Alla Ilchun

Alla Ilchun (1926-1989) – the illustrious Parisian model of Kazakh and Russian origins shone on the catwalks and pages of French and international fashion magazines in the 1940s and 1960s. One of the first models with Asian features in France, she became the muse of Christian Dior, and after his death, she inspired Yves-Saint Laurent. Her modeling career lasted for about 20 years, during which she contributed to the success of the House of Dior around the world. Alla’s exotic beauty “hypnotized” the public, the press called her “the oriental pearl”, “Christian Dior’s darling”, her “mascot”.

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“Hieratic, always a little mysterious, a mannequin must grasp. The theatrical expression “to have presence”, often overused, takes on its full meaning here. It is because of this presence that I hired Alla. She is the model-born type”.

Christian Dior