Christian Dior was born in France in 1905. He started out in fashion as an illustrator, and later went to work for Robert Piguet and then Lucien Lelong. He launched his own fashion house in 1946, and his 1947 "New Look" collection — pinched waist, soft shoulders, full skirts — put his house on the map and reestablished post-war Paris as the center of world fashion. Christian Dior passed away in 1957 at the age of 52.
After Dior's death, his 21-year-old assistant, Yves Saint Laurent, took over as the house designer. He was succeeded by Marc Bohan, then Gianfranco Ferrè. John Galliano became creative director of the women's line in 1996. He was fired in early 2011; in 2012 he was replaced by Raf Simons; who left the brand in 2015.
Hedi Slimane oversaw the men's line from 2000 through 2007, when he was replaced by Kris Van Assche.
The Dior fragrance line
Christian Dior Parfums is now part of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy.
Miss Dior (now known as "Miss Dior Classic" or "Miss Dior Original") was launched in 1947. After that came Diorama (1949), Eau Fraiche (1955), Diorissimo (1956), Diorling (1963), Eau Sauvage (1966), Diorella (1972), Dior-Dior (1976), Dioressence (1979) and Jules (1980).
Other well known Dior fragrances include Poison (see below), Fahrenheit (1988), Dune (1991), Dolce Vita (1995), J'Adore (1999) and Addict (2002).
Les Créations de Monsieur Dior
In 2009, the company reissued and/or repackaged a collection of older fragrances under the name Les Créations de Monsieur Dior. The original collection included Diorissimo, Diorella, Diorissimo, Eau Fraîche and Forever and Ever Dior. In 2011, Diorama was added to this series.
Poison and Poison flankers
Poison, released in 1985, was the first feminine fragrance without the word Dior in the name, and was followed by the flankers Tendre Poison (1994), Hypnotic Poison (1998), Pure Poison (2004), Pure Poison Elixir (2006), Midnight Poison (2007), Poison Elixirs (2008), Hypnotic Poison Eau Sensuelle (2010), Hypnotic Poison Eau Secrète (2013), Poison Girl (2016), Poison Girl Unexpected (2018).
Other recent releases
2005: Miss Dior Cherie (now known simply as "Miss Dior"), Dior Addict 2, Dior Homme
2006: Midnight Charm
2007: Fahrenheit 32, Dior Addict 2 Summer Peonies, Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Toilette, Dior Homme Cologne, Eau Sauvage Fraicheur Cuir, Dior Addict Shine & J'Adore Le Jasmin, J'Adore L'Absolu, Dior Homme Intense, La Collection Particuliere Passage N°4, N°8 & N°9
2008: Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Printemps, Escale a Portofino, Dior Addict 2 Summer Litchi, Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet, Dior Homme Sport
2009: Miss Dior Cherie L'Eau, J'Adore L'Eau Cologne Florale, Escale a Pondichery, Fahrenheit Absolute, Ambre Nuit
2010: Escale aux Marquises, J'Adore l'Or, La Collection Christian Dior
2011: Aqua Fahrenheit, Addict to Life, Patchouli Imperial
2012: Escale à Parati, Addict Eau Sensuelle & Addict Eau Fraiche, Grand Bal, Miss Dior Eau Fraîche, Oud Ispahan
2013: Dior Homme Cologne (new version), Addict Eau Delice, J’Adore Voile de Parfum, Gris Montaigne, Dior Homme Eau for Men
2014: Les Élixirs Précieux, Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum & Fahrenheit Parfum, Dior Homme Parfum, Cuir Cannage
2015: Fève Délicieuse, Eau Sauvage Cologne, Sauvage
2016: Fahrenheit Cologne, Poison Girl, J'Adore Lumière, La Colle Noire, Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming
2017: J'Adore in Joy, Sauvage Very Cool, Balade Sauvage, Belle de Jour, Diorissima, Jardin des Anges, Lucky, Purple Oud, Rose Gipsy, Sakura, Santal Noir, Souffle de Soi, Thé Cachemire, Terra Bella (La Collection Privée; limited distribution)
2018: Joy, Dioramour, Happy Hour, Rose Kabuki (La Collection Privée; limited distribution)
Where to buy
At major department stores or at the online fragrance discounters.
Website
Further reading
See all articles on Now Smell this tagged Christian Dior, or check out our collection of Dior fragrance commercials.
See pictures of the New Look fashions, and read more about Dior's designs at designmuseum.