Outfit designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior for the Autumn/Winter 1997/98 ready-to-wear collections in Paris.

The House of Dior, established in 1946, is one of the most famous fashion houses of the 20th century. Christian Dior (1905 - 1957) was known for his feminine shapes of rounded shoulders, cinched waists, and shapely bustlines and hips. Dior's 'New Look' launched in 1947 was hailed as revolutionary with its feminine style harking back to earlier times. In 1997 Christian Dior recaptured some of its former magic with the arrival of English designer John Galliano as chief designer. Galliano presented his debut collection in March 1997 and was instantly labelled the new 'darling' of the Paris catwalks. This outfit is from Galliano's first pret-a-porter for Christain Dior and reflects the year's chinoiserie themes.

Shoes made for Christian Dior for the Autumn/Winter 1997/98 pret-a-porter collections.

Date of manufacture is 1997

Worn on 17 November by a model at the announcement of the designers for the 1997 Fashion of the Year project. (socks not worn)
Direct from Christian Dior Boutique in Paris.

Dress and sandals, womens, silk / leather, designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior, France / [Italy], 1997

Dress, yellow silk damask with grey/blue spots, short, lingerie style, with cheongsam bodice, cap sleeves and mandarin collar. Cross over front closure from neck to breast and down sides with covered buttons and loops. Grey/blue lace trim around hem, around sleves, across front closure, right side of collar and in a section inset diagonally across shoulder blades. Labelled "Christian Dior / BOUTIQUE / PARIS"
Sandals, womens, uppers constructed in mauve suede, with stiletto heel and pointed toe. Low vamp with a narrow strap across instep at front and one across instep at top of vamp with closures of narrow mauve ribbon. Back of uppers extends up along Achilles heel and is topped with band around ankle with closures of narrow mauve ribbon. These ribbons end with gold tassels, which are repeated in mauve on vamp. Shoe is decorated with mauve braid of ribbon in knots and bows, which borders all edges. Lined with mauve leather. Sock of mauve stamped in gold "Christian Dior / PARIS ". Leather sole stamped underneath with "MADE / IN / ITALY / 11 1/2"

Designed: Christian Dior; Paris, France

Designed: Galliano, John; Paris, France

Made: Christian Dior; Paris, France; 1997

Made: Galliano, John; Paris, France; 1997


Owned: Christian Dior; Paris, France

Dress: Inside back left neck, white fabric label with black machine embroidered lettering "Christian / Dior / BOUTIQUE / PARIS". Also white fabric lape sewn under label with handwritten black and red biro "7H - 18 - 06 - 0340/314"

Sandals: Leather label on sock, stamped in gold 'Christian / Dior / PARIS". Sole stamped "MADE / IN / ITALY / 11 1/2"

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