“Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection” in Paris: the 101 looks that retell fashion history

Paris has a new exhibition that is currently attracting fashion fans like magic: “Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection”. Two designers, two worlds – and yet a perfect match. Anyone in Paris, whether on a short trip or a weekend tour, should not miss this show. It is already one of the most exciting fashion experiences of the year. Stephan from CM Models takes us to “Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection” in Paris.

The exhibition: Dior meets Alaïa

The show takes place in the Galerie Dior. The museum is located not far from the Champs-Élysées and takes visitors through various rooms that look like miniature sets. Each area shows a different moment from the history of Dior – complemented by Alaïa’s impressive private collection.

“What I found most interesting? Here you can see Dior pieces that even the Dior archive no longer has! Alaïa’s collection is breathtaking. By the way, it comprises 20,000 pieces in total.” – Stephan

101 looks from 70 years of fashion

The focus is on 101 couture looks created over several decades. Christian Dior himself is represented, as are his successors: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano and Maria Grazia Chiuri. So you don’t just see fashion, but the development of an entire fashion house.

• Looks from Dior to Chiuri
• Romantic, sculptural and modern silhouettes
• Original couture that is extremely rare today

Archive treasures that you would otherwise never see

Each look is accompanied by small pieces of information from the Dior archive: sketches, fabric details, photos from the atelier and occasional references to which model wore a look first. These insights make the exhibition not only beautiful, but also extremely informative.

• Sketches from different Dior eras
• Fabric samples and materials
• Archive images from the couture production

All details about the exhibition are also available directly from Galerie Dior.

Address & Entrance

• Full price: 16 € (from 27 years)
• Reduced: 12 € (10-26 years)
• Children: free (under 10 years)

La Galerie Dior
11, rue François-Ier, 75008 Paris

Dannasanyla: The largest private couture collection in the world

Most of the outfits come from the “Dannasanyla” collection, which is preserved by the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. The collection is considered to be the largest private fashion collection ever.

20,000 fashion pieces – and hundreds of Dior originals

The collection comprises more than 20,000 pieces. Many of them are so rare that even Dior no longer owns them. Around 700 Dior looks are archived exclusively here – a treasure that makes the exhibition possible.

• 20,000 pieces from different decades
• Many Dior designs only available here
• Private collection with museum quality

Alaïa’s passion for collecting

Azzedine Alaïa began collecting historical fashion back in the 1960s. He bought at auctions in Paris, London and New York – often faster than museums. Without this passion, many couture pieces would be lost today.

• Actively collected since the 60s
• Many clothes saved from disappearing
• Today the basis of the Fondation Alaïa

Azzedine Alaïa: the designer behind the power silhouettes

Alaïa was one of the designers who redefined silhouettes: tight, form-fitting, strong. Supermodels like Naomi Campbell made his looks famous. Fun fact: Before he created his own fashion world, he worked briefly at Dior – a few days as an intern, which today has almost legendary status.

From studio intern to fashion genius

• Clothing that emphasizes figure and shape
• Influential for runways of the 80s and 90s
• Starting point: an exceptionally short Dior internship

Here you can see how Alaïa has permanently changed fashion:

The collector Alaïa

Parallel to his career, Alaïa was a tireless collector. He rescued entire collections when fashion houses threatened to liquidate them. A large part of today’s fashion archives only exist thanks to his initiative.

• Unique designer pieces secured
• Many collections fully preserved
• Today part of the Fondation Alaïa

Christian Dior: The man behind the New Look

Christian Dior changed the fashion world in 1947 with his New Look: narrow waist, cherry-shaped hips, wide skirts. The exhibition shows several of these iconic silhouettes – and why they are still considered the epitome of elegance today. Here you can find another of Dior’s most powerful interviews.

The New Look silhouette

• Narrow waist
• Round, soft shapes
• Classic and timeless

How Dior has evolved

After Dior, designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Bohan, Galliano, Ferré and Chiuri took over the fashion house. Each had their own style, but the Dior DNA always remained recognizable.

• YSL: young, fresh and modern
• Galliano: dramatic and narrative
• Chiuri: reduced and feminine