Raising The Bar: Dior Celebrates 73 Years Of The Bar Jacket
It would not be hyperbolic to say that Dior’s Bar Jacket never goes out of style. Today marks the 73rd anniversary of this quintessential design, practically an age in the fickle world of fashion. Created by Christian Dior in 1947 as part of his inaugural haute couture collection, better known as the “New Look”, the Bar Jacket found immediate success with its clean lines, hourglass silhouette, and luxurious fabric, the complete antithesis to the austere and utilitarian clothes prevalent during the years of World War II.
So named because it was meant to be worn for the cocktail hours of bars in the grand hotels of Paris, the Bar Jacket was (and is) defined by softened shoulders, a nipped-in waist, and a bulbous peplum unfolding like flower petals over the hips, and was often worn with a full, knife-pleated skirt. Perhaps no other style better embodies the revolutionary femininity of Dior than this legendary garment.
Not a one-season wonder but a wear-forever classic, the Bar Jacket has been revisited and reinterpreted by each of the maison’s artistic directors in the decades since, from Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Bohan to Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, and Raf Simons. And of course, current head creative Maria Grazia Chiuri. The Italian designer even made it the cornerstone of the 30 Montaigne collection, a timeless and seasonless line composed of the most iconic looks in house history, like the fashion version of a best hits playlist.
Scroll to check out how the Bar Jacket has evolved over the years:
