When Maria Grazia Chiuri ascended to the helm of Christian Dior in 2016, she brought with her a reverence for tailoring, a romantic slant, a respect for the house’s past, and her signature feminist fire. The first woman to lead the French fashion house since it was founded in 1946, she revolutionized the Dior woman with wearable yet interesting clothes made for an array of occasions and generations.
Throughout her time as creative director, Chiuri embraced the house codes with flair, softening the sculptural characteristics of Monsieur Dior’s original “New Look” throughout both ready-to-wear and couture collections. She fleshed out the tailoring aspects and embraced unique aspects of the house’s DNA, like Dior’s connection with ballet and devotion to tarot cards (Monsieur Dior designed costumes for the ballet and had a personal affinity for tarot cards). Not to mention, Chiuri’s released accessories that ascended to cult-favorite status—remember the J’adior kitten heels?—and handbags like the Book tote, whose massive sales fueled the business side of the legacy brand.
Over the last decade, Chiuri also staged theatrical, imaginative runway shows in Paris and abroad. She’s known for embracing the heritage of each place she travels, be it Morocco or Mexico City, to stage her larger-than-life resort and pre-fall shows, employing local artisans and feminist creatives to add to the Dior dialogue. In addition to immaculately constructed clothing, her Paris shows often featured the unique work of artists, choreographers, and performers.
On the red carpet, Dior ambassadors, from Jennifer Lawrence to Charlize Theron to Natalie Portman, bolstered the brand’s iconography on a global platform.
Here, we’ve highlighted the most iconic moments throughout Chiuri’s celebrated tenure to celebrate her legacy.
The Debut Collection
Exercising her feminist side, Grazia Chiuri referenced Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be Feminists” essay on t-shirts in her debut collection.
The J’Adior Heels
First released with the spring 2017 collection, Chiuri’s J’Adior kitten heels quickly ascended to cult-favorite status.
A New Naked Dress
Bella Hadid wore the standout look from Chiuri’s debut collection at a Dior Beauty party in New York in 2016, spawning a new transparent trend.
The Dior Book Tote is Born
The Spring 2018 collection witnessed the launch of the iconic Dior Book Tote.
The New Dior Muse
Chiuri often enlisted model Ruth Bell, with her signature short hair, to open shows and front her campaigns.
The Re-Release of An Icon
Dior re-released the house’s iconic Saddle bag in 2018.
A Ballet Influence
The house of Dior has a history of intertwining with the ballet—Monsieur Dior designed costumes for performances in Paris. Chiuri expanded on that, as seen in the Spring 2019 collection.
The Resort 2020 Collection Shown In Morocco
The Resort 2020 collection, shown in Morocco, utilized wax printing, a technique authentic to that part of North Africa.
Natalie Portman’s Statement Cape at The Oscars
At the 2020 Oscars, Natalie Portman wore a cape embroidered with the names of female directors who failed to be nominated that year.
The New Greek Goddess
For her Spring 2020 Haute Couture show, Chiuri reimagined the Greco-Roman goddess with billowing pleated skirts and twisted draping.
Embracing the Tarot Legacy
The Spring 2021 couture show featured Renaissance-inspired silhouettes in the form of iconic Tarot figures.
Yara Shahidi at The Met Gala
Yara Shahidi wore a spectacular Chiuri creation to the 2021 Met Gala.
Keeping The Bar Jacket Alive
Chiuri continuously found new ways to riff on Dior’s iconic bar jacket like this double-breasted number from Spring ‘22 couture.
Natalie Portman Reinvents the Archive
At the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, Dior Beauty ambassador Natalie Portman wore a Dior couture gown inspired by the iconic ‘Junon’ dress designed by Christian Dior in 1949.
A Pre-Fall Collection in India
Chiuri showed her Pre-Fall 2023 collection in India.
Feminist Dresses in Mexico City
Chiuri closed the Dior Resort 2024, shown in Mexico City, with a parade of white dresses featuring red embroidery of artist and activist Elina Chauvet and a collective of female artisans.
Jennifer Lawrence at The Oscars
Jennifer Lawrence wore a charming Dior polka-dot number to the 2024 Oscars.
J’Adore Dior Makes a Comeback
Most recently, Chiuri re-released the iconic J’Adore Dior T-shirt in the Fall 2025 collection.
A New “New Look”
Yseult wore a new rendition of the iconic “New Look” at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
Celine Dion at the Paris Olympics
Celine Dion wore Dior for her performance at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
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