Who coined the phrase “New Look” for Christian Dior’s 1947 silhouette?

Carmel Snow coined the phrase “New Look” for Christian Dior’s 1947 silhouette.

Snow was the influential editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar. After seeing Dior’s first couture collection, she reportedly exclaimed that it was a “New Look,” a phrase that captured the dramatic difference between Dior’s rounded, feminine proportions and wartime austerity.

Dior’s designs used shaped jackets, narrow waists, padded hips, and generous skirts. The look was admired by many customers, although some critics objected to its heavy use of fabric so soon after wartime rationing.

The term is often treated as though Dior himself named the style. In fact, the phrase is credited to Snow, while Dior’s own collection was associated with the Corolle line. The label became one of the most recognizable descriptions in twentieth-century fashion history.