Named after the Roman goddess Junon, who is associated with the feminine life, marriage, and childbirth, this Christian Dior gown is downright divine. A garment that epitomizes the overt feminity championed by Monsieur Dior during the golden age of couture, this dress was part of his fall/winter 1949 haute couture presentation, which also featured gowns by the names of Venus and Hera. Junon is constructed with a skirt of beaded ombré petals resembling peacock feathers—a bird possessing classical symbolism through its associations with the Queen of the Olympians. The ball gown, one of which is housed at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, has been a source of inspiration to countless designers. At the Cannes Film Festival premiere for the film May December, longtime Dior (currently helmed by creative director Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri) brand ambassador Natalie Portman wore a recreation of the famous dress.

The Junon dress from Christian Dior’s haute couture 1949 collection
Natalie Portman in a recreation of the Junon on May, 2023