance the bust but renounce to mark the waist.

 Christian Dior's last line, the Autumn / Winter 1957 "fuseau" line, shows continued concern for an elegant silhouette, though freed from all constraints.


The young Yves Saint-Laurent, business associate of the studio since 1955, developed these foreshadowing experiences from 1958 to 1960.