RED alert

efore becoming a master couturier, Christian Dior dreamt of many wondrous things: astrological projections, fresh-cut flowers—a fixture of his upbringing on the coast of Normandy—and, of course, feminine beauty. He deviated from just about every assumed standard in order to materialize his vision, from his opulent debut collection in 1947, which veered so drastically from the fabric-conserving styles of the time that it was dubbed the “New Look,” to his frequent use of red, a color once reserved for nobility. Dior employed the evocative hue to liven (“unexpected event”)—and his love for red inspired him to dress not only a woman’s body but also her smile. In 1953, Rouge Dior was born, a lipstick housed in an artful obelisk of gold and glass. The designer’s propensity to play with and set precedent has cemented Dior as a pillar of beauty for over half a century.