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At the Dior exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art.

When I think of big fashion cities, Paris, London, New York, Milan, and Tokyo readily come to mind – not Dallas, Texas. But when I received a package in the mail a couple months ago I realized how wrong I was. 

My friend Stacey, who moved to Dallas last year, sent me a fashion sketchbook, a museum pamphlet, and a note – Dior exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. Come visit.

Why Dallas?

Dallas’ fashion history can be said to start with Stanley Marcus, the president of prestige fashion retailer Neiman Marcus, which his father and aunt founded in 1907. Stanley was the pioneer for many innovative retail ideas, like hosting art exhibitions and special events in the store, and creating an award for service is fashion – the Neiman Marcus Award – which is how he lured Christian Dior to Dallas, only a few months after his New Look collection debuted.

This historic relationship is one reason why the Dallas Museum of Art is showcasing the exhibition “Dior: From Paris to the World” through September 1 in the museum’s cathedral-like Barrel Vault. Skillfully adapted for the space, the exhibition highlights not only Christian Dior himself, but his subsequent creative directors, as well as themes of color, pattern, and exoticism that thread throughout the fashion house’s storied history.

The Experience

Stepping into the exhibit, a dramatically backlit red gallery features some of Dior’s most iconic silhouettes in (mostly) all black. The iconic “Bar suit” is the first in line, with its structured cream silk jacket and pleated wool skirt made with 33 yards of fabric – so much that it caused protests in the streets of Paris.

The next gallery, “Office of Dreams,” puts mockups of the label’s work on display. Impressively arrayed in stark white rows, the series of muslins reveal some of the process that goes into creating a couture piece.

The surrounding galleries dive into Dior’s creative directors – Dior himself, Yves Saint Laurant, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri – exploring their unique approaches, inspiration, and legacy.

These displays are cleverly accentuated by relevant works of art. A Jackson Pollock from the museum’s collection nods to the Marc Bohan gown it inspired, an Italian Renaissance portrait echoes a Gianfranco Ferré concoction, and a Raf Simons dress made from fabric designed by Sterling Ruby floats next to a Sterling Ruby painting.

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Other galleries show off themed tableau, like Dior’s delicate florals through the ages, which of course are matched with a Monet and a Georgia O’Keeffe. There’s also a stunning, at times controversial, display of iconic photographs of Dior looks from private collections – the only room not to allow any photography.

In the Dallas Museum of Art’s beautiful Barrel Vault, the exhibition reaches a stunning crescendo. Mirrors are cleverly used to surprise visitors as you turn a tight corner, before finding yourself at the end of a runway-like aisle fringed on either side by ascending rows of mannequins each in a look more sensational than the last. 

How to visit

You can catch “Dior: From Paris to the World” at the Dallas Museum of Art until September 1. Museum members can reserve free tickets online; adult tickets for non-members are $20 Tuesday–Thursday, and $25 Friday–Sunday, with discounts for seniors, students, and military. Children 11 and under are free. 

The exhibition is open from 10am-8pm (extended hours) August 1–31.

What to do next 

After Stacey had to virtually drag me out of the exhibit, we strolled across Klyde Warren Park to Savor, a glass-walled restaurant with covered outdoor seating that made it easy to people-watch. I highly recommend the kale and Brussels sprout salad with rotisserie chicken which comes very lightly dressed, and tastes even better with a glass of sparkling rosé.

A spot of shopping (even of the window flavor) is called for next – make sure to check out the original Neiman Marcus store, which is less than a mile away. Then visit opulent Forty Five Ten, a Dallas-bred boutique with outposts in Aspen, Napa, Miami, and NYC, working your way up to Mirador, their top-floor restaurant. If you haven’t made a reservation, simply ordering a drink at the bar affords ample opportunity to soak in the luxurious vibes (and ogle the cars valet parking out back).

To finish your day, book a table at City Hall in the historic Hotel Adolphus – the perfect spot for a dressy dinner to show off any new purchases.

Have you seen the Dior exhibit in Dallas, Denver, or London? Have other Dallas travel tips to share? Let me know in the comments!

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