Saturday, November 23, 2024

Christian Dior in Scotland in 1955 as fashion giant set for glamourous return

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Dior‘s ‘Cruise 2025’ fashion show will take place at the iconic Drummond Castle Gardens in Perthshire on Monday.

The prestigious event will see celebrities and fashion icons from all over the world flock to Scotland to watch the French fashion house’s campaign come to life.




The event will mark the return of the fashion giant to Scotland after 69 years.

Back in 1955, Christian Dior held two fashion shows at the Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire and the Central Hotel in Glasgow to launch the latest collection two shows to raise money for the Friends of France, an organisation, which organises exchange visits for Scottish and French school children.

The brand founder and designer brought 172 dresses and eight models to the Auchterarder hotel’s main lobby.

Dior are launching the ‘Cruise 2025’ line at picturesque Drummond Castle Gardens(Image: SWNS)

The collection was so prestigious that it was transported to Scotland via a private plane and was insured for £60,000.

The models showcased the extravagant pieces on a specially built catwalk in the ballroom.

In Christian Dior’s autobiography, which was published in 1956 a year before his death, he wrote about that evening in Scotland. He said: “After the show, there was an unexpected contrast which delighted my French eyes: The parade of girls in their delicate evening dresses was succeeded by Scottish reels danced by magnificent Scottish gentlemen in their kilts.

Christian Dior held a fashion show at the Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire in 1955

“It looked wonderful, but beneath the frenzied stampings of the dancers, the floor shook and bounced, and we were all nervous that it would collapse.


“Noticing the worried expressions on our faces, the Lord Provost told us that the wooden floor was specially constructed to shake beneath our feet, in order to give the reels added animation.”

Let’s take a look at those stunning images…

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A model on the catwalk during French couturier Christian Dior’s 1955 fashion show at the Central Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland.


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A model on the catwalk during French couturier Christian Dior’s 1955 fashion show in the ballroom at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.

(Image: (Photo by Thurston Hopkins/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images))

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The designer flew eight models, six staff and 172 dresses to Scotland for two shows, at the Central Hotel, Glasgow, and Gleneagles.

(Image: (Photo by Thurston Hopkins/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images))

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Models showcased Dior’s new look which focused on cinched waists, rounded shoulders and full skirts


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Latecomers and people without tickets crowded round the doors to watch the charity show.

(Image: 2018 Getty Images)

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Two models apply their make-up during a flight to Scotland to take part in the Christian Dior fashion show.

(Image: Getty Images)

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Models walking down the 64 foot catwalk during the grand finale of Christian Dior’s 1955 fashion show in Gleneagles.


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Behind the scenes at a preview of Christian Dior’s new collection


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A periwinkle blue linen day dress, with a characteristically flattened bodice and pleated skirt, from Dior’s 1955 collection.

(Image: (Photo by Thurston Hopkins/Getty Images))

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