With each new creative director at the reins, the house of Dior evolves. Besides the changes in hemlines and silhouettes, one of the most visible ways a designer puts his stamp on the brand is by the models he chooses to wear his designs. Given the varied talents who have helmed the luxury giant over the years, the ideal Dior model has had many incarnations. Take a look back through the house’s history—and its model-as-muse evolution.
Christian Dior, 1946–1957
Founder Christian Dior’s models were noted for their elegance and innate glamour. The New Look was exemplified by sophisticated house muses like Kouka Denis, Marie-Thérèse Walter, and Lucie Daouphars, all of whom worked with Dior for decades and became close with the designer behind the scenes. Denis, who traveled with Dior to Russia to model his wares in the Red Square in 1959, still attends the brand’s shows nearly five decades later.
Yves Saint Laurent, 1957–1960
Much is said of the models Saint Laurent relied on at his eponymous label, but during his tenure at Dior he had his own set of favorites. (Notably, Victoire Doutreleau, who began her career with Dior but would leave with Saint Laurent when it came time for him to launch his own line.)
Marc Bohan, 1960–1989
With nearly 30 years at the helm, Bohan’s model selection changed with each decade. In the Swinging ’60s, beauties like Prunelia and Dorothy McGowan embodied his forward-thinking look, while later in his career he preferred such legends as Jerry Hall and Veruschka.
Gianfranco Ferré, 1989–1996
At the dawn of the supermodel era, Ferré’s runways consistently featured glamazons with the panache to carry off his architectural creations. Arresting blonde Karen Mulder (a favorite of Ferré for both Dior and his personal line) set the standard.
John Galliano, 1996–2011
Galliano’s showmanship and penchant for drama led him toward models who could bring those fantastic visions to life. It takes a special sort to pull off Galliano’s theatrical couture—or the kabuki-esque Pat McGrath makeup Dior’s shows were once known for. Thankfully, the designer’s muses, including Claudia Schiffer, Karlie Kloss, Gisele Bündchen, Debra Shaw, and Michaela Kocianova, were up to the task.
Bill Gaytten, 2011–12
A believer in the power of prettiness, Gaytten selected models like Melissa Tammerijn, Toni Garrn, Olga Sherer, and Sigrid Agren, whose ladylike beauty meshed with his unapologetically feminine pieces.
Raf Simons, 2012–present
Youth and purity are uniting factors for the models on Simons’s catwalk. While frequently utilizing austere favorites like Kinga Rajzak and Daria Strokous, Simons fills the majority of his lineup with pristine new faces. The designer is so adept at selecting models that he occasionally spots them himself: Spring 2016 opener Sofia Mechetner was discovered by Simons while shopping at Dior’s Avenue Montaigne boutique.
Watch the Dior Spring 2016 ready-to-wear show:
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