How Dior’s pre-fall 2024 show is a tribute to Marlene Dietrich’s androgynous beauty

For a designer who often finds inspiration in remarkable women, it’s surprising that Maria Grazia Chiuri, womenswear creative director at Dior, had yet to explore the enigmatic figure of Marlene Dietrich. The German-born actress made waves in Hollywood and beyond with her androgynous beauty that captured the zeitgeist of the early 20th century. Whether smoking a cigar while wearing a man’s suit or clad in a revealing negligee that was the epitome of feminine elegance, Dietrich is, to this day, one of the most fascinating performers in the history of filmmaking, and a symbol of the golden age of silver screen glamour.