Miss Dior [electronic resource] : A Story of Courage and Couture (from the acclaimed author of Coco Chanel)
Picardie, Justine2021
eBook
'A gripping story in which Justine Picardie brilliantly contrasts the cruel Old World of wartime France with the hopeful New World epitomised by Christian Dior's New Look.' ANTONIA FRASER 'An incrediible story of courrage, endurace and passion.' MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI, Creative Director of Dior 'An extraodinary biography . . . in this book it is Catherine's story that shines - the quiet Dior who preferred flowers to fashion, the unsung heroine who survived the abuse of the Third Reich to help liberate France. SUNDAY TIMES 'Picardie's book is of the moment, celebrating an unsung hero at a time when female influences are earning new acclaim.' VOGUE Miss Dior is a story of freedom and fascism, beauty and betrayal, roses and repression, and how the polished surface of fashion conceals hidden depths. It paints a portrait of the enigmatic woman behind the designer Christian Dior: his beloved younger sister Catherine, who inspired his most famous perfume and shaped his vision of femininity. Justine Picardie's journey takes her to Occupied Paris, where Christian honed his couture skills while Catherine dedicated herself to the French Resistance, until she was captured by the Gestapo and deported to the German concentration camp of Ravensbrück. With unparalleled access to the Dior family homes and archives, Picardie's research into Catherine's courageous life shines a new light on Christian Dior's legendary work, and reveals how his enchanting 'New Look' emerged out of the shadows of his sister's suffering. Tracing the wartime paths of the Dior siblings leads Picardie deep into other hidden histories, and different forms of resistance and sisterhood. She explores what it means to believe in beauty and hope, despite our knowledge of darkness and despair, and discovers the timeless solace of the natural world in the aftermath of devastation and destruction. The result is an exquisite and unforgettably moving book. *A beautiful, full colour illustrated book featuring exclusive images from the Dior archives* 'Catherine's story is beautifully, hauntingly told in spare and elegant prose by Picardie . . . moving and evocative.' THE TIMES 'The juxtaposition of the terrible shadows and dazzling light is one of the great strengths of this book . . . A very personal, very passionate book.' ARTEMIS COOPER, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT 'Picardie writes: 'The vestiges of Catherine's presence remain as a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom, and why it is worth fighting for.' There are few truer words.' THE SPECTATOR 'Stunning.' RED 'Exqusiite.' COUNTRY LIFE 'Not just beautifully written, this is a stunningly beautiful book.' NOON
Main title:
Author:
Picardie, Justine, Author
Imprint:
[Place of publication not identified] : Faber & Faber, 2021
Collation:
1 online resource (1 text file)
Biography/History:
Justine Picardie is the author of five books, including her critically acclaimed memoir, If the Spirit Moves You: Life and Love After Death, and the international bestseller, Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life. She is a contributing editor to Harper's Bazaar, having previously been its editor-in-chief. She was formerly an investigative journalist for the Sunday Times, a columnist for the Telegraph, editor of the Observer Magazine and features director of Vogue.
ISBN:
9780571356546
Language:
English
BRN:
380519