“Individuality will always be one of the conditions of real elegance.” - Christian Dior
Christian Dior, who was known for his simplistically elegant designs, founded his storied French fashion house in 1946. Prior to launching his namesake brand, Dior worked alongside Pierre Balmain at Lucien Lelong where they designed dresses for the wives of military officers and French collaborators. Dior’s designs were more voluptuous and body-hugging than the boxy, conservative shapes of World War II styles…which was said to be due to a lack of fabrics. He became an expert at creating feminine shapes and silhouettes for any woman of any size.
Dior was so dedicated to ensuring every modern woman of the Fifties looked impeccable and elegant, he wrote a guide called “Little Dictionary of Fashion” in 1954, which included rules about fashion and handbags. He said purses should always be made of the highest quality materials and exclusively handcrafted. It’s a good thing for Dior Addicts that he followed his own advice and delivered some of the most breathtakingly perfect designer bags the world (and LePrix) has ever seen.
DIOR’S EXQUISITE MATERIALS
We’ve already discussed the renewed hysteria surrounding the Saddle Bag which has been brought back to life in some of Dior most popular materials like the Oblique Canvas, Ultra-Matte Calfskin, and Goatskin. Let’s take a peek at some of the high-quality fabrics that are now used on Dior bags.
ULTRA-MATTE LEATHER
The newest IT material for Dior, the Ultra-Matte leather features a smooth, tonal upper. Neither super dressy nor super casual, the broad matte application results in a timeless and sleek design with a modern twist that goes with just about anything.
OBLIQUE MONOGRAM JACQUARD
While not exactly a material, Oblique Jacquard has taken Dior Bags to the next level with its artsy monogrammed designs. Splashed upon the Saddle Bags, 30 Montaigne and the Book Totes, this super sturdy canvas fabric is the perfect choice for any logo-lover who wants to go the distance and tote their essentials in style.
CANNAGE-EMBROIDERED CANVAS
A reiteration of the now almost iconic Book Tote, this carryall is crafted in sturdy canvas with Dior’s famous Cannage Embroidery.
LAMBSKIN LEATHER
While lambskin leather is classic and beautiful, it’s easily scuffed and damaged which can make it difficult to keep clean. But believe it or not, it is still a very durable choice for a bag as it won’t lose its shape or structure. In all seriousness, as long as you take good care of it, your lambskin leather Dior bag will repay you in beauty and compliments.
PATENT LEATHER
Patent leather is one of those materials people either love or hate. This gorgeous, specially treated leather features a high-gloss, reflective finish that’s fabulous, but if it’s not properly taken care of it can be dulled, damaged, and scratched. It’s difficult to refurbish and doesn’t go with EVERYTHING so might be best to keep your patent Dior for nights out on the town.
SHINY GOATSKIN
Made from male mountain goats, this exquisite leather is iridescent and features slight graining. Despite being lightweight and ultra-soft, it’s very tough and difficult to scratch or blemish. The perfect leather for your Saddle Bag!
BOX CALFSKIN
Box Calf is a fine-grain leather that’s commonly used in Dior bags…especially the 30 Montaigne. Due to its sturdiness, it easily retains its shape, but it’s also a delicate leather that easily scuffs and scratches. If it gets wet, it might develop blisters.
GRAINED CALFSKIN LEATHER
The grainy calfskin is one of the most popular Dior leathers due to its durability and resilience. It’s easy to clean, sturdy and strong…and that makes it perfect for an everyday bag.
METALLIC CALFSKIN LEATHER
Dior’s metallic calfskin leather is not only dazzling and elegant, but it’s also extremely durable. So, if you’re looking for a stunning Dior bag that’ll keep its shape, is easy to clean and ensures you make an entrance, choose the metallic calfskin leather.
DIOR OBLIQUE-EMBOSSED CALFSKIN
For those who’d prefer the beauty and sturdiness of calfskin, but would like an artful, totally Dior touch, the embossed calfskin bag is making waves.
DIOR’S MOST EXQUISITE HANDBAGS
J’adore Dior! There are few French words that roll off a woman’s tongue quite like DIOR and dozens of iconic women from Hollywood, Royalty and Society can agree. Whether Lady Diana carrying the Lady Dior took your breath away, you were inspired by Sex and the City, or your favorite influencer’s Diorama, Dior bags bring the drools and the drama. We scoured LePrix to present to you what we consider to be 8 of Dior’s most unforgettable designs.
LADY DIOR
Luck be a Lady Dior with this elegant and sophisticated satchel that was renamed in 1995 to honor Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales. This eternally chic tote — that comes in many sizes, colors and materials — features logo charms, dual top handles, a detachable shoulder strap, a footed seat, and interior pockets. Plus, since it’s so incredibly lovely, and almost as iconic as the Chanel Flap bag, this is a true investment bag.
DIORAMA
Bring on the Diorama! Introduced in 2015, this sleek and structured shoulder bag never fails to turn heads. Crafted in a range of sizes, materials and colors, it’s a luxuriously chic accessory with an eye-catching chain strap that’s perfect for a gala, a wedding or Sunday brunch!
DIORISSIMO
The Diorissimo reminds us of an updated Lady Dior tote due to the dangling charms and the top handle design, but this iconic piece speaks directly to Dior’s craftsmanship and elegance. Launched in 2012, this luxurious essential feature a detachable shoulder strap, interior compartments and patch pockets and comes in three different sizes: the Small, Medium and Large.
DIOREVER
In my opinion, the Diorever bag is the perfect work tote. This structured, elegant carryall is seriously chic, featuring minimalist lines for a classic appeal. With a crest-shaped flap closure like the Diorama, it comes with an adjustable shoulder strap, sturdy top handles, inner compartments and a flap closure. It comes in a variety of sizes, colors and materials!
J’ADIOR
The J’ADIOR is the Lady Dior’s cool little sister. This structured, statement-making essential Dior tote features a long CD chain strap (also available with a detachable shoulder strap) so it can be carried as a shoulder bag or crossbody. The front flap and handclasp feature a shiny J’ADIOR logo, so you can easily slip your hand inside and carry it as a clutch too! The J’ADIOR comes in four sizes: the WOC, the Mini, the Flap Bag with Chain and the Flap Bag with Shoulder Strap.
SADDLE BAG
The iconic Saddle Bag everyone knows, and loves (including Carrie Bradshaw) has been reinvented again and again since John Galliano first designed it in 1999. Now you can snag one of the world’s most sought-after bags in monogram-embroidered canvas, ultra-matte leather and monogram jacquard-embroidered leather. Plus, you can show off your personal style with mix-and-match, detachable shoulder straps.
BOOK TOTE
Dior has outdone themselves yet again with the introduction of the world’s most perfect and artful tote bag. The Dior Book Tote is the brainchild of Creative Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and is now a staple of the Dior aesthetic. Get your hands (or shoulders) on one of these essential carryalls before they all sell out!
30 MONTAIGNE
One of the newest kids on the fashion block, the Dior 30 Montaigne is a bit reminiscent of the Hermes Constance with its boxy design, logo hardware and the adjustable, double-loop shoulder strap that also lets you wear it as a crossbody. Introduced in 2019 to thunderous applause, this instant classic is sleek and structured with a fold-over flap featuring a glistening “CD” monogram, embossed “30 Montaigne” on the back, and interior and exterior pockets.
Content and images for this blog post have been sourced and referenced from LePrix.