When Christian Dior launched his couture house, in 1946, he wanted nothing less than to make “an elegant woman more beautiful and a beautiful woman more elegant.” He succeeded, and in doing so the visionary designer altered the landscape of 20th century fashion. Vintage Dior bags, shoes, evening dresses, shirts and other garments and accessories are known today for their feminine and sophisticated sensibility.
Dior was born in Granville, on the Normandy coast, in 1905. His prosperous haute bourgeois parents wanted him to become a diplomat despite his interest in art and architecture. However, they agreed to bankroll an art gallery, which Dior opened in 1928 in Paris with a friend.
This was the start of Dior’s rise in the city’s creative milieu, where he befriended Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau. After seven years as an art dealer, Dior retrained as a fashion illustrator, eventually landing a job as a fashion designer for Robert Piguet, and in 1941, following a year of military service, he joined the house of Lucien Lelong. Just five years later, with the backing of industrialist Marcel Boussac, the ascendant Dior established his own fashion house, at 30 avenue Montaigne in Paris.
Just two years after the end of World War II, the fashion crowd and the moribund haute couture industry were yearning, comme tout Paris, for security and prosperity, desperate to discard the drab, sexless, utilitarian garb imposed by wartime deprivation. They needed to dream anew.
And Dior delivered: He designed a collection for a bright, optimistic future. “It’s quite a revolution, dear Christian!” exclaimed Carmel Snow, the prescient American editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, famously proclaiming, “Your dresses have such a new look.” The press ran with the description, christening Dior’s debut Spring/Summer haute couture collection the New Look. “God help those who bought before they saw Dior,” said Snow. “This changes everything.”
Dior’s collection definitively declared that opulence, luxury and femininity were in. His skirts could have 40-meter-circumference hems, and outfits could weigh up to 60 pounds. They were cut and shaped like architecture, on strong foundations that molded women and “freed them from nature,” Dior said. Rather than rationing, his ladies wanted reams of fabric and 19-inch waists enforced by wire corsets, and the fashion world concurred. The debut got a standing ovation.
In the subsequent decade, Paris ruled as the undisputed fashion capital of the world, and Christian Dior reigned as its king. With the luxuriously full skirts of his New Look, suits and his drop-dead gorgeous couture dresses and ball gowns worthy of any princess, Dior gave women the gift of glamour they’d lost in the miserable years of war.
On 1stDibs, find an exquisite range of vintage Christian Dior clothing, jewelry, handbags and other items.
Christian Dior Vintage Rare Ruby Citrine Topaz Openwork Flower Crystal Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Baroque Oval Ruby Red Citrine Topaz Yellow Orange Amber Openwork Flower Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Very new. 1...
Gold Plate
Vintage 1965 CHRISTIAN DIOR Multi Strand Milk Glass Beads Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage 1965 CHRISTIAN DIOR Multi Strand Milk Glass Beads Necklace Measurements: Height Drop: 2.75 inches (7 cm) Wearable Length: 16.92 inches (43 cm) Features: - 100% authentic CH...
Vintage Christian Dior Long Pearl & Gold-Tone Sautoir Necklace 1980s
By Christian Dior
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A striking long vintage sautoir necklace by Christian Dior, dating from the 1980s. This statement piece combines creamy faux pearls with lustrous gold-tone beads, accented by sparkli...
Gold
Christian Dior Coral Torsade Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in New York, NY
Christian Dior faux coral pate de verre long torsade necklace. Consisting of eight strands of the pale orange coral glass beads with double clasp of ...
Gold Plate, Bronze, Gilt Metal
Christian Dior Vintage Encaged Blue Resin Beads Necklace and Earrings Set 1966
By Christian Dior
Located in Nice, FR
CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage necklace and dangling earrings (clip-on) set featuring gorgeous links made of large olive shaped marbled blue resin beads ...
Gilt Metal
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Pearls Round Beads Logo CD Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Round Circle Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Choker Collar Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. Maybe Light scratches or colou...
Silver Plate
Dior pearl necklace (attributed to Dior)
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - (Made in France) Long costume pearl necklace with silvery metal elements, rhinestones and blue glass paste. Not signed jewelry, attributed to Dior Condition: Very good condit...
$636Sale Price|20% Off
1962 Christian Dior Signed Honey Graduated Bead Resin Double Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Christian Dior necklace from 1962 features a double-strand construction with graduated round beads. It is composed of honey-colored resin beads that increase in size toward the ...
$1,529
Dior pearl necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - (Made in France) Short necklace composed of five coppery-golden pearl rows. Collection with a Massai inspiration under the artistic direction of John Galliano. Condition: Ver...
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR Logo Beaded Necklace and Earrings Set
By Christian Dior
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR Logo Beaded Necklace and Earrings Set Measurements: EARRINGS Height: 0.78 inch (2 cm) Width: 0.66 inch (1.7 cm)...
Christian Dior, Vintage Acrylic & Chrome Beaded Necklace, Signed, Circa 1973
By Christian Dior
Located in Chatham, CA
CHRISTIAN DIOR - Vintage acrylic and chrome plated graduated string bead necklace - signed - Chr. Dior © - Germany - dated - 1973. Excellent vintage conditio...
$2,706
Christian Dior necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - Long costume pearl necklace with rhinestoned golden metal rings, linked with a golden metal circular pendant ornamented with rhinestones and a costume pearly drop. Condition:...
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Flower Clover Emerald Dots Crystals Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Clover Flower Cross Emerald Green Dots Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Only one green stone shade is deeper th...
Gold Plate
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Logo CD Graduated Spherical Beads Pearls Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Graduated Spherical Circle Round Beads Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. High quality. 100% Genuine. M...
Silver Plate
Dior Black Beads and Flowers Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Dior - Short necklace adorned with beads and flowers made of fabric. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 45 cm (17.72 in) to 51 cm (20.08 in) Condition: Very good cond...
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR Massive Tribal Spikes Resin Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR Massive Tribal Spikes Resin Necklace MEASUREMENTS: Height: 5.90 inches (15 cm) Length: 14.17 inches (36 cm) Thickness: 1.18 inches (3 cm) FEATURES: - 100% A...
Double Strand Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Necklace
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage double strand cultured pearl necklace with an antique 0.84 carat diamond and natural pearl, 14 karat yellow gold, platinum set clasp; part of our diverse pearl jewelry collection. This impressive vintage double strand pearl necklace...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Chain adorned with German Glass Beads & Pearls, Entwine Necklace
By Aracheli Studio
Located in Monrovia, CA
Inspired by the Glam of the 1920s, the antique chain is detailed with beautiful filigree. The chain is adorned with 3 vintage German glass beads that are edged with 24K gold and fres...
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 24k Gold, Gold-filled
$1,500Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 2.5 in D 1 in L 16 in
Pre-Columbian Style Sinu Tumbaga Toucan Tooth Gemstone Necklace Bracelet Earring
Located in Miami Beach, FL
This incredible Pre-Columbian Style jewelry suite comes from the estate of a Miami Socialite. She was famous for her dramatic gala outfits. This set is gilt base metal with aventur...
Agate, Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gilt Metal
Vintage Lapis Lazuli Beaded Necklace
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The blue of the gorgeous lapis stone beads really pop in this necklace. Shortest Length: 44cm Longest Length: 56 Large Bead Diameter: 10mm Weight: 139g
Lapis Lazuli
Yoko London Grey Tahitian Pearl Necklace in 18 Karat White Gold
By Yoko London
Located in London, GB
The cool tones found in these natural coloured Tahitian pearls speak for themselves in this bold statement necklace by Yoko London. Sure to be an every day staple piece that is easily styled with other Tahitian pearl jewellery. Each pearl has been individually selected and hand-strung by our experts in our London atelier. -10.1-14.3mm Cultured Grey Tahitian Pearls...
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Yoko London Tahitian, South Sea and Pink Freshwater Pearl Rope Necklace
By Yoko London
Located in London, GB
A playful necklace by Yoko London, featuring an array of Tahitian, Golden and White South Sea and Pink Freshwater pearls combined into a delightful long style that can be wrapped aro...
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Black Pearl
Miriam Haskell Vaseline Glass Pate De Verre Necklace and Earrings
By Miriam Haskell
Located in New York, NY
Miriam Haskell Vaseline Glass Pate De Verre Necklace and Earrings from the 1930's. 2 strands of vaseline glass with centerpiece of embroidered f...
Brass, Gilt Metal
Crown Trifari 1950s Vintage Rare Gold Coral Cabochon Interlocked Linked 2 Set
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in Wokingham, England
Crown Trifari 1950s Vintage Coral Orange Floral Flower Round Beads Cabochon Interlocked Linked Openwork 2 Jewellery Set Necklace Clip Earrings, Gold Plated Very excellent condition....
Gold Plate
Trio Charm Vintage German Glass Bead on Freshwater Pearls and Chain
By Aracheli Studio
Located in Monrovia, CA
Freshwater pearls with 18K gold filled chain adorned with 3 vintage German glass beads trimmed with 24K gold. It is finished with 14K gold filled clasp and metals. This necklace is 18 inches long and can be extended up to 20 inches. The 24K vintage...
Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold P...
Nolan Miller 3 Strand Crystal Necklace -1980s
By Nolan Miller
Located in Wallkill, NY
Three strand of Ruby colored Glass bead Necklace with a Decorative crystal fold over clasp. Hallmarked Nolan Miller. Measures 32 in. long. This is out of a massive collection of Hop...
Crystal, Gilt Metal
$172Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.25 in W 0.8 in L 52 in
Faux Salmon Coral Bead Rope Necklace and Clip on Earrings in Gold, Mid 1900s
Located in Milford, DE
Matching vintage faux salmon coral bead necklace and earrings, accented with glowing gold-tone beads and motifs. Circa mid 1900s. Necklace...
Tahitian Heart Shells with Golden Pearl Necklace
By Aracheli Studio
Located in Monrovia, CA
This necklace is composed of lavender oval pearls with artisan made hearts made from black Tahitian shells. The black Tahitian heart shells gives such beautiful iridescent shine, it'...
Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate, Base Metal, Brass
Sold
W 0.71 in L 18.12 in
Christian Dior Vintage Oval Ruby Citrine Topaz Openwork Flower Crystal Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Baroque Oval Ruby Red Citrine Topaz Yellow Orange Amber Openwork Flower Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Very new. 1...
Gold Plate
Sold
W 0.6 in L 18.51 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Graduated Spherical Beads Pearls Logo CD Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Graduated Spherical Circle Round Beads Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. High quality. 100% Genuine. M...
Silver Plate
Dior necklace 'snake'
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - Two-row costume gray pearl necklace with a golden metal snake fastener ornamented with rhinestones. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Length of the shorter row: 44 ...
Sold
W 0.6 in L 17.33 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Clover Flower Emerald Dots Crystals Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Clover Flower Cross Emerald Green Dots Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Only one green stone shade is deeper th...
Gold Plate
Christian Dior blue glass beaded Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Warminster, GB
A most attractive and stunning 1950s five row Necklace by Christian Dior. Each row is strung with gorgeous foiled aquamarine rectangular glass beads, faux turquoise beads, aquamari...
Sold
W 0.52 in L 17.33 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Round Beads Pearls Logo CD Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Round Circle Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Choker Collar Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. Maybe Light scratches or colou...
Silver Plate
Sold
W 0.71 in L 18.12 in
Christian Dior Vintage Oval Ruby Citrine Topaz Openwork Flower Crystal Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Baroque Oval Ruby Red Citrine Topaz Yellow Orange Amber Openwork Flower Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Very new. 1...
Gold Plate
Dior pearl necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - Silvery metal necklace with Swarovski rhinestones and costume pearls, and ending with a pompom. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Length: SKU:BC164
Sold
W 0.6 in L 18.51 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Graduated Spherical Beads Pearls Logo CD Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Graduated Spherical Circle Round Beads Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. High quality. 100% Genuine. M...
Silver Plate
Sold
W 0.52 in L 17.33 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Round Beads Pearls Logo CD Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Large White Round Circle Lustrous Faux Pearls Logo CD Crystals Choker Collar Necklace, Silver Plated Very good condition. Maybe Light scratches or colou...
Silver Plate
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s White Pearl Round Ball Crystals Gold Long Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Very good condition. 100% genuine. A unique piece. Signed at the back. It also an be wear as bracelet or add a pendant on the necklace. Material: Gold plated metal, Faux pearl, Rhi...
Gold Plate
Sold
W 0.6 in L 17.33 in
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Clover Flower Emerald Dots Crystals Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1970s Pink Clover Flower Cross Emerald Green Dots Crystals Row Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Only on...
Gold Plate