70 years of Dior in 12 exquisite pictures

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) Maria Grazia Chiuri (designer) spring−summer 2017 ready-to-wear collection
© Dior

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) Raf Simons (designer) autumn−winter 2012 haute couture collection
© Dior

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) Raf Simons (designer) autumn−winter 2012 haute couture collection.
© Patrick Demarchelier/Licensed by Art+Commerce

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) Yves Saint Laurent (designer) Climène dress, autumn−winter 1959 haute couture collection.

© Laziz Hamani

Christian Dior at House of Dior's headquarters, 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
© Willy Maywald/ADAGP, Paris. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) Raf Simons (designer) spring−summer 2015 haute couture collection
© Dior

Christian Dior models in the salon of House of Dior's headquarters, 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris 1957. Photograph by Loomis Dean, featured in LIFE Magazine, 1957.
© Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection/Licensed by Getty Images

Illustration of the Bar suit by Christian Bérard, 1974.
© ADAGP, Paris 2016/Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) John Galliano (designer) autumn−winter 2010 haute couture collection.
© Guy Marineau

Christian Dior draping fabric over fashion model Sylvie c. 1948.
© Christian Dior. Photo: Bellini

Christian Dior Eugenie dress, autumn−winter 1948 haute couture collection.
© Willy Maywald/ADAGP, Paris. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney

Christian Dior, Paris (fashion house) John Galliano (designer) spring−summer 1997 haute couture.
Photo by Michael Thompson, featured in Vogue Paris, 1997.

© Licensed by Trunk Archive. Model: Kylie Bax

For the better part of the past seven decades, House of Dior has ruled our fashion conscience. And our wishlists. This is where the good news starts: The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne will soon be clinking glasses with the haute couture giant over an extensive exhibition scheduled to open to the public inAugust next year.

The House of Dior: 70 Years of Haute Couture showcase will exhibit over 140 garments from the Christian Dior vault since its inception in 1947. Sidney Toledano, the chief executive of Christian Dior Couture, promises that the opulence of the exhibition will transform the viewer to the world of 30 Avenue Montaigne, right into the minds of the ateliers in the salons.

Flip through the gallery for a quick preview.

The House of Dior: 70 Years of Haute Couture will show at NGV International from 27 August, 2017.

Photograph: Pol Baril