Raf Simons brings back Dior's classic jacket

For years, fashion editors have advised women to invest in the same luxury classics, such as the Hermès Birkin, some Louis Vuitton luggage, or Chanel's little black jacket. One item that has popped onto the radar again is Christian Dior's elegant yet feminine Bar jacket.

It has been reinterpreted at the hands of Dior's many designers since Dior's death in 1957. Now it is back in the spotlight courtesy of creative director Raf Simons, who is intent on merging his own legacy with the house's iconic creation.

The Bar jacket was unveiled on the morning of February 12, 1947 as part of Christian Dior's first haute couture collection, La Ligne Corolle. It immediately stood out with its clean lines, luxurious materials and hourglass silhouette, which was a complete antithesis to the utilitarian styles prevalent at the time. The ivory shantung jacket came with a shawl collar to highlight the sensual curves of the neck, and a built-in corset to sculpt the waist. It was matched with a pleated black wool crêpe skirt featuring padding on the hips, cut carefully to reveal the ankles.

Dior called it the Bar jacket as it was designed to be worn during cocktail hour in the bars of grand hotels like the infamous Plaza Athénée. It was also a key part of what would later be referred to as "the New Look", a moniker coined by Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow.

The Bar jacket was revolutionary in that it brought a much needed femininity back to fashion, cementing Dior's legacy as the ultimate creator and innovator.