Tuesday 22 June 2010

Enfant du paradis


Villa les Rhumbs, the childhood home of Christian Dior, and its gardens.

Of les Rhumbs Dior said, I have most tender and amazing memories... of my childhood home. I would even say that my life and my style owe almost everything to its site and its architecture.



In 1925 the young Dior, who was only twenty, decided to replace the greenhouse with elements that were much in vogue - a reflecting pool and pergolas. It was his mother, Madeleine Dior, who added the nearby rose garden. It was here that she would also manage to successfully cultivate lily of the valley. The flower that would later come to symbolise the House of Dior.



Villa les Rhumbs
Granville, France



Now playing: Christian Dior - Morrissey

14 comments:

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Yes, and that delicious perfume is the only one I ever wear. Diorissiomo. It's just me.

Thrilled to see you again!

Julio Muao said...

How wonderful to be so enchanted and inspired at such an early age.

Thanks hobac

Jill said...

I love the Venetian Blackamoor in your new header.

An Aesthete's Lament said...

I long to visit this house-museum now. Must plan a trip. Must. Must. Am right now sitting alongside a maidenhair fern, which he adored.

La Petite Gallery said...

When I saw the balconies, I wondered what the view was. That is a beautiful lake. My Mother had lots of DIOR lingerie, very silky and lacy elegance.
I remember the lily of the valley logo. Thanks this was so interesting.
yvonne

HOBAC said...

LPG - that lake is in fact the English Channel. Granville is to the northeast of St Malo and Mont-Saint- Michel.

DM said...

I've never seen wear he grew up before! It all makes sense now!

Wildernesschic said...

What a beautiful place xx

Errant Aesthete said...

How could one NOT be influenced by this breathtaking beauty. The very idea of moving through those rooms unhindered by time, people or circumstance, or taking in those exquisite gardens and awe-inspiring views at one's pleasure and whim, has to be the closest thing to heaven on earth.

Thombeau said...

How fabulous!

Wouldn't it be something if John Galliano moved in?

Victoria Thorne said...

Heavenly.

Hope you are having a good summer; thinking of you.

elegancemaison said...

The house is lovely. I've visited several times to view the annual exhibitions of Christian Dior, and his successor's, couture collections. The view to the sea far below the gardens is breathtaking. I especially love the heliotrope bushes with their faint scent of chocolate. But Morrissey hit the spot about 'aromas' - Dior's father, whose house this was, made his fortune from a guano factory. Yet Christian was to produce some of the world's most acclaimed sensuous perfumes. And no, Morrissey he didn't waste his time. He certainly wasn't interested in impregnating women in Marseilles or anywhere - not his type!

Renée Finberg said...

dior.

why is this not a surprise?

nothing but beauty,

thank you for the post.

xx

Thombeau said...

I hope you're enjoying your summer, and look forward to your return!