Bagni di Lucca and Beyond

One of the best things I did in Paris in September was to visit to the Galerie Dior. It opened in spring 2022 in the private mansion of Monsieur Christian Dior, off Rue Montaigne, beside the Dior Shop. It is a permanent and unique exhibition of the brand’s creations. I could not visit Paris without seeing this.

I booked online, but there was still a bit of a wait to get in. Guests are ushered through the entrance and pointed towards a lift, which takes you to the third floor, where the exhibition begins. On the way to the lift is a spiral staircase diorama with 1874 iconic Dior creations recreated in 3D-printed miniatures.  Visitors get to walk down the stairs at the end of the tour.

Christian Dior began his career as an art gallery owner in 1928, before he became a couturier.
The 1929 financial crisis brought his family’s fortune, and his gallery to an end. For many years he worked as an illustrator and designer for other fashion houses, before opening his own haute couture house in 1946.

The museum presents a beautiful history of Dior from its beginning in 1946 to the present day. Along with the work of Christian Dior other designers who have designed for the house in the decades after the death of the Monsieur Dior in 1957. The first was Yves Saint Laurent, followed by Marc Bohan, Gianfranci Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazie Chiuri.

The exhibition begins, as it should, with the New Look, launched in 1947. The “New Look” celebrated feminity and opulence. Rounded shoulders, cinched waist and a full skirt was an antidote to the restrictions of the war years. It was a new outlook as well as a new style.

From there the viewer is taken back through the history of the fashion house showing garments designed by Christian Dior and the other designers who came after him.

The visitor can walk through Christian Dior’s office to see where the master did his work.

Nearby there is a glass floor to the atelier below.

Then more beautiful clothes to admire.

The white room is wonderful.

Much more to enjoy.

Behind glass, a wall of accessories and small models.

There is  lovely cafe, which was full when I was there…next time.

I went into the stunning shop next door. It repeats some of the displays in the Galerie.

There is a divine cafe in the store where I decided to stop for a coffee or snack. The tables were all full so I sat at the bar and had a chat with the charming attendant. He handed me a menu. A coffee was €16 and a pastry €22. I settled on a caffe tiramisu. It was the best coffee I have ever tasted, probably coffee, cream and chocolate on top.

I loved my visit to the Galerie and the shop and would be tempted to return for another expensive coffee…you only live once.

Click below to see my previous visit to the Christian Dior exhibition at Arts Decoratifs.

Christian Dior Paris