Final Report of Christian Dior's Color analysis (Part 3)

Illustrations

By using Christian Dior's brand color family as below , i've designed a collection for the brand.

Illustration 1.

The Dress is the focus point.

I’ve used different value of magenta at the check pattern, with grey color.. Because checks are in same hue, although the checks are very large, it won’t be too exaggerative and be more harmony.

In additional, there are two violet buttons at collar (shoulder), as to match with the magenta body color.

Illustration 2

The pullover

This is a pullover sweater, with Christian Dior’s check pattern.

The pattern
Color of it is using mono-chromatic theory - The background color of the check pattern is light pink and the lines are deeper magenta. They are in same hue, but with different value, which can create harmony of color.

The strap on wearer’s left is in lake blue green, taking a contrast with the pullover’s main color – Magenta (complementary relationship).

The Boot
Major color is black, with some purple at straps and the heel. Purple is used because it’s the analogous color of Magenta. But i only apply at very little parts on the boot as to avoid affecting the focus point of Magenta Sweater knit.

The Hat
There is a narrow strap in lake blue color to match with sweater strape.

Illustration 3

Focus point: The Dress and the boot
Magenta, White and Grey are applied on the dress. And the Boot is using shape violet and having black stripes at the sides.
Main color of this out fit is Magenta and violet. These two colors are match because they are in analogous relationship.

Accessories.

The bag
Again, two high valued analogous color is used on the bag – Yellow and green. They can both match with violet, because yellow is its complementary color and green is its split complementary color.

The watches
Is using red and dark violet, which having analogous relationship.


Illustration 4

The knit T-shirt is in cream color. This color is easy to mix and match so it’s quite common in Christian Dior’s past designs.

The Dress
Dress is in gradual change of color and colors can both match with the magenta legging. Firstly there is a little yellow at the top (analogous relationship with Magenta), then change to blue green (complementary with Magenta), and finally gray. I used gray at the dress bottom part aiming to add layer to it and to make the upper part more attractive with shaper color. It helps to emphasiz the body shape of ladies.

The scarf
Another focus point of this outfit is the scarf with Christian Dior’s signature check. Background of check is light violet and brown. Violet is used becuase it’s analogous with magenta. They are match because brown, in fact, is dark yellow, and is opposite to violet in color wheel with complementery relationship.

Illustration 5

Focus point of this outfit : the dress with contrast belt

Used layered green and gray to this style, matching with violet belt (they are split complementary relationship).

Legging is applying Dior’s cross check with dark gray.


Illustration 6

Focus point of this outfit: the long dress.
To match with other outfits, i also apply gradual color change on this style (Gray to Green). And at underneath bottom layer, This is the Dior’s signature cross check with gray as background color and lines with violet and green color (split complementory).

Accessories:

The Gloves
Is in magenta, contrast with the lake green.

The necklace and the hand bag
Both using violet as main color, matching with the outfits’ main color – lake green.

Final Report of Christian Dior's Color analysis (Part 2)

My collection

After getting the characteristic of Christian Dior color theory, I have decided a collection for Fall/ Winter 2008-2009 according to my findings.

The trend of Fall/Winter 2008-2009

Before designing, first thing to do is to find out the fashion trend. I’ve did some researches from magazines, web-site, and visiting fashion boutiques, and chosen two key trends signatures that i would like to focus on.

- Shape colors (hue with high value)





- Checks

Christian Dior’s signature - The Cross Check

Besides analyzing the fashion trend, i also decided to add some Brand's signature features into my designs. Besides the brand's color family that i mentioned above, i discovered many Dior's productions were using the "Cross check" pattern, like accessories, product packages, and even the wall of Dior Flagship store. So i think this is also representable for the brand image.

Final Report of Christian Dior's Color analysis (Part 1)

Background of Christian Dior

I have been participated a talk few months ago about BRANDS. I learned that in analyzing a brand, the first thing we should know is the Roots and Heritage of the target brand, including the history, original designer, the company culture...etc. Christian Dior got a hundred years history. His "New look" was loved by all women. His signature form of dress "H-Line", "Y-Line" and "A-Line" was still influencing new designers nowadays.

Since Christian Dior's Launch of NEW LOOK in 50's, he made BLACK color becomes fashionable and be loved. Through his hand, black also can represent strong, touch, modern image of post-war women. Christian Dior changed the social culture, made BLACK became a fashionable color at that time.

Collections

The fashion show can be the most representable of each designers' main theme in each seasons. After studying into Christian Dior's collections, i discovered some of his theory of using colors.

John Galliano loves to use more than 3 main colors in the whole collection which have complementary relationship. But, on the other hand, most time he only used one colorway in each individual outfit to avoid too fansy. Even there are two colors, they are analogous colors which are harmony matching.

In additional, designer also love to use contrast colors (like complementary colors, triad colors) for accessories/ little details to match with the outfits.

Other analysis on Christian Dior

After that, i also did some analysis of advertising, packages, interior designs of Christian Dior. Although Dior products are delicated and colorful, however, her advertising and interior designs are simple. The background color are always in deep and high value colors, esp. acromatic colors – black, white grey…The reason behind is these colors will not be too attractive, so that to emphasize the product more.

The Brand Color
To summarize all the researches I did, I found that the brand color of Christian Dior it should be as follows:

Color test for collection

Christian Dior's Brand Color

Color Family

Magenta

MAGENTA always be the main color of Christian Dior’s designs. No matter in which season, this would be a essential core color in the collection. Besides, it is also essential in other Chirsitian Dior’s production, like accessories, bags...

Christian Dior was first started at post war centary, when women’s social stardard started to increase. Therefore we can always find elements with a strong feminine feeling in Dior’s designs. Magenta is used also because of this. Moreover, the color can also match with the stylish and elegance of Christian Dior’s top target ladies.

Black

Besides magenta, BLACK is also another important color for John Galliano’s designs. This is because of the history of Dior. Since Christian Dior’s launch of NEW LOOK in 50s, he made BLACK color, which was bored and unfavorable at that time, to become fashionable and be loved by all women. That’s why BLACK color is extremely essential in every Christian Dior’s designs.

Lake Blue Green
This is always used in match with the magenta, because its the split complementary color of it.

Other colors Dior used frequently are as below

Red and Violet - a part of color family member as they are the analogous of Magenta.

Yellow Green and Deep Grayish Green - analogous of lake blue green

White - achromatic color are easy to mix and match, It’s essential for every collections, usually match with black and grey.

Interior design of Dior store

Main color - Pure White
Interior designs of Dior stores are quite clean and simple. Color mainly in pure white, but creative setting of lightings always can make a particular color becomes different saturations.

White color can emphasize colorful product
Dior use white in stores because its products are usually colorful. Pure colors can emphasize the product very much. When customer comes in, they can clearly see what are there and more easy to find what they want. If they use fancy backgrounds, product shown may be hidden.

Easy to match with different collection theme
Besides, through the previous researches on Christian Dior's product color style, we know that the theme of each seasons may have a great difference. White is easy to mix and match with the products under different themes. It may be more convenience for designers as they need not to change the visual merchandising too much due to changing of product style/ color.

Advertisments - Emphasis of color

In this series of posters, Dior was clever in using color.
They jumped out from using black/dull color as background to emphasize the product, but try to use only one hue in the whole poster, including the background, even the Dior Icon were same color as the garment.
This is the "Emphasis of color". Designer made the background reflecting light at different angles, resulting hues with different tones/ saturations. Therefore the background color(s) will not be too close with the subject, this can make audiences more focus on the product.

Advertisments - Importance of Black

Publish Post

When we look at the posters of Dior, we can see designer always use black/ use a large proportion of black in the picture to present the mood of feminine and sexy.