Dior Enchanting Gardens

An exquisite book on the role of gardens and flowers in the life and work of Christian Dior, and how they have influenced creation at the House of Dior ever since.

Christian Dior had a special love for gardens and all things floral, which first blossomed during his childhood spent at the family home in Granville and developed throughout his life. Flowers have accompanied the couturier as a significant source of inspiration for his designs since the inception of the New Look, placed beneath the iconic corolla symbol, and the creation of his first fragrance, Miss Dior. Gardens were special havens in his private life, and gardening was a lasting personal passion.

This volume explores how flowers and gardens have been an essential element and influence for all the creatives at the helm of the House, in both couture and perfumes. Chapters present the gardens of Christian Dior’s private residences--from his childhood home Les Rhumbs in Granville, to his Château de La Colle Noire in Montauroux, via the Moulin-du-Coudret in Milly-la-Forêt; revisit the historical fragrances of the House; showcase a collection of portraits of dresses that reveal the floral inspiration in the collections from Christian Dior’s era to today, with a special focus on the most emblematic designs by all creative directors of the House: from the early flowery vision of femininity to contemporary floral-inspired designs. Rare archival materials are featured alongside images of campaigns and exhibitions by prominent photographers such as Henry Clarke, Patrick Demarchelier, Brigitte Niedermair, and Paolo Roversi, illustrating a decades-long unmistakable floral signature.

Brigitte Richart is director of the Musée Christian Dior in Granville and general curator of the exhibition Dior: Enchanting Gardens. Philippe Deliau is landscape specialist at the École nationale d’ingénieurs des travaux de l’horticulture et du paysage of Angers, France. Amy de La Haye is chair of dress history and curatorship and joint director of the Research Centre for Fashion Curation at London College. Barbara Jeauffroy-Mairet is curator at Musée Christian Dior in Granville and cocurator of the exhibition Dior: Enchanting Gardens. Vincent Leret is heritage manager at Christian Dior Parfums and cocurator of the exhibition Dior Enchanting Gardens. He is the author of several books on Dior, including Dior and Roses (Rizzoli, 2021). Coline Zellal is an artist and art historian specializing in perfumes and gardens history.