Dior in Bloom

Celebrating Dior’s floral inspirations in fashion and perfume, this unique volume features a portfolio of rose portraits by acclaimed fashion photographer Nick Knight.

For Christian Dior, perfume was “a door opening into a hidden world.” His first, Miss Dior, inspired by the lush gardens of his childhood home in Normandy, forged an inextricable link between his fashion and fragrance creations. Other scents were inspired by evenings in southern France, lit with fireflies and scented with jasmine. The rose bowers of his family home in Granville; his old mill country house; and the Château de la Colle Noire near Grasse―where jasmine, tuberose, and May roses reign supreme and are still cultivated―inspired Dior’s most memorable creations.

Flowers were also at the heart of Dior’s fashion, from the women-flowers that inspired the late 1940s New Look to the swishing, blossom-like ball gowns embroidered with lavish floral motifs. They have inspired all of the designers who followed him at the House of Dior, from Yves St Laurent to John Galliano, and Raf Simons to Maria Grazia Chiuri.

This extraordinary volume blooms with color and inspiration, and includes rose portraits by Nick Knight, previously unpublished archival documents, exquisite details of embroidery and fabrics, perfumes, fashion sketches, and sublime fashion photographs.

Alain Stella is a traveler and writer. Passionate about the art of living, and the small pleasures that can shape civilizations and history, he is the coauthor of previous Flammarion publications such as Historic Houses of Paris (2010/2019), French Tea: Mariage Frères--Three Centuries of Savoir-Faire (2009), Distinctive Vintages: Fine French Wines and Spirits (2008), The Book of Spices (2000), The Book of Coffee (1997), The Book of Tea (1992/2005), and The Little Book of Coffee (2001).
Justine Picardie is a novelist, fashion writer, and biographer. She is former editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar UK and Town & Country UK.
Naomi Sachs, a therapeutic landscape designer, has published and presented internationally on the positive role of nature in human health and well-being.

Nick Knight is known for his numerous contributions to Vogue and his fashion advertising campaigns.