The exhibition will be held at the Musée Christian Dior in Granville until Oct 31 (All photos: Dior)
“Dior Rose” holds several meanings for the Parisian maison. It is a flower and a shade. It is the colour of Christian Dior’s family home, with its “pastel pink roughcast walls”, and the fragrant blooms in the garden planted by his mother, Madeleine.
The bond between Dior and roses has been reinforced by its debut fashion show, its many perfumes created since 1947 — including the first, Miss Dior — and memorable gowns and accessories designed for women over the decades.
Dior and Roses is now the name of an exhibition that celebrates one of the French fashion designer’s (1905 to 1957) favourite flowers, on show at his childhood home, the Les Rhumbs villa in Granville, France, from June 5 to Oct 31. A similarly titled book to mark the event will be published by Rizzoli New York.
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The exhibition links Dior’s family history with his career and highlights the exceptional character of his beloved younger sister, Catherine, who worked with flowers and supported and inspired her brother. It interprets his collections by exploring the presence of the rose, the layering and interactions with it, and its palette of pinks. Haute couture designs and accessories, artworks, decorative items and objets d’art are on display, including pieces on loan from other museums and individuals.
A bed of Jardin de Granville roses created by André Eve and gifted by Parfums Christian Dior adorns the edge of the lawn visible from Les Rhumbs’ winter garden, echoing the pink and rose collections within the villa.
This article first appeared on June 14, 2021 in The Edge Malaysia.
