This garment represents a development for Christian Dior who made his dramatic debut in the previous season with his New Look collection. The combination of wild leopard skin and elegant silhouette creates an unexpectedly harmonious look.
The New Look - Dior’s nostalgic and elegant first collection featuring soft shoulders, a narrow waist and a full skirt - was the polar opposite of the austere clothing worn by women during the Second World War. The New Look, which heralded an era of peace, became an international success and went on to define fashion in the 50s. Dior also succeeded in restoring Paris as the center of fashion, with the city becoming, once again, the forerunner of fashion around the world.