In January 2025, the iconic designer Christian Dior would have celebrated his 120th birthday. He succeeded in creating a brand that became a phenomenon. His name is still synonymous with elegance and style, not only in the fashion world but also in cosmetics. Few people know, however, that Christian Dior believed in fate and was highly superstitious.
He was one of the most influential and talented French and international fashion designers of all time. Born on January 21, 1905, in Granville, Normandy, a small town frequented by the French elite, young Christian was captivated by the luxurious gowns and elegant suits worn by the wealthy visitors. Despite this, his parents long hoped he would become a respected diplomat.
A meeting with destiny
In 1919, the 14-year-old Christian had his first encounter with a fortune teller, and he believed for the rest of his life that his fate had been sealed. In Granville, he was drawn to a Romani charity street fair. He donned one of the garments and helped a fortune teller sell magical trinkets. As a reward for his efforts, she read his palm that evening. “You will be penniless, but women will always treat you well, and thanks to them, you will ultimately succeed. You will make a great fortune and face many journeys.” Dior recorded this prophecy in his memoirs, and it almost came true to the letter.
Street vendor
As an obedient son, Christian followed his parents’ wishes and studied political science at the École des Sciences Politiques. However, during his studies, it became evident that this was not his path, as the only thing he was intensely devoted was his only passion - designing and sketching costumes and dresses. After finishing secondary school, he pursued his artistic dream in an unconventional way, starting his career as a street vendor selling his designs for around ten cents each.
Crisis and bankruptcy
As the fortune teller had predicted, Dior faced poverty at the beginning of his career. In 1928, he ran a small gallery, supported by his father’s money. His superstitious nature came through even then, as he insisted that the gallery’s sign must not bear the Dior name. When the Great Depression hit, it destroyed his father’s business, leaving Dior’s gallery bankrupt without the family's financial backing.
Madame Delahaye
As Dior tried to regain his footing and reignite his career, World War II interrupted his ambitions. By then, he had a lifelong fortune teller, Madame Delahaye, at his side. As designer Pierre Cardin later recalled, “He wouldn’t do anything without her. Literally nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing.” Madame Delahaye also reassured Dior for more than a year that his beloved sister Catherine, who had been deported, would survive the concentration camp - and she did. From then on, Dior consulted the fortune teller for every major decision.
He listened, and it paid off
Shortly after the war, industrialist Marcel Boussac, one of Dior’s wealthy friends, decided to revive the pre-war department store Philippe et Gaston and invited Christian to collaborate. Dior, of course, sought Madame Delahaye's counsel. She reportedly ordered him to accept, saying that no future offer would compare to this opportunity. She allegedly said, “You must create the Christian Dior fashion house, no matter the conditions.” Based on her advice, Dior persuaded his friend to abandon the established brand and instead finance a new one under the Dior name. Few people know that throughout his career, Dior was technically an employee - the famous Christian Dior brand was owned by Marcel Boussac.
Designer of „flower women“
Christian Dior’s designs went down in history as the “New Look,” and his very first collection was a huge success. With its fitted silhouette, rounded shapes, and full skirts reminiscent of flower petals, the trend was unlike anything seen before. Dior was a master of discovering shapes and silhouettes, and he famously said that he designed “flower women.” Even while building his fashion empire, he continued to be influenced by his fortune teller. His collections always contained exactly thirteen pieces, and in the hem of each, he placed a dried flower of his “lucky bloom,” the lily of the valley, which he also carried with him at all times. He scheduled fashion shows on dates that did not coincide with any unlucky numbers or other symbols of bad luck. Dior also had a particular fondness for the number eight - he founded his fashion house on the 8th of October, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, in a building with eight floors. He also collected various talismans to help him cope with chronic anxiety.
A card laid down
Jacqueline, Countess of Ribes, a fashion icon who Dior dressed, also consulted the same fortune teller as Christian. She later shared that Madame Delahaye had repeatedly advised Dior against traveling to Montecatini, Italy, in 1957 for a vacation. This time, however, Dior did not listen, and tragedy soon followed. While playing cards with friends one evening, Dior, aged 52, suffered a fatal heart attack.
An indelible mark
Despite his hectic lifestyle and the conflicts he faced over his homosexuality, Christian Dior left an indelible mark on the world. His dresses were in high demand at the time, with orders pouring in from Europe and Hollywood. And his legacy extended beyond fashion - Dior perfumes are iconic to this day. After the success of his first perfume, Miss Dior, he developed Diorama the following year. Notably, he also introduced the world’s first unisex fragrance, Eau de Cologne Fraîche. The flowers he adored not only inspired his clothing designs but also became key ingredients in his perfumes. Some of his other famous fragrances include the Poison collection and the men’s fragrance Fahrenheit, which remains beloved by both men and women.
MISS DIOR
One of the iconic fragrances from the house of Dior is Miss Dior, launched in 1947. According to legend, the perfume was ready, but Christian Dior and his team were still looking for the perfect name. One day, Dior was meeting with his muse, Mitzah Bricard, when his younger sister Catherine, who had also contributed to the perfume‘s development, walked into the studio. Upon seeing her, Bricard exclaimed, “Ah, here comes Miss Dior!” And thus, the name was decided.
