Parties, weddings, friends and Dior

Barbara Goalen, British model of international prominence between 1945–54,

wearing Christian Dior silk petal "Junon" dress. Keep reading for more images and details of this distinctive ball gown.

Christian Dior's layers & ruffles

Glenn and I had a whirlwind of fun this Holiday season. Between going to parties, throwing our own big Solstice Bash, a wedding, family celebrations and a house concert, we are both happy and sad to see things get back to normal. So to start the new year off right, I woke up early on January 2nd, took a shower, put on my makeup and when it was time to get dressed, I just couldn't do it, so I put on my favorite new pair of pajamas and got straight to work. One of the many privileges of being self-employed.

But the fun isn't over. One of my gifts is to spend the afternoon of this Fashion Friday with a dear friend at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Dior exhibit.

Dior is known for the "New Look" he created post World War 2. The Fashions prior were limited due the rations and constraints of life during war times. Supplies and fabrics were spare, leading to short skirts and more fitted contours. The silhouettes were also inspired by Military fashion and had more masculine lines. Dior changed all that when he presented his first collection on February 12th 1947. He called his debut line "Corolle" which is the botanical term corrolla or, in English, circlet of of flower petals. The term "New Look" was coined by Carmel Snow of Harpers Bazzar and it stuck. On this Fashion Friday, I decided to focus on his dresses that are fitting of his quote: "I have designed flower women!" That, he did indeed! Enjoy the lovely images and as always, please feel free to comment below and share with friends. denise PS: There's a concurrent exhibition at the Denver Art Museum titled Dior: From Paris to the World. After browsing through their website , I'll admit to being a little envious of the curation in Denver and wished I lived closer.

More variations and details of the "Junon." Just look at those sequins. And you know it's all hand beaded!!! The Junon dress was part of Dior's fall/winter 1949-1950 collection. Junon is French for Juno, the Ancient Roman goddess whose Greek counterpart is Hera. Juno and Hera are associated with the Peacock and it's easy to see how the "Petals" of the skirt are evocative of Peacock feathers.

I can't help myself... here's more. Along with it's companion, the "Venus" Dress, peeking out from behind.

And more of the "Venus" dress showing the painstaking and loving details that were put into each and every gown.

A photo of Maxime de la Falaise, 1950 She's wearing a Dior with tiers of ruffles. The model has a rich history of her own. Born Maxine Birley, Maxime de la Falaise (1922 to 2009) was a muse for Elsa Schiaparelli

and a sometime Warhol ''superstar." Photographer, Cecil Beaton once called her

''the only truly chic Englishwoman.'' She was even a code breaker at Bletchley Park during the war,

but she got dismissed due to a problem with kleptomania! (Think Enigma and Alan Turing!!! Way cool!!

I love when my research leads me to fun, obscure facts I didn't even know I was looking for!!)

A ball gown in layers of pink organdy and Valenciennes lace by Christian Dior, 1949. (The story of the Commune of Valenciennes in Northern France and the history of their lace is a topic worthy of a Fashion Friday all it's own! Stay posted!)