Christian Dior, French, 1905-1957

Suit (Jacket, Skirt and Stole), Fall 1952

Wool and silk velvet

Gift of Mrs. Sybil Harrington  1968.c.499.A-C

This sharply defined suit from Dior’s autumn 1952 line, which he called, “Profile.” Its austere silhouette, with an accentuated hip line that descended from his famous “Bar” jacket of 1947, became identified as “The New Look.”

The velvet collar and tailored fit of the jacket are inspired by riding habits of the mid to late nineteenth century. However, the architechtonic cut of the front panel - with its diagonal shaping darts and its side seam placed an inch and a quarter toward the back - produced a shape that was truly original. 

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