In 1947 Christian Dior rocked the fashion world with his New Look, which firmly secured the name of his house in the minds of the public and at the forefront of the industry. He drew on historical models of femininity and the unique skills of Parisian haute couture – as well as a myriad of suppliers – to produce stunning designs that caught the mood of optimism after the Second World War.

Newly expanded and updated to accompany the V&A exhibition, ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’, this absorbing and beautiful book examines the seminal years of Christian Dior, 1947–57, from a truly international perspective.