Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d’Hiver, August 1955
This iconic photograph by Richard Avedon uses shape, contrast, and humor to sell a lifestyle. The model, Dovima, is wearing the first dress that Yves Saint-Laurent made for Christian Dior. The way the bright white dress stands out against the gray elephants and the perfect mirroring of the model’s arm and the elephant trunks make the photo beautiful and interesting to look at. The dress gives the viewer a feeling of sophistication while the elephants are a clear sign of luxury and extravagance, making this photo highly desirable.
