SHOWstudio: Blog: DIOR: then

DIOR: then

By Penny Martin, 15:07 Mon 15 Jan 2007

Christian Dior's original workroom

A dress hanging from the roof of Christian Dior's original workroom

The Staircase of 30 Avenue Montaigne

The Grand Salon, where the original Christian Dior Haute Couture presentation was staged.

Just for you: exclusive snaps of Christian Dior's original workroom, views of the staircase at 30 Avenue Montaigne -the Maison Particulère (a prestigious building bigger than a regular town house) that Mr Dior chose for his HQ, positioned at the intersection between all the big Parisian hotels to capitalise on the nearby international clientelle- and pictures of the Grande Salon where the very first Christian Dior Haute Couture presentation was held. What an extraordinary privilege!

When ushering me around the Grand Salon, the European Press Director Valeriane Van der Noordaa told me that when he accompanied her on this tour, Karl Lagerfeld was able to show her the precise spot in the salon where he had sat (next to a pillar) when he had attended the Couture as a boy. And I repeat: he had attended the Couture as a boy!

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MRS . Penny Martin thank you so much for these wornderfull photos!!!!! its is very interesting the "view" you gave us from the dior's haute couture heart!!!!

By geomavro_artdeco at 10:50 Tue 16 Jan 2007 | reply to this >

G_A, how thrilling to have such a receptive audience! Thank you. In fact -and you needn't spare my feelings here- I'm a pretty dismal photographer and that's the truth of it. Given that curating photography is my background, I used to take a rather perverse pleasure in being the world's worst (never trust a photographer/photographic curator!). The logic is: I know what a good photograph looks like and mine aren't it! But now that I'm rarely without a picture phone for SHOWstudio, I'm having to get better at it. Well, a bit.

Anyway, enough of me and photography: the secret innards of Dior are indeed pretty amazing, aren't they? I mean, that's Christian Dior's work bench!!

By Penny Martin at 12:40 Tue 16 Jan 2007 | reply to this >

the only thing i want to add is ...wow!!!! the only thing the audience is watching is the final stage. thats really interesting its true!!!!!!

By geomavro_artdeco at 16:21 Tue 16 Jan 2007 | reply to this >

The contrast of the grand salon vs. the workroom, another reality check of what's behind the glamour...

By KaWai at 20:14 Tue 16 Jan 2007 | reply to this >

Thanks Penny, I did not receive tickets for any of your video clip shows so this was a real treat. Yes, a good seat does improve the quality.

DIOR: then

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