Christian Dior Fact Sheet: Who was Christian Dior? The following short biography and fact sheet provides interesting facts about the life, times and history of Christian Dior.

Christian Dior Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1905 - 1957 *** Full Name: Christian Dior *** Occupation: French Fashion Designer *** Date of Birth: Christian Dior was born on January 21st 1905 *** Place of Birth: Christian Dior was born in Granville, Manche, France *** Family background: His father was Maurice Dior and his mother was Isabelle Cardamone. His father owned his own business in fertilizer manufacturing and the family were very well off *** Early life and childhood: He grew up with four siblings and when he was five years of age the family moved to live in Paris but would return to Normandy for their summer vacations *** Education: Christian Dior had a normal education ***

Christian Dior Fact 1: Christian Dior was born on January 21st 1905 and during the 20th century period in history when so many wonderful and terrible events shaped a New World. World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War but also such marvels as advances in medicine, technology, travel, the expansion of car travel and air travel and a massive change within the industry of entertainment and fashion.

Christian Dior Fact 2: His father had high hopes of him having a career as a diplomat but instead Christian was more artistic and had his heart set on become involved in the artistic world.

Christian Dior Fact 3: He would earn himself extra money by drawing fashion sketches and selling them outside his house.

Christian Dior Fact 4: Although his father had wanted him to become a diplomat he still nevertheless gave him financial support when he left school to open an art gallery where Christian, together with a friend sold pieces of art by such artist as Pablo Picasso.

Christian Dior Fact 5: However this idyllic life soon turned when not only his mother but his brother died and his father’s business floundered, causing him to lose control, all during the Great Depression. This also resulted in Christian having to close down his art gallery.

Christian Dior Fact 6: This would however, lead Christian to an opportunity to design for Robert Piguet fashion house for three Piguet collections. He once said “Robert Piguet taught me the virtues of simplicity through which true elegance must come”.

Christian Dior Fact 7: Called up for his national military service Christian had to leave Robert Piguet.

Christian Dior Fact 8: Once his military service was complete he joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong, together with Pierre Balmain they were the primary designers.

Christian Dior Fact 9: Although it was not ideal, during World War II, in an attempt to preserve the French fashion industry, French designers were designing clothing for the wives of French collaborators and Nazi officers. It would transpire that Lucien's sister, Catherine, was a member of the French resistance although she was captured by the Gestapo, she was incarcerated in Ravensbruck concentration camp until the end of the war.

Christian Dior Fact 10: Post war, Christian was fortunate to be invited by Marcel Boussac, a highly successful entrepreneur who was known as Frances richest man to design for a long standing fashion house for Philippe et Gaston.

Christian Dior Fact 11: His style of design was very curvaceous, tiny waists held in by corsetry, bustier style bodices with many petticoats, much fabric, as opposed to the limited fabric during the war years, together with lots of flare.

Christian Dior Fact 12: A draw back because of the fashion during the war years and the lack of fabric was that women had become use to showing more leg and unused to so much fabric.

Christian Dior Fact 13: Eventually over time, France would once again be seen as the center for fashion.

Christian Dior Fact 14: He would be heard to say “I have designed flower women” and eventually women began to enjoy looking like women again with curvaceous figures.

Christian Dior Fact 15: Christian Dior died suddenly while on holiday in Montecatini in Italy on October 23rd 1957 of a heart attack, aged fifty two. The cause of the heart attack remains undisclosed. His body was laid to rest in the Cimetiere de Callian in Var, France.

Influence and Legacy: Christian Dior is today known across many luxury items including clothing for women and men, fragrances, make up and skincare as well as jewelry and watches and including children’s clothing.