An established designer and a fashion industry icon, Mr Dior was only 52 when he died on 24 October 1957.

Frenchman Dior changed the face of fashion for good when he created the “New Look”.

It was an ultra feminine style characterized by very narrow, corseted waists and full petit-coated skirts. Its indulgent fabrics and elegant style epitomized the changing conscious of the post-war era, rejecting the boxy look that designers had employed during War.

Throughout the 40’s and 50’s Mr Dior's name became synonymous with style, sensuality and femininity. He remains an iconic name in high fashion even today.

Christian Dior was born into a wealthy family, in Granville, Normandy in France on 23 January 1905. As a young man he was inspired by the bohemian arts scene and culture of Paris, but although he wanted to be an artist his parents insisted he study to be a diplomat, so he trained from 1923 to 1926 at Ecole des Sciences Politiques.

In 1928, after leaving school he decided to become an art dealer and with money from his father he started a small gallery in Paris, but was forced to close it when he became ill with tuberculosis.

Mr Dior's career as a designer was initiated when, in 1935, he moved to Paris and began working as a fashion illustrator.

In 1938, he got a job as an assistant designer Robert Piguet, a leading couturier of Paris. Later working for designers including Marcel Boussac and Lucien Lelong.

He designed his debut collection for Corolle Line in 1947, a line that established his “New Look “ – a phrase coined by Carmel Snow of Harper's Bazaar – the style that was to make Mr Dior’s name.

Financed by textile magnate Marcel Boussac, he established his own fashion house, Christian Dior Inc. With Rita Hayworth and Dame Margot Fonteyn amongst its fans, his reputation was soon established.

As Mr Dior raised skirts he built up his brand. Growing throughout the 1950’s, Dior became the biggest haute couture house in Paris. In 1953 he employed Yves Saint Laurent , as his assistant. Soon he had salons in 15 countries and employed over 2,000 staff, expanding his line from Haute couture to accessories, perfumes and ready-to-wear lines.

In 1957, while Mr Dior was taking a break in the spa town of Montecatini in northern Italy, he died from a heart attack, days after choking on a fishbone at dinner.

Mr Dior’s popularity and his significance was apparent at his funeral - over 2,500 people were in attendance, amongst them famous clients led by the Duchess of Windsor.

Following his sudden death in 1957 Saint Laurent took over as the chief designer. Charged with hastily assembling a collection he accomplished this in just nine weeks. Its success was credited with helping ensure the continuation of the Dior label.

Mr Dior’s significant influence on fashion can be felt even today. The label to which he gave his name remains synonymous with Houte Couture and luxury.

When he died, The French newspaper Le Monde, described him as a man who had “identified with good taste, the art of living and refined culture that epitomises Paris to the outside world”.