Dior was born in Normandy, France in 1905, and channeled his love for art by opening an art gallery. In 1938, he entered the fashion world as a designer for Robert Piquet. After serving in World War II, Dior returned to Paris and had a very successful collaboration with Pierre Balmain at Lucien Lelong. With the help of Marcel Boussac, Dior was able to open his own fashion house in 1946. His opulent designs made him successful in the post-war era, and his brand quickly expanded into furs, perfumes and accessories. In 1957, Dior suddenly died and Yves Saint Laurent became the head designer. Since Saint Laurent, other well-known designers at this fashion house include Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano.