'The most important feature of my life - I would be bothungrateful and untruthful if I failed to acknowledge it immediately - has beenmy good luck; and I must also acknowledge my debt to the fortune-tellers whohave predicted it.'Christian Dior (1905-1957) found fame with hisfirst collection in 1947 when the 'New Look' took the world by world by storm.This charming autobiography gives a fascinating insight into the workings of thegreat fashion house, while revealing the private man behind the high-profileestablishment. First published in English in 1957, this updated translation features extra text from the original French edition, not before included in the English edition. Three plate sections include drawings by Dior, behind-the-scenes images from the atelier and stunning fashion photograph from Irving Penn, Horst P. Horst, Cecil Beaton and others.
Christian Dior was born in Granville, Normandy, in 1905. He opened his own couture house in 1947, revolutionizing fashion with the "New Look." He was created a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1950 and died in 1957.
Foreword by Oriole CullenPrologue THE TWO CHRISTIAN DIORSPart One THE BIRTH OF MAISON CHRISTIAN DIORONE - The Reluctant CouturierTWO - A House of One's OwnTHREE - The New LookFOUR - An Innocent Abroad in the U.S.APart Two FROM THE IDEA TO THE DRESSFIVE - The IdeaSIX - From the Toile to the DressSEVEN - The Birth of the CollectionEIGHT - The Dress RehearsalNINE - The Eve of the BattleTEN - The Showing of the CollectionELEVEN - The Romance of ClothesPart Three INSIDE A COUTURE HOUSETWELVE - The MannequinsTHIRTEEN - The ClientsFOURTEEN - Domestic ExpansionFIFTEEN - Paris to New York and Back AgainSIXTEEN - Christian Dior - LondonPart Four THE ADVENTURES OF MY LIFESEVENTEEN - My Early YearsEIGHTEEN - Friendships and FrustrationsNINETEEN - Portrait of MyselfPICTURE CREDITSINDEXFURTHER READING