Some of the most iconic designer bags in the history of fashion are signed Dior, as their legendary lines, patterns, and styles are some of the most coveted of all time. What’s little known, however, is the incredible history each Dior handbag shares, as all of Dior’s former creative directors never missed a chance to come up with actual pieces of art every time they were busy designing a Dior bag.
Most Iconic Dior Bags of All Time: Contents
Christian Dior History
Of course, the history of Dior handbags is inevitably intertwined with that of Dior’s founder, Christian Dior, who was particularly visionary whenever it came to accessory items. Born in northern France in 1905, Christian Dior broke into the Paris fashion scene after the Second World War, bringing femininity, joie de vivre, and unconformity back in style.
Dior’s focus was that of a never-before-seen kind of luxury fashion, and he firmly committed himself to designing clothes and accessories that could not only flatter any woman’s figure but also help her embrace her personality and unique sense of fashion.
So, when Christian Dior introduced his opulent new look to the modern woman of the Fifties, he carefully thought about everything. He even wrote a short vademecum named “Little Dictionary of Fashion” back in 1954, pointing out a few fashion rules women should follow to be always impeccable, indeed.
“You can wear the same suit from morning to dinner,” he stated. “But to be really perfectly dressed, you cannot keep the same bag. For morning, it must be very simple, and for the evening, it must be smaller and, if you wish, a little fancier.”
Christian Dior’s fashion vademecum also included information and rules regarding the purses, which according to the French designer had to be made of the highest quality materials and were to be exclusively handcrafted, if meant to be paired with any daytime ensemble.
Although Dior now treats us to all kinds of statement bags, from the most elegant to the most eclectic, this vision still plays an important role in the signature style of the fashion house, as we can always count on Dior whenever we need to find a cute, sophisticated handbag that basically goes along with everything. Not for nothing, international celebrities, personalities, and style icons have always loved carrying a Dior handbag during red carpet events and ultra-formal occasions.
10 Best Dior Bags of All Time
Since information regarding designer bags is usually inaccurate on the Internet, and it is hard to find reliable sources specifically regarding the best Dior bags, we decided to recap the 10 most iconic Dior handbags of all time, going through a journey of fashion, history, and art.
1. Lady Dior – A Tribute
One cannot talk about Dior handbags without mentioning the iconic Lady Dior. Handcrafted in 1994 and originally named “Chouchu” (which means “Favorite”), Dior’s Lady Dior was soon renamed after Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1995.
During Lady Diana’s visit to Paris, politician and former President Jacques Chirac’s wife Madame Bernadette Chirac wished to give the Princess of Wales a unique handbag and chose Dior’s Chouchu due to its unparalleled design and elegant structure. Lady Diana instantly fell in love with the handbag, carrying it around everywhere she went in the years to come, too.
Rarely seen in the secondary luxury marketplaces, Dior’s Lady Dior is a real treasure, not to mention the fact that it is an actual incredible investment whether one is a fashion enthusiast or not. Available in four different sizes, from mini to large, it will forever hold a special place in the fashion industry’s Hall of Fame.
2. Dior Le 30 Medium Tote
A timeless and unique work of art, Dior’s Le 30 Medium Tote is probably one of the fashion house’s most affordable and best-selling accessory items (you can find it even under 2000$ at second-hand markets). It features top-notch textured, hand-stitched leather, often exotic, and is now often embellished with cute bag chain accessories as well.
3. Dior Babe Python Frame
Out of all the Dior bags, the Dior Babe is probably the one that embodies Christian Dior’s visions the most. With an urban attitude, a soigné structure, and an exotic skin as the frame, Dior’s Babe might be hard to maintain (python skin is more delicate than lambskin), but it is definitely worth the investment if you are looking for a designer handbag that personifies one of the world’s most iconic fashion designers of all time.
4. Dior Diorama
Like Lady Dior, the Dior Diorama bag complements the ready-to-wear style of the new (new) Dior woman, too, and is available in a plethora of colors, materials, and finishes as well. Structured and cute (in a more rock ‘n’ roll-approved kind of way, though), Dior’s Diorama made its catwalk debut during Dior’s spring/summer 2015 runway show, which means it is relatively new.
As it always happens with a Dior item, it became an instant success, which many compare to that of the Lady Dior. We guess only time will tell!
5. Dior (r)evolution Bag
From one contemporary handbag to another, Dior’s (r)evolution is one of the new Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s biggest accomplishments and one of the most iconic Dior bags out there, marking the end of a revolutionizing era for Dior. It is a flap bag made out of the smoothest leather and is basically any millennial’s dream come true.
Energetic and cozy, it reminds us of Chiuri’s new woman for Dior, namely a human being who is empowered, cosmopolitan and eclectic, as well as never afraid to show her personality. It is probably one of the best fashion investments of the past few years.
6. Dior Diorissimo Bag
Like the Babe, Dior’s Diorissimo is an iconic line with a timeless elegance that flawlessly embodies all the craftsmanship of Dior. Officially introduced for spring/summer 2012, Dior’s Diorissimo quickly became an internationally viral success, as Dior’s artisans released a video on Youtube where one could see how a Diorissimo bag was handcrafted.
Completed after many hours of attentive labor, Dior’s Diorissimo has been spotted under the arms of many fashionistas all round the world and is already one of the most coveted Dior bags in any second-hand (virtual or brick-and-mortar) store.
7. Dior Diorever
One of the greatest Dior bags created so far, the Diorever handbag line was first introduced during the brand’s spring/summer 2016 runway show. Available in various sizes, the Diorever handbag is probably Dior’s most Scandi-chic type of bag, as it features ultra-minimalist lines and clean cuts. It is, however, available in various finishes, including the exotic crocodile leather, which means that there’s still a bit of Christian Dior’s legacy in its aesthetics.
8. Dior D-Bee
Like the Dior (r)evolution handbag line, Dior’s D-Bee is one of the fashion house’s latest additions, too. Launched during Maria Grazia Chiuri’s first runway show as Dior’s creative director, the Dior D-Bee handbag line features shopper and saddle bags, with the former being particularly loved by the millennial women, and the latter by the most fashionable Generation Z young adults.
It combines Dior’s appeal for elegance with the house’s fascination with the Nineties aesthetics, and is already one of the most acclaimed Dior handbag lines. We expect more D-Bee models in the seasons to come!
9. J’adior Dior Bag
Is it humanly possible to debut more than two iconic handbags at just one runway show? Well, according to Maria Grazia Chiuri, the answer is yes! Launched for the spring/summer 2017 season, the Dior J’adior bag reminds us of Sex and the City’s it-girl Carrie Bradshaw’s elegantly pop style, as it features a structured silhouette refined with a bold “J’adior” catchphrase and, in its most iconic models, glam rock studs as an embellishment.
10. Dior Saddle Bag
Last but not least, we couldn’t help but end our list of the best Dior handbags with one of Carrie Bradshaw’s actual all-time favorites, i.e. the Dior Saddle Bag. Designed by John Galliano in 1999, the Dior Saddle Bag directly jumped from the runway to Sex and the City’s wardrobes, becoming the ultimate must-have of the late Nineties. Fun and one-of-a-kind for sure, it is on (almost) any vintage lover’s wish list, and will never ever go out of style.
Photos via The Blonde Salad, Dior
