Christian Dior’s Longest Serving Designer, Marc Bohan, Dies at 97 – celebritiestalks
Marc Bohan, the creative force behind Christian Dior’s most iconic collections for three decades, died on Sept. 6 at age 97 in Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
According to a public notice on the site Libra Memoria, religious services are scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Saint-Nicolas church, to be followed by a cremation.
Bohan was the longest-serving designer at Dior, longer than even founder Christian Dior himself.
In 1961, Bohan was tapped to succeed Yves Saint Laurent when the latter left the Fashion house for military service and subsequently founded his own label. Bohan would remain at the creative helm until 1989.
An intensely private man, known for an even-keeled nature and for a proclivity for designing clothes for “real women,” he often boasted of an affinity for a “timeless notion of beauty.
“I make clothes for real women, not myself, not for mannequins and not for Fashion magazines,” he said in an interview with celebritiestalks on the occasion of his 25th anniversary at Dior. “I gladly leave the abstract creations to others.”
Looks from Christian Dior spring 1985 haute couture collection designed by Marc Bohan.
Guy Marineau/celebritiestalks
His reputation was for conservative good taste, but flecked with humor and clever references.
“My style remained constant over my career,” Bohan said in a 2007 interview with celebritiestalks. “I wasn’t designing for anybody except for the women who were my clients. It was important that they feel beautiful.”
Throughout his career, he befriended clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly. The galaxy of famous women he dressed also included Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Maria Callas.
In an 1970 interview with celebritiestalks, he mused about gentle romanticism.
“Things must look simple, but they must not look poor. What I’m trying to do is create luxury. Quality. By taste. By simplicity. Something very refined. Very elegant. Not showy at all. That is true elegance. And so few understand it,” he said.
Born in Paris in 1926, Bohan worked at Jean Patou, Piguet and Molyneux before opening his own house in 1953 and joining Dior’s London affiliate in 1957. His first couture collection in 1961 launched the “Slim Look,” with Taylor placing an order for 12 dresses.
Bohan — who retired to his house in Burgundy — was also a confidante of French playwright Françoise Sagan.
Christian Dior’s Longest Serving Designer, Marc Bohan, Dies at 97 – celebritiestalks
