Luxury handbags have been a hot commodity for over seventy years now. There are some classics that never seem to go out of style- the Chanel 2.55, the Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, the Louis Vuitton Speedy, etc. However, there are some newer styles that have made it to that top tier, and that includes the Lady Dior. Though the House of Dior is over seventy years old (founded in 1947), their favoured handbag is significantly younger. Tied to one of the most famous women in modern history, it is embedded in Dior now. This Style Bite is going to explore the history of the Lady Dior!
What is the Lady Dior?
The Lady Dior is a top handle handbag made of leather with top-stitching in a cannage pattern. (This easily recognisable pattern was inspired by the caning on the furniture in the Dior atelier, a nod to the house’s history.) You can purchase a Lady Dior in one of four sizes: the Mini, the Small, the Medium, and the Large.
A Purse Fit for A Princess…
Originally named the “Chouchou”, this handbag is named for a Princess who started life as a Lady. Bernadette Chirac, then the First Lady of France, gave the gift to Diana, the Princess of Wales on a trip to France in 1995. Dior then renamed the bag in honour of the Princess whose maiden name was Lady Diana Spencer. Although Diana’s untimely death was just too years later, the style has been linked with her ever since. It remains one of Dior’s most popular styles, and does incredibly well on the secondary market. (I’m never going to tell anyone to buy a handbag as an investment, but this would be what some call an “investment bag”.)
Of course, I saw the Lady Dior and more in the Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A!
Did you know the history of the Lady Dior?
Cheers,
The Historian
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