{"id":86744,"date":"2022-08-24T15:43:12","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T15:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theluxurycloset.com\/2022\/08\/24\/iconic-lady-dior-tote-story\/"},"modified":"2022-08-24T15:43:12","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T15:43:12","slug":"iconic-lady-dior-tote-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theluxurycloset.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/24\/iconic-lady-dior-tote-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Lady Diana\u2019s favourite bag and the story behind it"},"content":{"rendered":"

A style icon of her time, Princess Diana was known for her elegant fashion choices. Be it her coming out of the gym in bicycle shorts or the revenge dress, Lady Diana always made the headlines for her style selections. One accessory that she was often papped with was the Lady Dior<\/a> tote. Today, most of us discern it as the most popular designer handbag<\/a> or Princess Diana\u2019s favourite, but the story behind it is lesser known.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a>
Editorial Credit: Only Dalya\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Lady Dior tote was gifted to her<\/h2>\n

Bernadette Chirac, France\u2019s First Lady, presented Lady Diana with Dior\u2019s newest creation at the inauguration of the C\u00e9zanne exhibition at the Grand Palais in September 1995\u2014a sophisticated black leather stitched handbag. The Princess of Wales instantly fell in love with the bag and ordered it in every iteration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a>
Photo Courtesy: Getty Images via vogue.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How was the bag cleped Lady Dior?<\/h2>\n

The handbag was first introduced in 1994 with no official name and was not yet available for sale; it was only in possession of the world\u2019s one per cent. Later, it was called the <\/span>Chouchou<\/i>, a term used to express endearment. In November 1995,\u00a0 Princess Diana visited a children\u2019s home in Birmingham and was photographed by the press with the bag, carrying a child in her arms. A couple of weeks later, on an official visit to Argentina, she appeared once more with her favourite bag exiting the plane. For the 1996 Met Gala, she wore the Lady Dior with a navy blue slip dress by then creative director of Dior<\/a>, John Galliano. Diana especially fancied the <\/span>quintessential black Lady Dior, as well as patent and croc versions in different sizes. Clearly, Lady Di fell in love with the bag and was spotted carrying it often. Eventually, the Chouchou bag evolved to be associated with her, and in 1996, as a homage to the Princess, it was renamed <\/span>Lady Dior<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a>
Photo Courtesy: Tim Graham\/Tim Graham Photo Library\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unparalleled craftsmanship packed in a bag<\/h2>\n

The Lady Dior is intrinsically linked to Dior\u2019s savoir-faire and narrative. Its design emphasizes the exquisite artisanship on which Christian Dior founded his eponymous label back in 1946. Created by Dior\u2019s then creative director, Gianfranco Ferr\u00e9, the Lady Dior is completed by assembling 140 pieces. Since Ferr\u00e9 was originally trained as an architect, a lot of his designs were sculptured and detailed. The classic handbag in stitched padded leather exhibits the Maison\u2019s codes\u2014the stitching pattern, or cannage is influenced by the Napol\u00e9on III rattan chairs once used by Christian Dior to welcome his clients on the day of his first haute couture show in 1947. Lady Dior\u2019s trademark finish is the dangling charms that act as the eternal signature, which is reminiscent of the lucky charms Christian Dior always carried as he was superstitious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a>
Editorial Credit: fatlady\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each bag is handmade by skilled artisans. All the 140 pieces are assembled and shaped around a wooden form and stitched together with intricacy. The leathers are manually cut, and the DIOR charms are also shaped by hand. The bag itself is timeless in its structure, with clean, architectural lines which are <\/span>accentuated <\/span>with charms.\u00a0<\/span>This bag carries forward the storied tale of the French Maison and remains an iconic symbol in the history of handbags.<\/span><\/p>\n

A masterpiece that is loved till today<\/h2>\n

Ever popular and reinterpreted oft-times, the Parisian chic charm of Lady Dior is nonpareil. It is no surprise that the bag finds its course adorning the arms of so many fans, year after year! From limited editions and metallic renditions to exotic leathers and embellished styles, the Lady Dior has been revisited in just about every way possible. The style comes in five sizes\u2014<\/span>micro<\/i><\/b>, <\/span>mini<\/i><\/b>, <\/span>small<\/i><\/b>, <\/span>medium<\/i><\/b>, and <\/span>large<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

For Spring\/Summer 2020, Maria Grazia Chiuri presented the Lady D-Lite<\/a>, which was classified as a casual redux of the archetypal prototype. This one is crafted in embroidered canvas rather than leather and comes with a broad guitar-like strap for a sporty feel.<\/span>\"Lady<\/a><\/p>\n

Projects by Dior to continue the legacy of the iconic handbag<\/h2>\n

Lady Dior has enjoyed an extraordinary destiny. With crisp lines elevating the cannage motif, it is a concentration of the label\u2019s prowess. Years after, the design continues to build its timeless heritage at the crossroads of modernity and finesse, becoming a canvas of art and desire.<\/span><\/p>\n