Christian Dior's spectacular rise to the upper echelons of the Parisian haute couture scene is one of the most compelling stories of twentieth-century fashion. An art gallerist with a contemporary vision, Dior's debut haute couture collection invented the 'new look' silhouette and revolutionized the way women dressed, shopped and saw themselves. The House of Dior's unique look blended the traditional, artisanal skills of the French fashion house - tailoring and intricate embellishment - with a modern sensibility.