From their gold garments for the rising French singer Aya Nakamura to the magical gown created for the iconic Céline Dion, discover how Dior added a touch of flair to the Olympics.
For those who couldn’t secure tickets to the Olympics or Paralympics, Dior is giving you the opportunity to get a final taste of the event through the lens of fashion. The Galerie Dior in Paris is now showcasing the costumes they specifically crafted for the Olympics opening ceremony, on display until the 30th of September at their historic building, 15 rue François 1er, 75008, Paris. This exhibition reinforces the strong adaptability of the House since its creation in 1946, and it shows how impactful it still is on a global stage.
Since its inauguration, the Galerie Dior has been a show of the avant-garde boldness of Christian Dior and his prominent successors such as Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. The current exhibition of the Galerie perpetuates the House’s heritage with a unique scenographic narrative. Already on display are their archive pieces, perfumes and accessories in the historic building on Avenue Montaigne.
With LVMH’s huge partnership during the Olympics, Dior played an important role in making these haute couture pieces for some of the performers during the opening and closing ceremonies. As for the choice of the artists they dressed such as Céline Dion, Aya Nakamura, and Lady Gaga. It perfectly represented Christian Dior’s women’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s vision under her leadership, it is not the dress that creates an impact, but the attitude of the woman wearing it; a choice that sublimates the audacious singers.
Dior had a strong impact until the end of the Games as they designed costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies with Yseult and her all-black dress reinterpretation of the iconic Dior BarJacket. This was particularly striking with the recent success of her song Alibi, where Yseult overtakes Aya Nakamura by becoming the French singer with the most international listeners on Spotify. Along with Sevdaliza and Pabllo Vittar, with its sensual melody, the song has been used by over 6 million users on TikTok.
Directed by Thomas Jolly, we know today that these two ceremonies were a huge success, drawing a record 23.2 million viewers. Even in the midst of a tense French political climate, still perpetuating today with the criticized election of the new Prime Minister. Prolonging the event’s emotion, the different rooms of the Galerie Dior immerse you in the excellence of their artisanat.
Unfolding into 13 rooms over 3 floors, the museum recounts the different eras of the House. Between the walls of some of the rooms, such as The Paris room, visitors can take in the black corseted bustier, voluminous skirt, and the jacket in gradients of deep black and pink feathers that was worn by the pop star, Lady Gaga, for her performance of Mon Truc en Plumes.
The Bal Dior room, unveils the draped dress made for the mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel, using Dior’s prodigious draping technique. This dress, composed of a white silk bustier with an asymmetrical peplum dress in silk crepe, extended by a red train that ingeniously morphed into the French flag, was strikingly worn while Saint-Cirel sang the French National Anthem.
In Dior’s most emblematic room where they exhibit all the pieces made for their precious affinities between the House and stars, is Aya Nakamura’s outfit on display. An iconic two-piece nude corset underneath the asymmetrical dress adorned with golden feathers hand-applied by Maison Lemarié artisans, evoking the fiery lure of a phoenix.
In the final room, you will meet the famous silver dress made for singer Céline Dion, which was worn during her performance with l’Hymne à l’Amour. The dress was constructed of over 500 meters of fringed detailing and thousands of silver beads.
Envisioned by Grazia Chiuri, the costumes honored her wish to embellish a woman’s personality as they embellished the magic of the Ville Lumière Olympiques. So if like many others during the Games you switched on your television to be mesmerized by the magic of the House’s creations, you can now go and see them up close at the Galerie Dior until the 30th of September.
All imagery courtesy of Dior.
