The icon: Lady Dior
The Princess of Wales was seen carrying the never before seen bag in Paris during the opening of a Paul Cézanne exhibition in 1995. She had received the bag as a gift from the first lady of France. The bag was originally called the “Chouchou” but was given the name “Lady Dior” in the Princess’s honour. Later, she was seen time and time again with the Dior design, to the point where it became synonymous with her personal style. The popularity quickly gained momentum, and before long it became a fashion icon.
The bag was a continuation of Christian Dior’s legacy. The quilt has the famous Cannage motif, inspired by the salon chairs that Dior himself set out for guests at the house’s very first fashion show. The charms are inspired by Christian Dior’s lucky charms that he always had with him, and the shape of the handles when folded outwards form the letters “C” and “D”, as in Christian Dior. In other words, the bag was carefully crafted in tune with the French fashion house’s heritage.
The bag has been reinvented time after time, season after season. The Dior Lady Art project has allowed many artists from sculptors to designers to painters, to reinterpret this bag with their own creative twist, and with its “Lady Dior As Seen By” traveling exhibition, Dior has created a way for anyone to view these masterpieces up close and personal.
The Lady Dior bags available in stores today offer plenty of sizes, different hardware options, and materials, from the original lambskin to nylon to embroidery.
