Dior’s Grey: Key Dates
1946 : Christian Dior asks Victor Grandpierre a wide use of white and pearl-gray – from now on “Grey Montaigne” – as a key decorative motif for walls, roof, doors, finishes and furnitures, of the new Avenue Montaigne boutique.
1947 : The Montaigne Grey is born. Since the very first collection “New Look”, in 1947, the grey colour, and specifically the pearl grey nuance, becomes a key code for Dior.
1948 : Dior blends genders, lines, materials to impose a new idea of women both modern, classy and romantic. Pearl grey starts to acquire nuances ranging from smoke grey to matt-dark grey.
1957 : In the collections of the transition between Dior and Saint Laurent this new vision of women is enhanced through the addition of blush pink, rose or silver grey nuances to the Montaigne Grey.
1960 : Marc Bohan is able to preserve the maison’s identity during 3 decades. Grey is still protagonist through new materials, cuts, designs or shades like brighter grey, sparkling and shiny grey.
1989 : As the new Dior’s creative director Gianfranco Ferrè brings women in the 90s: edgy tailleures and straight shapes or vaporous shapes. Grey is purely pearl grey or smoky grey.
1995 : The legendary Lady Dior bag is born. And soon smoky, dove or mother of pearl versions will pop up.
1997 : Architect Peter Marino starts a vast reconception of Dior’s private apartments, mansions, boutiques and flagship stores: grey, in a modernized, “icy”, glossy, reflecting and colder version is everywhere.
1997 : During the John Galliano revolution not only Dior’s codes are revisited. The grey, once more, is a distinctive trait. With a preference for smoky grey and mother of pearl.
2000s : Dior doesn’t miss the chance to propose its vision of life and beauty in all the sectors: grey is present in cosmetics, perfumes, home design, eyewear and so on.
2013 : With Gris Montaigne the Color is transformed into a perfume, in a chypre composition where bergamot, rose, oak moss and patchouli mix beautifully evoke the 30 Avenue Montaigne Grey.
2014 : Pink and grey as the 30, Avenue Montaigne. The Dior VIII Montaigne watch collection celebrates the birthplace of the Parisian house. The various watch models are enhanced by the Dior grey.
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