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.
Dior John Galliano A/W 2003 Bondage Bow Snakeskin High Heel Sandals 39
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Dior John Galliano 2003 Bondage Bow Snakeskin High Heel Sandals 39 Color Black Size 39EU Heel Height 4.5in Snakeskin upper Leather sole Buckle closure Bow embellishments Platform high heel Grommeted straps Made in Italy A John Galliano retro vintage In a Dior shoe box...
Vintage Dior A/W 2003 Galliano Retro Bondage Bow Snakeskin Strappy Pumps 37.5
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Autumn/ Winter 2003 Dior John Galliano Retro Vintage Bow Snakeskin Strappy Pumps Color Black Size 37.5EU Heel Height 4.5in Snakeskin upper Leather sole Buckle closure Bow embellish...
Dior Logo Retro Vintage Galliano Red Leather Pointed Toe Mules Pumps 37
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Dior Logo Retro Vintage Galliano Red Leather Pointed Toe Mules Pumps 37 Color Red Size 37EU Heel Height 3.74in Leather upper Leather sole Pointed toe Dior logo finished in silver H...
Dior pumps shoes with bridles
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
DIOR - (Made in Italy) Brown leather pumps with bridles. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Size 39 1/2 SKU:CH89
$707Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 40
Christian Dior by John Galliano Early 2000s Red Python Strappy Pointed Toe Pumps
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Milano, IT
- Designed by John Galliano - Sold by Skof.Archive - Early 2000s - Red Python pumps - Adjustable ankle strap with a buckle closure - Pointed toe - Made in France - Excellent co...
Christian Dior by John Galliano Fall 2001 Archive Red Leather Pumps 37.5
By John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in San Jose, CA
Rare Christian Dior by John Galliano archive pumps from the Fall 2001 collection era. Crafted in textured crimson red leather with darker burgundy leather detailing, these elegant pointed-toe heels showcase the distinctive craftsmanship and bold design language that defined Galliano's most celebrated years at Dior. Although this exact style was not presented on the Fall 2001 runway, similar western motifs appeared throughout the collection, linking these pumps to one of the most sought-after periods in Dior history. Today, Galliano-era Dior remains highly collectible among fashion enthusiasts, vintage luxury buyers, and archive collectors. The rich red color palette, sharp pointed toe, and sleek stiletto silhouette create a timeless statement piece that feels equally relevant for modern wardrobes. A rare opportunity to acquire an increasingly difficult-to-find pair from the early 2000s Dior archives, especially in a wearable size. Details • Christian Dior by John Galliano • Fall 2001 era • Size 37.5 • Textured red leather upper • Burgundy leather trim and detailing • Pointed toe • Stiletto heel • Leather sole • Made in Italy Condition Very good preowned condition with light wear consistent with age and use. Light wear to soles and minor signs of handling. Please review photographs carefully. An exceptional Galliano-era Dior piece for collectors of archive fashion, vintage designer footwear, and early 2000s luxury. Keywords: Christian Dior heels, Galliano Dior, archive Dior, vintage Dior shoes...
Dior Spring 2005 Red Leather Whipstitch CD Buckle dOrsay Block Heels 41
By John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in San Jose, CA
Dior by John Galliano Spring 2005 red leather whipstitch heels from the iconic Dior era that defined early 2000s luxury fashion. Crafted in rich red leather with contrast whipstitch detailing, oversized CD logo hardware, rounded toe silhouette, and substantial block heel. Originally featured in the Spring 2005 collection and highly sought after by collectors of Galliano-era Dior. A standout piece for collectors of vintage Dior, Y2K designer fashion, archive luxury, runway-era accessories, and early 2000s designer footwear. Features: Christian Dior by John Galliano Spring 2005 Collection Red leather construction CD logo buckle detail Contrast whipstitch trim Block heel Made in Italy Size 41 Includes Dior dust bag A rare opportunity to own an authentic piece from one of the most collectible periods in Dior history. Keywords: Galliano Dior, Dior 2005, vintage Dior shoes...
2004 Christian Dior Galliano D’Trick White Leather Pointed Sporty Kitten Heels
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Sheffield, GB
2004 Christian Dior by John Galliano D’Trick Red Leather & Leopard Pointed Court Shoe Heels, named in homage to Marlene Dietrich featuring perforated leather, Chrome ‘D’ Buckles and...
Dior John Galliano FW1998 Runway Mary Jane Pumps Archive Heels EU 37.5
By John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in San Jose, CA
Christian Dior by John Galliano Fall/Winter 1998 runway Mary Jane pumps from one of the designer's most celebrated archive collections. A rare pair featured on the FW1998 runway and famously owned by Kate Moss. A true piece of fashion history with virtually no availability on today's market. Beautifully crafted in multicolor leather with textured lizard accents, these sculptural heels feature an elongated pointed toe, delicate Mary Jane strap, elegant stiletto heel, and Galliano's signature patchwork color blocking. The rich mix of oxblood, raspberry, crimson, and chartreuse creates an unmistakable late-90s Dior...
2004 Christian Dior Galliano D’Trick Red Leather Leopard Pointed Kitten Heels
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in Sheffield, GB
2004 Christian Dior by John Galliano D’Trick Red Leather & Leopard Pointed Court Shoe Heels, named in homage to Marlene Dietrich featuring perforated leather, Chrome ‘D’ Buckles and...
Dior By John Galliano 2000S/S runway ensemble
By Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
Introducing the iconic Christian Dior blue open-knit bodycon dress from the Spring-Summer 2000 collection, meticulously crafted by the visionary designer, John Galliano. This knee-le...
Christian Dior by John Galliano Triple-Layered Gown, Fall/Winter 2005
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
An exceptionally rare archival piece from John Galliano’s Fall/Winter 2005 collection for Dior, this triple-layered slip gown reflects the romantic complexity that defined many of hi...
Dior by John Galliano 2006 beaded lace style gown
By Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
Long gowns like these barely make the resell market. Especially with a trail like this one. Perfect for a stand out look, and the lace detail isn’t actually lace, It’s completely mad...
Vintage Christian Dior by John Galliano F/W 2001 Domino Silk Ensemble
By Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
Step into John Galliano’s whimsical universe with this two-piece silk ensemble from Christian Dior’s Fall/Winter 2001 collection. Showcasing the iconic playing card and domino motif,...
Christian Dior by John Galliano Mini Zipper Skirt, SS2004 Runway
By Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
A striking mini skirt from Christian Dior by John Galliano’s Spring Summer 2004 runway, embodying the collection’s industrial and playful edge. Crafted from eyelet lace fabric combin...
Christian Dior Pink Suede & Lace Two-Piece Set, Fall/Winter 2000
By Christian Dior
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
A rare archival ensemble from Christian Dior’s Fall/Winter 2000 collection under John Galliano, this two-piece set embodies the designer’s signature blend of romanticism and edge. Cr...
Andy Warhol and the fashion house’s first collections were among the creative director’s inspirations.
There's a renewed appreciation for the era's aesthetic, perhaps most notably among millennials seeking authentic, easy style.
