The cute and ladylike Lady Dior is one of the House’s best-selling styles with its luxurious craftsmanship and elegant silhouette. First introduced in 1994, the Lady Dior was initially named “Chouchou” – French for “the Favorite”. It was later renamed when the iconic Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, expressed her fervent adoration for the bag.
Are you thinking about getting your very first Lady Dior bag? Here’s what you need to know before making your purchase.
Lady Dior: Pros
- An extremely well-constructed handbag, the Lady Dior is crafted from luxurious materials and features high-quality stitching.
- The Lady Dior has an elegant top-handle silhouette which gives it a dressier look, making it ideal for evening wear and formal occasions. However, it may not be as suitable for more casual events.
- It is versatile. The Lady Dior can be carried as a top handle bag or a crossbody bag, which allows it to easily transition from a day bag to an evening tote.
- If you prefer to wear your bag crossbody, opt for the Mini or the Small; the Large size looks better when carried by its handles in the crook of your arm.
- Although delicate and supple, Dior’s lambskin leather is known to be very durable and not prone to scratches. This means your Lady Dior can maintain its condition [as long as you care for it!] over time.
Lady Dior: Cons
- The “DIOR” charms can easily rub against each other over time, causing them to be prone to hairline scratches. These micro-scratches are not very obvious unless observed up close, but this could be a big drawback if you’re trying to keep your bags in pristine condition. To prevent this, you can use protective stickers to protect the charms on your Lady Dior bag.
- For Lady Dior bags that have a zipper, the opening of the bag is slightly tighter due to the stiff zippered closure. However, the leather around the zipper tends to gradually soften with use over time, making your bag easier to get in and out of as you use it. If this is of concern to you, we recommend purchasing the Lady Dior with a flap-over-top opening without the zipper.
- The bag can feel slightly on the heavier side, especially relative to its size. It may not be best for those who prefer lightweight bags.
- If you tend to carry a lot with you, the Lady Dior Mini and Small may not be roomy enough to store all your essentials. In fact, an iPhone 12 Pro would not fit inside a Lady Dior Mini. The Medium and Large sizes would be more practical in this case.
We hope our breakdown helped you get a better idea about the features of the Lady Dior. Does the Lady Dior complement your lifestyle?
Tags: Designer Fashion Community Designer Handbags Dior Bags Lady Dior Luxury 101
It was love at first sight. I knew from the moment I first saw you that I had to make you mine. The way your beauty sucked the air out of any room you entered was truly something special. Whenever I let my mind wander aimlessly, my thoughts always seemed to return to you and how, no matter how long I had to wait, I would possess you, my Lady Dior.
I obsessed over this bag for 2 years, y’all.
I watched every YouTube video, learned its collection history, and probably read almost every PurseForum thread there was about it. I even had a picture of it on my vision board right next to luxurious-looking travel destinations and cheesy motivational quotes.
I was tired of how my favorite purse continued to rip at the seams so by the time I was making an appointment with a leather cobbler for the third time, I knew that something needed to change. I set out on a hunt that spanned two years and three countries before I finally got the guts to purchase a medium-sized metallic microcannage Lady Dior with light gold hardware from the Fall/Winter 2016 collection.
Aesthetics
I think this bag is gorgeous even though it is not the color I originally wanted. For some reason, I wanted red despite never actually wearing much of the color. I eventually decided it would be better to get it in a neutral color like black, but I kept running into one particular problem – I wanted one with pale gold hardware, but at this time black Lady Diors only came with silver or dark gold hardware [or if any did come with pale gold hardware they were super hard to find…]
I strongly contemplated getting darker gold but eventually considered the lack of pale gold to be a deal-breaker and after holding out for my dream bag, I finally found a Lady Dior that was black and pale gold! — just not in the way I had expected.
This beauty measures 9.4” W x 8.8” H x 4.3” D and comes dressed in an incredibly smooth, scratch-resistant, ombré perforated calfskin leather. A muted metallic gold bleeds into a soft black at its base, reflecting light in such a way that it adds a bit of splendor to this truly timeless piece. Of course, all of the hardware is the non-negotiable pale gold that I so desperately wanted and I find that this specific hardware color helps the bag match both the silver and gold jewelry I may be wearing at any given time.
It is definitely a flashy purse but still understated enough that it doesn’t overpower any of my looks.
Usability + Functionality
Despite the Lady Dior usually being considered more dressy and formal, I use mine as an everyday bag. Its sturdy boxy construction makes for a super spacious inside that is the perfect size for carrying all of my daily essentials and not much more. I consider this a good thing because it severely limits the amount of junk that I can comfortably carry around with me and it halts my tendency to let my purse turn into an endless abyss of receipts, hairpins, and mentos.
I typically wear it as a crossbody with the matching shoulder strap because I like to keep my hands free, but I appreciate the top handles for when I need to quickly pick the purse up. It’s generally pretty lightweight and easy to carry.
Honestly, there is really only one major downside to this bag: it is SO HARD to get into!
Up until 2018, Lady Diors were only made with a narrow zipper closure. Thankfully, Dior has since switched to an easier flap style closure on the bags but still… the tightness of my bag’s opening simultaneously makes me feel that my belongs are safe and secure from potential pick-pocketers and serves as a regular annoyance whenever I need to quickly fish something out of it. I had to start using a slim cardholder and other small leather goods just to avoid the icy stares of airport security personnel and fellow grocery store patrons who would not-so-patiently wait for me to pull things out of the bag.
Quality + Construction
I take care of my things but I am personally not one to baby my bags, so it is critical that it is able to stand the test of time.
This Lady Dior has been my trusty sidekick for the last six months and thus has faced some less than ideal situations: strong-armed trips to carry it alongside a million grocery bags, long plane journeys where it rubbed against my coat, jewelry, and other luggage, and an embarrassingly frequent number of times that it has tumbled off the passenger seat of my car when I brake too hard. And it still looks almost brand new.
Any minuscule scratches that it may have gotten [even from before I owned it] are somehow perfectly disguised by the metallic gradient’s reflection of light. Honestly, I feel like I have to worry more about protecting the hardware than I do the actual leather. The same goes for the chocolaty leather interior lining, but that is probably because I use small leather goods to keep things from tumbling around inside.
I do love how much more worry-free the material is compared to the softer lambskin versions, but I sometimes do still worry about the fact that this tougher leather is much harder to repair in the event that something does happen to it.
The accompanying shoulder strap is adjustable, comfortable, and the perfect length for my 5’4” frame, but I do harbor a small feeling that it was designed kind of as an afterthought. Lady Dior bags don’t have a designated spot for the clasps to hook on to but instead are attached to the handle rings. This is a bit irksome because although the strap is comfortable to wear, the thought of metal rubbing against metal doesn’t sit right with me.
Price + Value
This specific version of the Lady Dior originally retailed for around $4,345 but since I got it pre-loved I paid $2,366.86. Still quite a big chunk of change, but I consider it a steal since it was in near perfect condition.
I feel like this bag will still hold onto a lot of the monetary value in regards to the price I paid for it [maybe not so much the original owner] as long as it is kept in great condition simply because of its “It-Bag” status. I have seen a small amount of hype online about this particular colorway but the true value for me is definitely more sentimental. I value having it in my collection simply because I wanted it for so long. Period. It is also the bag that led me to discover PurseBlog/Forum during the research stage of my buying journey so it certainly holds an extra special place in my heart and I don’t plan on ever selling it.
Staying Power
The Dior brand is really great at breathing new life into its classic pieces with fun colors, prints, and customization options. In my opinion, it consistently produces bags that are the perfect blend of feminine, classic, fun, and trendy, and because of this, I do feel that this bag has a pretty good chance of staying relevant. Sure, the metallic coloring appeals to a specific taste much in the same way the newer tie-dye line does, but at the end of the day, it’s still a Lady Dior. So even as fashion moves in a new direction, I think this bag will always be looked at as a shiny keepsake and appreciated for what it is.
Overall Rating
Trendy but classic. Formal yet fun. As much as I and a lot of others love this bag, it isn’t one I see out in the wild very often. Unlike Louis Vuttion, Hermès, and Chanel bags, the Lady Dior is an iconic piece that still manages to hide in plain sight. I have noticed that it is only immediately recognizable to my fellow purse aficionados, which I consider an extra special perk! It’s a shiny secret signal to other luxury handbag lovers that never fails to spark a spontaneous conversation with someone new!
What can you fit in small Lady Dior?
Small Lady Dior It is 8-inches wide, 6.5-inches high, and 3-inches deep. It has a 3.6-inch handle drop, and a 19-inch to 24-inch strap drop. It can fit a small notebook or book, a wallet, keys, and phone.nullThe Size Guide: Lady Dior - The Vault - Rebagwww.rebag.com › thevault › the-size-guide-lady-diornull
What size is Dior small lady?
Small [20 x 17 x 8 cm] A wallet, a water bottle and perhaps a book will find their place in this model combining elegance and practicality.nullWHICH LADY DIOR SIZE ARE YOU? - Bagswww.dior.com › en_gb › fashion › bags › which-lady-dior-size-are-younull
Is the Lady Dior a good investment?
Dior bags are known for their quality, craftsmanship, and iconic designs, which often result in high demand and can help them hold their value over time. Many of the most popular Dior bags—such as the Lady Dior and the 30 Montaigne Dior crossbody bag—have actually increased in value, making them smart investments.null10 Best Dior Bags To Invest In [Ultimate Wish List] - Luxe Digitalluxe.digital › lifestyle › style › best-dior-bagsnull