04/04/12 - 0 Comments
Stars in Dior Exhibit Launching in France
The House of Dior will be opening an exhibition, ‘Stars in Dior,’ to highlight the designer’s esteemed tie to the movie industry by showcasing outfits worn by renowned actresses. The Christian Dior Museum in Normandy, where Dior grew up, will play host, displaying distinctive pieces worn by starlets past and present, including Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Olivia de Havilland and Penélope Cruz.
In total, there will be around 50 gowns and countless accessories. The exhibition will feature photos of the women wearing Dior on a daily basis and will specifically focus on Dietrich, a friend and client of the designer, and a fashion icon since 1947. Most notable was Dietrich’s refusal to star in the Hitchcock film Stage Fright without a full Dior wardrobe. The space will be designed to look like an apartment. In addition, telegrams, bills and receipts for men’s sweaters ordered from the House years ago will be featured and will illustrate her adoration for Dior, as well as her androgynous style.
The showcase will also draw attention to Dior as a costume designer. Before breaking out of his fashion shell in 1947, Dior collaborated with renowned directors such as Claude Autant-Lara and René Clair. Highlights include costume sketches for actress Odette Joyeux’s character in the 1942 film The Four Poster and the velvet dress worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the1968 film Secret Ceremony.
Dior’s breathtaking red-carpet designs and collaborations with the cinematic world will play a prominent role in the exhibition. Displayed are Dior advertisements by high-profile directors, such as Jean-Jacques Annaud and Wong Kar-wai, along with the advertisements’ storyboards and specially-designed dresses. Various multimedia channels enhance the entire exhibit experience. Charlize Theron’s movie clips show behind-the-scenes footage of her J’adore commercial. The exhibit also contains clips of Marilyn Monroe, among myriad other Dior clients.
The exhibit will run from May 12 until September 23. A book by the same name, Stars in Dior, published by Rizzoli, will be released in September.
