Christian Dior introduced the tailored glamour of his "New Look" in 1947. This wildly popular and decidedly feminine style emerged in Paris in the aftermath of World War II, when fabric rationing was lifted. It made Christian Dior a household name on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Full bust, narrow waist, and ample skirts defined the New Look silhouette, and this semiformal evening dress is a classic example of the work of a designer who considered couture no less an art than architecture or painting. Made of brilliant red silk chiffon, the gown has a fitted, boned bodice, ostensibly supported by thin straps, that extends slightly below the waist. The bouffant skirt, supported by four layers of crinoline, consists of tiers of diagonally draped swags that swirl around the body, creating a dramatic effect. The only embellishments are two small flowers made from the same fabric as the dress. The gown, which retains its original attached interior custom corset, demonstrates the painstaking artistry of true couture. The drapery achieves a sculptural quality, yet, paradoxically, when worn, the multiple layers of sheer silk chiffon convey an impression of near weightlessness.
To the wartime generation, the New Look was the rediscovery of happiness and they embraced it accordingly.
-Dior biographer Marie-France Pochna, 1994
