The Royal Ontario Museum is pleased to announce that Dr. Alexandra Palmer, the ROM’s Nora E. Vaughan Senior Curator has won the Costume Society of America’s (CSA) prestigious Millia Davenport Publication Award 2020 for Christian Dior: History and Modernity, 1947-1957. The award recognizes excellence in scholarship in the study of costume in a published book or exhibition catalogue that makes a significant contribution to the study of costume. Dr. Palmer also won the award in 2009 for Dior: A New Look, A New Enterprise (1947-57), a feat only achieved by two other scholars in the CSA’s 30-year history.

Drawing from close analyses of the Royal Ontario Museum’s haute couture collection, Christian Dior: History and Modernity, 1947-1957 explores the style, cut, and feel of Christian Dior’s New Look in a lavishly detailed exploration of the timeless designs by the modern couture master. Dr. Palmer wedded extensive research, sketches, and documentary material with the rich archives of Christian Dior Héritage, Paris, to create an essential read for those interested in fashion, art, culture, and history. The Costume Society of America’s jury praised the book as “a glorious document of a collection that sets the bar for how museums should write about clothes – acknowledging all parts of the creation process – designer, makers, public relations, marketing, and consumers. This book makes the House of Dior three-dimensional.”

Christian Dior: History and Modernity, 1947-1957 is a companion publication to the ROM original exhibition, Christian Dior. Following a highly successful run at the ROM, the exhibition travelled to the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou and will be presented at the McCord Museum in Montreal later this year.

Photo: Royal Ontario Museum