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.
Retro Gold Natural Turquoise Gem .75 Carat Colorless Diamond Necklace circa 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning 14k Yellow Gold Necklace 19.5 inches in length. The stone is set with Turquoise and 8 Natural Round Brilliant collection (F-VS) diamonds weighing approximately 0.75 carats....
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
Retro Gold Natural Turquoise Gem and 0.65 Carat Diamond Necklace Circa 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning 14k Yellow Gold Necklace 19 inches in length. The stone is set with Turquoise and 8 Natural Round Brilliant diamonds weighing approximately 0.65 carats. The piece weighs 2...
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
$25,520Sale Price|20% Off
L 16.8 in
Vintage Aquamarine Diamond Onyx Mauboussin Paris Necklace in 18K Gold
By Mauboussin
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional one-of-a-kind large aquamarine diamond and black onyx necklace attributed to Mauboussin Paris and set in 18 karat yellow gold. This impressive necklace is a vintage creation dating to 1980s and is emblematic of the bold French high-jewelry glamour of that era. A large aquamarine of approximately 24 carats is the highlight of the necklace center pendant and features an ever-elegant emerald-step-cut. The aquamarine displays a rich and lively blue color that lights up beautifully as the necklace is worn. It is also characterized by fine clarity. The vivid aquamarine gemstone floats on top of oval 18 karat yellow gold base which is masterfully inlaid with black onyx and encrusted with sparkling fine white diamonds. The rest of the necklace is composed of elegant oval links, surface of which is accentuated with finely crafted ridges, and diamond set short links in between them. Altogether, the diamonds total approximately 5 carats. The juxtaposition of vivid blue aquamarine against elegant black onyx and a sumptuous frame of glittering diamonds in the pendant, along with the finely crafted necklace links, all make for an incredibly sophisticated and chic statement jewel. The necklace is in excellent condition and bears French hallmarks of the period including a maker’s mark for Péry & Fils which was one of the main jewelry makers for Mauboussin Paris. Also available under separate listings are a bracelet and earrings from the same jewelry suite. Summary: - Vintage necklace dating to 1980s masterfully combines large blue aquamarine, elegant black onyx, white diamonds and 18 karate yellow gold into a bold and chic design that makes for a statement jewel - Featuring large vivid blue aquamarine of approximately 24 carats and of fine clarity - Featuring approximately 5 carats of fine white round diamonds (F-G color) - Necklace measures approximately 16.5 inches (42cm) in length; the center pendant is approximately 1.2 by 1 inch (3cm by 2.6cm) - Attributed to Mauboussin Paris and with French hallmarks of the period including maker’s mark for Péry & Fils (well know Mauboussin jewelry...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Onyx, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Christian Dior Mitchel Maer Turquoise Blue Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
1950s necklace by Mitchel Maer for Christian Dior and fully signed to the reverse in an oval cartouche. This is one of the more well known designs and essential for any collectors o...
Base Metal
Art Deco 18k Gold Turquoise Sapphire Diamond Necklace, Circa 1935
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Turquoise, Sapphire, and Diamond Necklace, 0.85 total carat weight of Diamonds. 18k yellow gold custom cast and handcrafted turquoise, sapphire, and diamond necklace. The seventeen-i...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
$65,950
H 1.05 in W 1.22 in D 0.36 in L 17.5 in
TIFFANY & CO. Necklace In 18Kt Yellow Gold Platinum VS Diamonds & Aquamarine
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
A very rare necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. This is an amazing necklace created in New York City by the American jewelry house of Tiffany & Co. back in the 1980's. The ne...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
20 Karat Aquamarine and Opal Statement Necklace
By Coomi
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Affinity Necklace set in 20K Yellow Gold. 126.85cts Aquamarine, and 15.49cts Opals, 10.17cts Diamonds. Necklace measures at 16inches with a 2inch extender. 15.49cts Opals 126.85cts...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
Vintage 2.75ct Aquamarine Necklace, c.1970s
Located in London, GB
This 1970s rope necklace showcases a 2.75 carat aquamarine as its centre piece. The pale blue stone is pear cut and framed by a ring of rope style chain. Crafted in 18 carat yellow g...
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Christian Dior Crystal Necklace with Sky Blue & Lemon Yellow Crystals
By Christian Dior
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage Christian Dior 1970’s Vintage Bejeweled Necklace with Sky Blue and Lemon Yellow crystals on a golden finish with ivory enamel details. Some light wear as pictured, please zoo...
$10,800Sale Price|30% Off
Aquamarine and Diamond Gold Necklace
Located in Lucerne, CH
Impressive octagonal cut aquamarine of approx. 37.00 ct set in a 18K white gold necklace. Center stone is surrounded by 36 diamonds of total approx. 1.40 ct. Fine workmanship. Stock...
Aquamarine, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Christian Dior Vintage Rare Large Blue Aqua Crystals Omega Interlocked Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Unisex Large Aqua Blue Oval Crystals Pendant Interlocked Link Omega Choker Elegant Modernist Necklace, Gold Tone Very excellent condition. Maybe light s...
Gold Plate
Christian Dior Vintage Rare Crystals Aqua Blue White Pendant Chunky Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Aqua Blue Crystals White Cream Enamel Triangle Large Pendant Chunky Statement Modernist Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very good condition. Some light sc...
Gold Plate, Enamel
Christian Dior Vintage Rare Unisex Gold Blue Aqua Semi Circle Drop Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Unisex Aqua Blue Crystals Semi Circle Drop Pendant Chain Elegant Modernist Necklace, Gold Tone Very excellent condition. Not any stones lost. 100% Genui...
Gold Plate
Christian Dior Vintage Rare Gold Aqua Blue Clear Crystals Shield Beige White Set
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Aqua Blue Triangle Shield Clear Crystals Beige Enamel Chunky Elegant Modernist Jewellery Set Necklace Dome Pierced Earrings, Gold Tone Very good conditi...
Gold Plate
Christian Dior Vintage Blue Aqua Cross Rectangle Openwork Row Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior 1970s Vintage Aqua Light Blue Cross Clear Grey Rectangle Crystals Layers Openwork Pendant Chain Elegant Modernist Necklace, Silver Tone Very excellent condition. Not ...
Silver Plate
Christian Dior Vintage 1967 Gold Turquoise Blue Navy Layers Rope Chunky Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1967 Turquoise Navy Blue Cabochon Crystals 8 Strands Layers Wheat Rope Chain Elegant Chunky Statement Necklace, Gold Plated Very excellent condition. Maybe li...
Gold Plate
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.
