In the late 1950s Nikita Khruschev, the leader of the Soviet Union, wanted to show the world that he was less of an iron-fisted leader than his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. So he initiated what was called the Khrushchev Thaw, which gave Soviet citizens greater access to western media and culture. And one of fruits of this new policy was a visit to Moscow by the House of Dior for the first international fashion show in the USSR.
LIFE had extensively covered Christian Dior beginning with his rise in 1948. After Dior died in 1957, his house was in the able hands of chosen successor, a young designer named Yves St. Laurent. The prospect of Dior fashion shows in Moscow was a big enough deal that it was hyped in the Western press for weeks. The shows, which went on for five days, drew about 11,000 spectators total, with nearly as many people on the waiting list for tickets.
Among those covering the Dior exhibition was LIFE staff photographer Howard Sochurek. He came away from Moscow with some spectacular shots. While the images from the proper fashion shows are striking, what really stands out are the shots of the Dior models out on the town visiting Red Square and Moscow’s GUM department store. The reactions of the babushka-wearing women to the models in their expensive dresses is a literal snapshot of communism versus capitalism.
If you want to take a deep dive on the topic of this show, in 2021 a Barnard student named Erin Bronner wrote a thoroughly researched thesis on Dior’s Moscow show, looking at the event from all angles—including the politics, the fashion, and how Russian and Western media covered the event.
Khrushchev’s thaw came to an end when he was succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev in 1964. With that hard-liner coming into power, openness with the West was once again out of fashion.
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959; here some posed by soda vending machines.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959; here one posed by soda vending machines.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A model for Chrstian Dior posed during the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A model for Chrstian Dior posed during the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A model for Chrstian Dior posed during the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A model for Chrstian Dior posed during the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Models for Chrstian Dior came to Moscow for the first international fashion show under Soviet rule, 1959.
Howard Sochurek/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
