There are some Dior designers that I prefer to others. Obviously Christian Dior himself is second to none, but I think that Gianfranco Ferré is an unsung hero of the house. He led the House of Dior from 1989 and 1996 and brought a lot of creativity to the house while staying true to historic Dior elements. With it being autumn here in the northern hemisphere very soon, I knew I wanted to turn to outerwear. Specifically, a Ferré creation. Gianfranco Ferré’s Dior Cecil coat is a marvel, and highlights his talent as a designer!
Who Was Gianfranco Ferré?
As I mentioned above, Ferré led the House of Dior from 1989 to 1996. Followed by the elaborate and theatrical John Galliano, his time seems to be eclipsed, but he made his mark. Interestingly, Ferré was an architect by trade- not a designer. He started his own line in 1978, but was thrilled to be appointed by Dior. “He crafted dramatic, structured silhouettes using the finest fabrics and rich embellishments. His strong lines frequently referenced the nipped-in waists and the large skirted ballgowns of Dior’s ‘New Look’.” (Oriole Cullen, Christian Dior, 142.)
The Dior Cecil Coat
With drama and structure in mind, we turn to the Cecil coat. Although it might look subdued next to some of the extravagant ballgowns in the exhibition, this coat is stunning in person. And it is from the Haute-Couture Autumn/Winter 1989 collection, one of my favourites- the Ascot-Cecil Beaton collection. My love of Cecil Beaton is documented on the blog, but I get excited seeing him “out in the world”. I think that this coat combines Beaton’s drama and theatricality with the Dior hallmarks that we know and love. Now if only this coat was available to purchase now….
What do you think of the Dior Cecil coat? Would you wear it?
Cheers,
The Historian
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