Glass Reviews … Dior by Marc Bohan

DIOR has long been one of the fashion world’s leaders. Founded in 1946, the brand has continued to maintain the highest level of sophistication and elegance. In a celebration of Dior’s rich heritage, a series of seven books – each devoted to a different designer who has been Dior’s Head of House – is being released. The third instalment of the series recounts the three decades between 1961 and 1989 when Marc Bohan was instated as Creative Director.

Green Park day dress in scarlet wool, Haute Couture Autumn-Winter 1961, Charme 62 collection.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Rosine short dress in ivory silk gabardine, Haute Couture Autumn-Winter 1961, Charme 62 collection.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Tunic dress in cotton embroidered with silver thread, beads, and blue and pink paillettes,
Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1966. Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Undoubtedly one of Dior’s most successful Creative Directors, Bohan made waves in the fashion industry, making connections with world-renowned artists and using his admirations of faraway cultures to bring a spirit of freedom and discovery to the brand. His first collection, dubbed the Slim Look, brought innovative and relaxed silhouettes to the Dior woman – a contrast to Dior’s previous silhouettes with the collection press release stating, “The silhouette is supple, slim, the shoulders are natural, the waist sinuous, the hips are very flat. The skirts flare gently in an alert movement and stop just below the knee.”

Evening dress in white and red cotton gabardine, Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1966.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Afternoon dress in orange wool jersey, Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1972.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Evening ensemble in scarlet silk taffeta and silk jersey, Haute Couture Autumn-Winter 1976.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Our understanding of Bohan’s success as Dior’s creative director is documented and explained through the words of Jérôme Hanover and illustrated by hundreds of timeless images – both shot by Laziz Hamani and archival photographs – giving us an understanding of how Marc Bohan shaped Dior into the sophisticated brand we still adore today.

Evening dress in yellow silk gazar, Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1983.
Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

 Evening ensemble in red and blue satin with trompe-l’œil collar, embroidered with a floral motif in red paillettes and black beads, Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1983. Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

Evening ensemble in black velvet embroidered with gold, metallic grey, and black paillettes, embellished with cockerel feathers at the waist, Haute Couture Autumn- Winter 1986. Photograph: Laziz Hamani from Dior by Marc Bohan

by Todd Burns

Dior by Marc Bohan is available now at Foyles priced at £150