Christian Dior Documentary from 1949 Restored

[pherank]

The world of Monsieur Dior in his own words

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZESWE3myVLk

[Quiggin]

Lots of interesting behind-the-scenes glimpses of preparing and showing a collection. Dresses named after the Alain-Fournier novel, a cantaloupe, and one after Picasso that seemed especially unstable. Also the sweetly self-conscious looks of the models, self-conscious in a different way than now (sometimes as if they were trying to locate something fleeting behind the camera). Nice lunch scene at a little table squeezed in among all the pattern making worktops.

With one dress Dior honors his mentor Christian Bérard, who helped steer Dior towards the "New Look." Bérard did the great sets and costumes for the first version of "Mozartiana" and had some choice observations about Balanchine's character that he shared with Kirstein when Kirstein was still at sea with what to do with his life.

Thanks for posting that.

Edited May 21, 2020 by Quiggin

[pherank]

25 minutes ago, Quiggin said:

Lots of interesting behind-the-scenes glimpses of preparing and showing a collection. Dresses named after the Alain-Fournier novel, a cantaloupe, and one after Picasso that seemed especially unstable. Also the sweetly self-conscious looks of the models, self-conscious in a different way than now (sometimes as if they were trying to locate something fleeting behind the camera). Nice lunch scene at a little table squeezed in among all the pattern making worktops.

With one dress Dior honors his mentor Christian Bérard, who helped steer Dior towards the "New Look." Bérard did the great sets and costumes for the first version of "Mozartiana" and had some choice observations about Balanchine's character that he shared with Kirstein when Kirstein was still at sea with what to do with his life.

Thanks for posting that.

The shots of the fitters and seamstresses were really interesting to me - the work area was incredibly congested (wouldn't work in a pandemic). And the salon shows also looked to be remarkably crowded affairs - very little room for the models to do their walk. Bill Cunningham described similar scenes in his autobiography, "Fashion Climbing", and now I can really see what he was talking about.

[pherank]

Relating to the above...the ever entertaining Alexa Chung visits the Chrisitan Dior Atelier Haute Couture makers as they ready the line for the Spring 2020 runway show:

Part 1 - she speaks with various seamstresses and staff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD-J2MECdR0

Part 2 - Alexa makes a nuisance of herself at the Dior Show.  😉
And we get to see the finished pieces on display.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKJMfMH3zc

Edited May 28, 2020 by pherank