The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is celebrating the elegance and sophistication of the first worldwide couture house in their current exhibition, “Dior: From Paris to the World.” On view until March 3, 2019, this exhibition showcases more than 200 couture dresses and other archival material such as accessories, photographs, drawings and runway videos from Christian Dior and the iconic haute couture fashion house he founded.
The History of the House of Dior
Christian Dior was an art gallerist before he became a couturier in post-World War II Paris. His designs redefined femininity after the masculine silhouette that dominated war-time fashion. With inspiration from gardening, art, antiques and fashion illustration, Dior’s designs featured soft shoulders and the iconic womanly hour-glass shape with an accentuated bust and slim waist.
His luxurious and voluminous use of fabric and flair for ornate embroidery ushered in a new era of elegant and feminine fashion. Within a decade, the House of Dior was well-known across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
As Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM, stated, “Dior: From Paris to the World will give our visitors insight into the House of Dior’s creative process and inspirations that contributed to its unparalleled impact on the fashion world, which continues to reverberate today.”
The Dior exhibit in Denver, Colorado also pays homage to the legendary designers who succeeded him: Yves Saint Laurent (1958-1960), Marc Bohan (1961-1989), Gianfranco Ferré (1989-1996), John Galliano (1997-2011), Raf Simons (2012-2015) and Maria Grazia Chiuri (2016-present). In the exhibition, visitors will see how each artistic director left his or her mark on the evolution of the fashion house’s style.
The chronological presentation is the first retrospective exhibition in the US to focus on the House of Dior’s 70+ year legacy. It is organized by the DAM and curated by the DAM’s Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion, Florence Müller.
Plan Your Visit
DAM is located at 100 W 14th Avenue Parkway, on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Street near Civic Center Park in Denver. The exhibition will be on view in the Hamilton Building – Level Two.
You can park on the street or in the Cultural Center Complex Garage. If you park anywhere downtown, you can take the free 16th Street shuttle to Cleveland Place and then walk to the museum, or you can use the Regional Transportation District bus or light rail to visit.
If you are traveling to Denver for the show, VISIT DENVER and DAM are offering exclusive VIP hotel packages. Visit www.diorindenver.com for more details.
Tickets are available online or by calling 720-913-0130. Adult tickets are $24 while youth tickets for children ages six to eighteen are $5. Children under five are free. Members get a 50% discount on ticket prices. Each ticket has a timed entrance.
Next Stop: Dallas
After its tour in Denver, “Dior: From Paris to the World” will travel to Dallas Museum of Art from May 19, 2019, to September 1, 2019.