Miss Dior

A Story of Courage and Couture

By: Justine Picardie

Narrated by: Justine Picardie

When the French designer Christian Dior presented his first collection in Paris in 1947, he changed fashion forever. Dior's "New Look" created a striking, romantic vision of femininity, luxury, and grace, making him - and his last name - famous overnight. One woman informed Dior's vision more than any other: his sister, Catherine, a Resistance fighter, concentration camp survivor, and cultivator of rose gardens who inspired Dior's most beloved fragrance, Miss Dior. Yet the story of Catherine's remarkable life - so different from her famous brother's - has never been told, until now.

Drawing on the Dior archives and extensive research, Justine Picardie's Miss Dior is the long-overdue restoration of Catherine Dior's life. The siblings' stories are profoundly intertwined: In Occupied France, as Christian honed his couture skills, Catherine dedicated herself to the Resistance, ultimately being captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbruck, the only Nazi camp solely for women. Seeking to trace Catherine's story as well as her influence on her brother, Picardie traveled to the significant places of Catherine's life, including Les Rhumbs, the Dior family villa with its magnificent gardens; the House of Dior in Paris; and La Colle Noire, Christian's chateâu that he bequeathed to his sister.

©2021 Justine Picardie (P)2022 Tantor

So Much More Than I Expected

I expected to hear an interesting story about the sister of a famous man. Simone in the shadows. Someone he loved and valued but that the world would never really know. I was wrong. Much of the story is about WWII and the detailed research and depth of history covered is engrossing. I have learned more about the French resistance from this book than entire college classes. This should be required reading for any University History class that deals with the 20th Century.

Beautifully written and read, this will be one I come back to often and one I share with everyone I know. It will speak to History buffs, Fashion fans, Francophiles, and anyone who enjoys a well written story. I hope the author takes interest in someone else because I look forward to another book.

Loved This Book

Thoughtfully written, superbly detailed, beautifully narrated. Justine Picardie has documented this incredible tale in a richly woven tapestry of elegant description.
I so enjoyed this book, narrated by the author.

Strong women

I enjoyed listening to this book and the narrators voice was very soothing. The French Resistance is an important story that I didn’t know much about. Although I am a big fan of Christian Dior as a designer, I knew nothing about his younger sister.
At times the French names took me a bit to understand, but it did not take away from the story

Meh

I expected more about Katherine Dior and got basically an overview of France during WWII.

Had potential

The narrator had a lovely voice, that would do well for reading children’s rhymes but did not serve a historical account largely occurring during WWII. The portrayal of Catherine is scant, most of the focus is on Christian.