If Dior had a personal brand playbook, this strategy would define it—and it applies to you too

Last week, I hosted a cultural immersive for my senior women leaders in Paris: I picked activities that were completely outside their comfort zone. Sometimes, our greatest ideas come from the most unlikely of places.

One of the events was a private tour of a major fashion house: Our guide, Geraldine, walked us through the story of Christian Dior, who launched his house of fashion after WWII, a time when people desperately craved levity and beauty.

Dior introduced the “New Look”—rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full skirt—that celebrated ultra-femininity and opulence. It was transformative, helping women rediscover their love for fashion and reclaim their identity post-war.

Here’s the business twist: Dior wasn’t even interested in fashion at first. And yet, he not only revolutionized an industry but became the first to license his name, turning his creative vision into a global empire.

It got me thinking about my grandmother, who never left Calcutta. Late in life, she curated her own “signature look”: white sarees in shades of ivory and cream. A bold choice because, in Indian heritage, white is traditionally worn for mourning.

Much like Dior, who took black—a color of mourning in the West—and made it synonymous with chic, my grandmother redefined the meaning of white.

As I turn 52 this week, I’m reflecting on the last 12 years as a business owner. I’m no longer the TV anchor. So, what will my signature look be? How will it funnel up to my brand?

A signature look isn’t just about style; it’s about what it says to the world.

What’s yours? And how does it reflect who you are and where you’re going?

Let me know in the comments.

Geraldine Bretault takes us on a private tour of Galerie Dior, and the history of Christian Dior

Of all the creative directors at Dior, founder Christian Dior had the smallest tenure: 10 years. He died at 52.

We see members of the atelier creating the intense detail in haute couture clothing

Dior designed the dress the newly divorced Lady Diana wore to a public function

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