One princess, a thousand stories. Lady Diana would have turned 60 this year, and nearly 25 years after her death, the People’s Princess continues to fascinate. From a style that could be rebellious one day and regal the next to the hidden messages behind her outfits, experts still love decoding her personality and the way she expressed herself. But there is one fashion accessory on which the whole world agrees: the famous Dior handbag that now bears her name, the Lady Dior. Thanks to its unmistakable style, this luxury bag is one of the most iconic bags of all time. Warning: do not read this article unless you are ready to add another bag to your dream list!
The story behind the legend
Telling the story of the Lady Dior to lovers of luxury bags is a little like telling a fairy tale: it puts stars in your eyes. Originally known as Chouchou - at least among Dior designers - the bag was created in 1994. But it was in 1995 that the young accessory’s destiny changed forever.
Bernadette Chirac, then First Lady of France, contacted the House of Dior with an unusual request: to create a handbag that would be given to Princess Diana during an official visit to Paris. Using the craftsmanship of luxury leather goods as a diplomatic gift was not entirely new, and the idea would be repeated later - from Margaret Thatcher receiving a handbag from the U.S. Secretary of State in 1988 to the Givenchy bag Brigitte Macron gave Melania Trump in 2018. Almost enough to make us consider a career in politics!
Black Lady Dior - Timeless elegance
Dior selected the Chouchou model, renamed Princesse for the occasion. The handbag incorporates several classic House codes: Cannage quilting inspired by the chairs used at Dior’s earliest fashion shows, charms recalling the lucky symbols so dear to Christian Dior, and elegant rounded handles. The mini-tote-style bag was presented to Lady Di during an exhibition at the Grand Palais. She immediately fell in love with it.
A royal destiny
It is fair to say that Princess Diana did her gift proud. From that day forward, she was photographed dozens of times carrying the Lady Dior during trips around the world. From a visit to Argentina to New York’s glamorous Met Gala, the Dior accessory traveled far and wide.
The legendary handbag sent sales soaring and remains one of the Parisian House’s greatest successes today.
25 years in the spotlight
How can you measure the success of a luxury bag? One clue is the number of times it has been reinvented - and by whom. Since its launch, the Lady Dior has been reinterpreted dozens of times, first by the House’s artistic directors, who added a shoulder strap to the handbag and, more recently, retro-inspired embroidery, and also by major international artists invited by Dior. You can find some of these designs and many other Dior bags in Secondement’s vintage bag boutique.
Burgundy Lady Dior - A sophisticated version
Whatever the version - original or reinvented - the Lady Dior began its life in the spotlight and never really left it. A mini version for Emma Roberts, a gold version for Kylie Minogue: this fashionable little handbag appears at every kind of event. Its distinctive design never goes unnoticed.
And like every great piece of luxury leather goods, the Lady Dior needed ambassadors worthy of its aura, women capable of following in Princess Diana’s footsteps. The House of Dior rose to the challenge, bringing together women as inspiring and elegant as the Lady who gave the bag its name.
Carla Bruni
Parisian elegance
Monica Bellucci
Italian glamour
Diane Kruger
Modern sophistication
Marion Cotillard
Contemporary ambassador
More recently, you may have found yourself dreaming over the beautiful promotional short films starring one of the Lady Dior’s best-known ambassadors, actress Marion Cotillard.
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