"Dior is too expensive for my income."
Girl in Dior is a memoir of the legendary fashion designer Christian Dior as told through the eyes of a fictional model Clara who arrives at Dior's atelier just as he is about to change the face of fashion in 1947. Cue lavish drawing after drawing of Dior dresses. The result is a fashionista's delight.
Parisian cartoonist Annie Goetzinger has in the past created graphic novels about George Sand and Marie Antoinette. Here she talks about Dior, the similarities between fashion designers and comic strip artists and who draws the best dressed comic book characters.
What gave you the idea for Girl in Dior? And why tell it in graphic novel form?
Nothing has been made about art of Christian Dior, though the life of Chanel, and Yves St Laurent have been adapted in movie, theatre and books. And I admire Dior in many aspects: fantasy, talent, discretion, productivity, generosity.
The graphic novel form has flexibility to develop the telling. In double pages for example. That inspired me for several "défilés", also for some close-up.
How did you go about researching Dior's story and the Dior look?
I've read his autobiography (Dior et Moi) and biographies. Over the years I've collected reviews, books about all kind of fashion and I studied History of Costume in art-school.
What do fashion design and creating comics have in common?
Patience, strength, endurance and regularity! (To create day after day until you make a collection or a book!)
Do you have any Dior (or any other designer labels) in your wardrobe?
I have a Kenzo bag more than 20 years old! Dior is too expensive for my income. A Dior lipstick is more expensive than my book, you see.
Who are the best-dressed comic-book characters?
The heroines of Alex Raymond's comics: Pagan Lee -the bad girl- in Rip Kirby. So sexy and glamorous. Rip Kirby himself is also very elegant.
Girl in Dior by Annie Goetzinger is published by NBM in hardback,priced £20.99
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