Christian Dior: Back in the Saddle Bag
Back in 2000, Christian Dior discontinued their off shoulder Saddle Bag, a staple of late nineties fashion. Fast forward to 2018, and the Vintage Dior Saddle Bag has been brought back with a refined modern look and a hard social media push. With recent trends favoring nostalgia, the Dior Saddle is riding a wave of popularity during its resurgence. Simply put, the bag is an icon, an ode to early 2000’s nostalgia and an initial release that saw it gracing the red carpet and big screen - appearing in TV shows like “Sex and the City.” No one thought it was coming back, so the original bags became “vintage” and quickly rose in popularity.
Originally designed by Dior’s creative director, John Galliano, the Saddle Bag was released as a part of their 2000 Spring/Summer Collection. Fast forward to 2018, and the Saddle Bag has been reimagined by Dior’s current creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. The new bag still maintains the classic saddle shape as well as the iconic Dior “D” hanging off the clasp. With their upcoming 2019 Cruise collection Dior has combined the endearing legacy of the Saddle bag with a modern twist.
LUNAR NEW YEAR
With this upcoming collection Dior not only re-introduced the Saddle Bag but released a Spring Festival Collection with bags highlighting the Chinese Lunar New Year. These bags features a red floral print on white canvas, red symbolizing prosperity and luck. Surely you’ll be lucky getting your hands on one of these beautiful bags. Dior released a few teasers January 29th on Instagram that warmed us up during the Polar Vortex. Dior’s caption reads that Chiuri “reinterpreted the House's signature toile de Jouy motif with red flowers,... evoking Christian Dior's passion for a highly symbolic hue he described as “the color of life”.”
Although maintaining some of the traditional characteristics of the original Dior Saddle, Chiuri’s reimagining has seen a slight increase in size as well as different patterns which provide modern functionality to a classic “It” bag to match the height of female modernity. The upcoming 2019 Spring/Summer Collection features Saddle Bags constructed with Calfskin and Embroidered Canvas. Since the unveiling of the bag in February of 2018, it is being worn by every “It” model and actress out there, proving it hasn’t lost any of its appeal during the eighteen-year hiatus.
Whether you have a Vintage Dior Saddle bag or a present day born again Dior, the piece is a staple in one’s wardrobe. If you’re in the Manhattan, NYC metropolitan area, and your Dior Saddle Bag needs a deserved cleaning— or any couture handbag—experience Meurice. Schedule a pickup or visit us today.