Dior and Yamamoto

NGV Collection Focus

Dior and Yamamoto: The New Look is a small exhibition that considers two pivotal moments in the history of fashion through designers Christian Dior and Yohji Yamamoto.

In the history of fashion, there have been several moments that have entirely changed the way people dress. In 1947, Dior’s debut spring collection completely transformed fashion from the angular silhouette of the 1940s into softer feminine hourglass shapes with wasp-waists and billowing skirts almost overnight. Carmel Snow at Harper’s Bazaar dubbed it the ‘New Look’. In 1981, Yohji Yamamoto’s debut Paris collection also changed the course of fashion history—shaking up the concept of Western-style clothing with a rag-like collection and throwing the fashion world into controversy. His collections created a new vocabulary in fashion which has altered its course. Yamamoto did not introduce this look alone, but his work holds particular resonance with the work of Dior. This exhibition draws out some of those connections through selected garments, photographs and prints.