Everyone knows the story of Christian Dior – a visionary fashion designer from France whose innovative ideas revolutionized the fashion world. However, only a few heard about the designer’s muse and sister, Catherine Dior – a French resistance fighter who survived in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII.
“The New Look” is the latest biographical drama on Apple TV+ that traces the life story of this extraordinary woman amid the rise of the French fashion industry and post-war reconstruction. Charming Maisie Williams brings this story to the big screen, transforming into the one and only Miss Dior.
Set in Paris shortly after the end of World War II, the show submerges the viewers into the fashion world with haute couture garments and on-trend ‘dos. Short haircuts, lots of volume, and all possible types of bouncy waves were the most in-demand hairstyles back in the 1940s.
With Christian Dior’s “New Look” – the debut collection featuring bold and glamorous designs – neat and elegant hairstyles ushered in the beginning of a new fashion epoch. As the 1947 article from the Des Moines Sunday Register magazine shows, hairdos ranged between classic coiffures, such as low buns, and more modern halo bob styles that exuded confidence and independence.
Maisie Williams’s Catherine Dior is the epitome of feminine power and resistance, so most of her hairdos reflect her strong personality and impeccable style. In several episodes, the young actress is sporting a variation of Victory Rolls – a vintage hairstyle with Old Hollywood flair. This hairdo was popular during the war period and was commonly deemed appropriate for servicewomen to match their military attire.
What’s more, Victory Rolls are easy to make. The hair must be curled in the same direction and sectioned in the front to make nifty rolls. For Catherine Dior, this hairstyle symbolizes the power of hope in the darkest hour. But instead of classic, defined rolls at the front, the hair team creates casual and effortless upswept tresses that add volume on both sides of the head and compliment Maisie Williams’s round face shape.
Pin up hairstyles took the fashion industry by storm in the ’40s and ‘50s. Delicate curls were often styled in such a manner that they matched practically all looks, including those with trendy hats. Maisie Williams’s pin up curly style with a pillbox hat is a nod to that period and rapidly changing fashion.
The main principle behind this style is to wrap the strand around one finger to make a firm furl and then secure it with a bobby pin. In the end, you get defined and voluminous heatless curls that last throughout the day.
Short cuts like bob are a timeless classic. After gaining popularity in the Roaring Twenties as a liberating yet elegant hairstyle, the bob cut took a special place in the hearts of many fashion divas. So, as soon as Paris reclaimed its status as a capital of fashion in the late 1940s, the new bob era began. After having her head shaved in a concentration camp, Catherine Dior had to embrace her new look and repair pieces of herself.
Regrowing her thick mane was a major step. In this sense, Maisie Williams’s brushed curly bob is a reminder of her character’s personal journey and rebirth. This hairstyle screams freedom and peace – the two things every woman dreamed of after the war.
Everything new is well-forgotten old. So, the revival of past trends is just a matter of time. With vintage hairstyles gaining momentum lately, a historical fashion drama like “The New Look” is the ultimate source of inspiration for lavish hair glam.
Featured images via @appletv
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