The illustrious Maison Dior and trailblazing American artist Judy Chicago unite this year with a ravishing Prestige Edition of the iconic Miss Dior fragrance. A visionary of feminist art, Chicago reimagines the revolutionary perfume’s bottle—and its beguiling trunk—with the personal narrative of Christian Dior’s sister in mind: World War II Resistance heroine Catherine Dior. Further, masterful perfumer Francis Kurkdjian shapes the olfactory prowess of the Prestige Edition into a vivacious and sensual feminist declaration.
An Homage to Catherine Dior
Courtesy of Dior.
Courtesy of Dior.
Within a petite and glowing lavender trunk, enhanced by floral and metallic details, sits the gem-like bottle donning an embroidered bow. Here, a spirited “Homage to Catherine Dior” written by Chicago deeply inspires: “Catherine Dior was a strong, brave, and unconventional woman who fell in love with Hervé des Charbonnières, a married man. Despite the dangers, he recruited her into the Resistance during World War II. In 1944, she was arrested by the Gestapo, tortured and imprisoned in Ravensbrück, the infamous (and only) concentration camp for women. After the war, she took up the cultivation of beauty by dealing with flowers. Later, she and Hervé moved to Provence, where they raised roses and jasmine that were used in the first Miss Dior perfume, named after Catherine. When Christian died, she devoted herself to preserving his legacy and remained with Hervé until his death.”
“Catherine Dior embodies the vital energy of youth,”
—Francis Kurkdjian
The perceptive and skillful Kurkdjian was energized by a parade of shimmering female legacies in this bold new creation. “This fragrance is a collaboration between Miss Dior, Judy Chicago, and myself as the creator of the perfume version. I was inspired by the psychedelic boldness of Judy Chicago,” said Kurkdjian. “Catherine Dior embodies the vital energy of youth. To me, the bond between Catherine Dior and Judy Chicago is woven through committed femininity, resilience, and the desire to give women a voice in worlds often dominated by men,” he added. “I infused the Miss Dior perfume composition with vibrant tones, blending the sparkling freshness of juicy Italian mandarin essence with the carnal sensuality of jasmine sambac absolute. As a whimsical touch, I opened the composition with tagetes (marigold) essence, whose fruity and psychedelic facets bring a bold, zesty burst to the fragrance.”
Judy Chicago Collaborates with Dior Parfums
Courtesy of Dior.
Long-standing devotees and new fans of Miss Dior will have the unique opportunity to embark upon a true guiding light—Catherine Dior—through the tour de force that is the Prestige Edition. “Because her contributions were unknown, and the story of her experiences during the Holocaust so unknown, I decided to symbolize those in the perfume trunk, which has a bright, elegant exterior and a dark interior where Catherine’s secret story is conveyed,” explained Chicago. “The design of the outside of the box is created by the intertwining of jasmine and roses—the flowers that she and her lover, Herve des Charbonneries (who recruited her into the Resistance), grew and exported after the war, which became the basis for Christian’s first perfume, “Miss Dior”, named after Catherine. On the sides of the box are dichroic silhouettes of Catherine, their ever-changing hues a metaphor for her complexity as a woman. In contrast, the interior of the box is dark and embroidered with her story, and around the neck of the perfume box, her brave life attitude is conveyed through a delicately embroidered bow.”
Courtesy of Dior.
Courtesy of Dior.
About Miss Dior
In 1947, Miss Dior was born from this wild impulse, this imperative desire to enchant women’s lives, to let them see the vibrant colors of love again. Rose de Grasse, Lily of the Valley, and Jasmine combine to form unforgettable floral bouquets. Flowers as a promise of happiness.
About Judy Chicago
For over five decades, Chicago has remained steadfast in her commitment to the power of art as a vehicle for intellectual transformation and social change and to women’s right to engage in the highest level of art production. As a result, she has become a symbol for people everywhere, known and respected as an artist, writer, teacher, feminist and humanist whose work and life are models for an enlarged definition of art, an expanded role for the artist, and women’s right to freedom of expression.
