Explore the world of Dior with an inside scoop highlighting the visual interior aspects presented at the “Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibit. Florence Müller, a Parisian exhibition curator, created the “Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibit that showcased at The Brooklyn Museum this February, alongside interior designer Nathalie Criniére and Director of Exhibition Design Mathew Yokobosky. The exhibition opened to the public on Sept. 10 and ran through Feb. 20.  

Walking into the exhibit, the viewer is immediately placed in an enchanted fairy-tale-like setting. The designers collaborated to create something that resembled the mind of Dior founder Christian Dior by curating each room to fit the persona of each monumental Dior collection. 

The audience is graced at the entrance with a silent visual projection showcasing some of Dior’s most recognizable designs, such as Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday gown, pieces from Dior’s Yves Saint Laurent collection and various looks from the 1955 Haute Collection. Fashion icons such as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Kate Moss grace the screen, walking the runway in Dior looks. The dimmed-light projection allows the viewers to get a sense of how it would feel to be in the audience watching these glamorous women strut in some of the most beautiful designs.

Throughout the exhibit, the viewer is able to observe the various shelves showcasing raw materials such as fabric swatches, accessories and sketches that were left over from Christian Dior himself. If you are not familiar with the design process, the visual setup makes it easy to understand the thought process of what it took to create Dior looks. 

The vibrant clothing pieces are laid out in different variations of a color-coded order. The viewer gets a visual understanding of Dior’s rainbow as the exhibit highlights the most special pieces from various collections. The curators determined the design for the spaces based on each collection, ensuring that the clothing stood out while still creating a sense of appreciation for the design backdrop. For instance, Dior’s 1949 Couture collection features floral designs and the exhibit designers did not fail to impress when curating this collections space. The room expresses a floral and feminine vibe. There are thoughtfully curated platforms that allow the pieces to be noticed in their true form. Projections of clouds, birds and flowers rest behind the articles of clothing, carefully adding glamor to the visual but not overpowering the gorgeous fashion designs. 

Then there is the wall of white — a dazzling room dedicated to Christian Dior’s most immaculate white gowns. The room features white slots where each gown is individually hung with a mirrored ceiling, giving a 360 degree perspective of the installation. The viewers have no other option but to be mesmerized by the jaw dropping visuals. 

The “Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibit appeared  as though it almost came out of a fairytale. The meticulous effort that went into curating a meaningful presentation is a glorifying experience for spectators. Christian Dior paved a way through history with his designs, leaving a lasting mark on fashion. The designers in charge of the presentation outdid themselves as they showcased Dior through the decades in an earnest way.