Marc Bohan
Marc Bohan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1926 Paris, France |
| Died | 6 September 2023 (aged 97) |
| Occupation(s) | Couturier, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1945–1992 |
| Known for | Creative director at Christian Dior (1960–1989) |
Roger Maurice Louis Bohan (22 August 1926 – 6 September 2023) was a distinguished French couturier, best known for his three-decade association with the fashion house of Dior.
Early life and career
Bohan was born in Paris and grew up in Sceaux. His early exposure to fashion came through his mother, who worked as a milliner. After completing his education at Lycée Lakanal, he embarked on his professional journey in 1945 at Robert Piguet, where he remained for four years. In 1949, he took on the role of assistant to Edward Molyneux, and by 1952, he was designing for Madeleine de Rauch. He briefly operated his own salon in Paris in 1953 before joining Jean Patou the following year, contributing to their haute couture collections until 1958. In 1991, Bohan was invited to serve as a guest professor of fashion design at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Designer at Christian Dior
Between 1958 and 1960, Bohan was responsible for the Christian Dior London line. When Yves Saint Laurent entered military service in September 1960, Bohan was elevated to the position of creative director. His designs were characterized by refined simplicity and elegance, drawing inspiration from the 1920s while steering clear of avant-garde trends. Among his noteworthy collections was one in 1966 influenced by Russian aesthetics reminiscent of Doctor Zhivago.
Bohan’s timeless creations have been acquired by museums internationally. In 2009, the Musee Christian Dior in Granville organized a comprehensive retrospective showcasing his oeuvre.
After departing Dior in 1989, he joined London's prestigious house of Norman Hartnell, where he worked until 1992 before pursuing projects under his own label.
Notable clients
His clientele included prominent figures such as Princess Grace of Monaco, Lynn Wyatt, and Betsy Bloomingdale. Princess Grace notably endorsed Bohan by inaugurating the Baby Dior boutique in 1967. The celebrated actress Sophia Loren also counted among those who wore his designs.
Jacqueline Kennedy was an admirer of Bohan’s work; her wardrobe incorporated adaptations created by Oleg Cassini and Chez Ninon based on his styles.
In 1976, Bohan crafted the wedding gown for Silvia Sommerlath upon her marriage to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Two years later, he designed the bridal dress for Princess Caroline of Monaco for her nuptials with Philippe Junot in 1978.
Personal life and death
In 1950, Bohan married Dominique Gaborit; she tragically passed away in a car accident in 1962. He subsequently wed Huguette Rinjonneau, with whom he had a daughter named Marie-Anne.
He lived in a renovated eighteenth-century manor located in Châtillon-sur-Seine, Burgundy.
Marc Bohan passed away at his residence on 6 September 2023 at the age of 97.
Awards
- Designer of the Year by Sports Illustrated, 1963
- Award from the Schiffli Lace and Embroidery Institute, 1963
- Chevalier rank within the Legion d'Honneur, 1979
- Recipient of the Ordre de Saint Charles, Monaco