The fashion house of Dior had its beginnings in 1946 France, just after World War II ended. Designer Christian Dior shot to popularity with his “New Look” that the company developed in the late 40s. The hourglass silhouette with full skirts was a breath of fresh air after all the wartime rationing, and it became the signature style of the 1950s. In modern times, Dior continues to innovate and have a massive influence on popular fashion. The logo boldly declares Dior’s legacy. In this article, we will explain how the Dior logo has contributed to the brand’s success.
Dior Logo Design Elements
The logo for Dior is incredibly simple. No fancy fonts or elaborate emblems show up in the logo’s design. The background for the logo is either white or transparent, depending on the situation. The main focus is the brand name, “Dior.” The first D is capitalized while the rest of the letters are lowercase. The text is written in a deep black color. This shade is elegant and versatile, just like Dior’s clothing. The font used in Dior’s choice of a logo is a modified version of the Nicolas Cochin typeface. It features serifs that slant slightly downwards. The curves of the letters contain both thinner and thicker strokes. The font style chosen for the logo looks traditional and sophisticated without drawing attention to itself.
Changes and Evolution
1. Shape
The shape of the logo at Dior has not changed much throughout Dior logo history. Originally, the company used Christian Dior’s full name in the logo. It was eventually shortened to just Dior but otherwise remained the same. This devotion to continuity has maintained the brand’s reputation through all of the changes it has faced.
2. Color
Dior logo history typically features a black text on a white background. A few exceptions occur when the logo is used in advertising. Occasionally, it appears in a white or gold shade. However, the logo is always a monochromatic color that contrasts sharply with the background. This is a reference to Christian Dior’s most iconic outfit, the Bar suit, which was black and white.
3. Font
Dior continues to use their recognizable font in their logo. Over the years, it has been ever so slightly tweaked to appear more modern and stylized. The differences are so slight that only typography experts will even notice the change.
Influences/Inspiration
The Dior logo design takes its inspiration from many other popular fashion brands’ logos. Competitors’ symbols, such as the Prada or the Gucci logo, also have extremely simple, monochromatic logos that just display the brand’s name. This type of simplistic logo allows the clothing of the brand to speak for itself. Dior’s reason for choosing this type of logo is also that a brand name logo is very versatile. It looks equally well on a discreet clothing tag or a large storefront window. Dior chose to go with an unembellished logo that changes to fit the brands’ needs while still maintaining continuity.
Trivia
Many people make the mistake of assuming the official logo for Dior is the “CD” monogram that appears on the monogram print of Dior bags. However, this is just a design element and is not the official logo. Dior only used this monogram because there was a demand for monogrammed handbags similar to Louis Vuitton’s classic bag. Dior was one of the first haute couture designers to license the use of his logo out to other companies. If another luxury fashion company met Dior’s standards and paid a licensing fee, they were allowed to use the trademarked logo on the item.
Conclusion
In modern times, Dior boutiques and advertisements all proudly display the Dior logo. After Christian Dior’s death, other famous designers like John Galliano and Raf Simons have successfully guided the company. Though Christian may no longer lead the company, the Dior logo still features the name of the man who founded the brand.
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