The end of September is Fashion Week in Paris — and what could be more appropriate in a city synonymous with style than a grand, comprehensive museum show celebrating the 70th anniversary of the creation of the house of Dior. The Museé des Arts décoratifs, at the northwestern end of the Louvre, provided the breathtaking setting that contributed so to the sense of elegance and appreciation for this French couturier of dreams (as the title noted). The selection of over 300 haute couture gowns designed between 1947 and the present is joined by a vast display of fashion photographs, sketches, and advertising documents (to name just a few) as well as accessories including hats, bags and shoes.

Considering the delicious clothes (many of the older pieces could be worn today and not look dated) and the monumental setting, I longed to share this with you. It is truly one of the most memorable museum shows that I have seen anywhere in the world.

The silhouette that introduced Christian Dior to the world…in 1947 the very feminine “New Look,” (as it became known) was an antidote to the deprivations and hardships of World War II.

In contrast to the formality of the extravagant space and creations, minimalist plexiglass cases display a collection of “atelier toiles,” the first incarnations of a silhouette inspired by the designer’s sketch.

Party dressing plus!… in a gallery of dizzying heights, lending visual excitement to the overall show.

Alternating with the former breathtakingly vast spaces, smaller more intimate galleries featured the six designers who have worked under the Dior name — Yves Saint Laurent, March Bohan, Gianfanco Ferrè, John Galliano, Raf Simons and, most recently, Maria Grazia Chiuri. A little selection of my favorites, across the seventy years.

The Show, “Christian Dior, Couturier du Reve,”  is open until January 7, 2018. It is well worth making a special trip over…