Miss Dior: A Story of Couture and Courage

In terms of fashion history books, there tend to be fewer releases each year than other busier genres. However, when they are released, they are usually highlights of the reading year. Justine Picardie’s Miss Dior is one of those books. I’ve been waiting for this book for months, and it has not disappointed. Christian Dior is one of my favourite figures in fashion, and I’m always happy to get to know him and his life more. And his sister Catherine is a key figure. Today’s Style File Friday post is my review of Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture!

***Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture*, Justine Picardie**

When the French designer Christian Dior presented his first collection in Paris in 1947, he changed fashion forever. Dior’s “New Look” created a striking, romantic vision of femininity, luxury, and grace, making him—and his last name—famous overnight. One woman informed Dior’s vision more than any other: his sister, Catherine, a Resistance fighter, concentration camp survivor, and cultivator of rose gardens who inspired Dior’s most beloved fragrance, Miss Dior. Yet the story of Catherine’s remarkable life—so different from her famous brother’s—has never been told, until now.

Drawing on the Dior archives and extensive research, Justine Picardie’s Miss Dior is the long-overdue restoration of Catherine Dior’s life. The siblings’ stories are profoundly intertwined: in Occupied France, as Christian honed his couture skills, Catherine dedicated herself to the Resistance, ultimately being captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbruck, the only Nazi camp solely for women. Seeking to trace Catherine’s story as well as her influence on her brother, Picardie traveled to the significant places of Catherine’s life, including Les Rhumbs, the Dior family villa with its magnificent gardens; the House of Dior in Paris; and La Colle Noire, Christian’s chateâu that he bequeathed to his sister.

Inventive and captivating, and shaped by Picardie’s own journey, Miss Dior examines the legacy of Christian Dior, the secrets of postwar France, and the unbreakable bond between two remarkable siblings. Most important, it shines overdue recognition on a previously overlooked life, one that epitomized courage and also embodied the astonishing capacity of the human spirit to remain undimmed, even in the darkest circumstances.

Why You Should Read This…

When one hears “Miss Dior”, you usually think of the perfume of the same name. And for good reason- it was named for the Miss Dior. However, the Miss Dior in question lead a fascinating life, and I am happy to see this Dior inspiration and muse finally in the spotlight.

Although I’m sharing this on Style File Friday and this is included with fashion history books, there is actually not an overwhelming amount of fashion history in Miss Dior. Much of the book is dedicated to Catherine’s time in Ravensbruck- I don’t typically read/study the war periods, so this was all new (but overwhelmingly sad) information to me. She was an incredible woman, and other being known as the namesake for the now-famous perfume, there is little widely known. I loved that Picardie used Catherine’s familial connections as a framing device because it certainly brought in several more readers (myself included).

Listening to this audiobook certainly added more depth to Christian’s life. If you haven’t read anything about Christian Dior’s biography/story, I would recommend doing quick reading before you start (my Style History post on Dior is a great introduction!). I did find that the “couture” side of the story did rather get lost, and knowing what was going on for her brother rounded the book out nicely.

Overall, this book is fascinating and enlightening. It is not a particularly light read, but neither was Catherine’s life. Picardie is an immensely talented writer, and her skill shines through!