Some bags quickly rise to cult status, and that’s certainly been the case for the Dior Book Tote. Quickly after the bag’s introduction, it became the fashionable jet-setter’s must-have travel bag. Curious what your favorite bag lover is carrying atop her carry-on suitcase? It’s probably a Dior Book Tote. The perfect holdall bag for daily use? It’s a Dior Book Tote. The logo bag of the moment? Again, it’s the Dior Book Tote. The brand has kept things fresh by releasing numerous riffs on the style, and now a seasonal US exclusive has been released, just in time for summer.
When I think of the quintessential American summer, I immediately think of New York. Nothing feels more like summer to me than warm nights in the city, enjoying food with friends, heading to the beach in the Hamptons, or watching the 4th of July fireworks from a rooftop overlooking the skyline. To kick off the season, we’re here to introduce the newest version of Dior’s coveted Book Tote: the Dior American Flag Book Tote. Embroidered with the iconic colors of the US flag, this tote is exclusively available in the US.
Maria Grazia Chiuri reinterpreted the house’s iconic Book Tote in red, white, and blue as an ode to Christian Dior’s first journey to the United States in 1947. Dior made the trip to accept the Neiman Marcus Award in Dallas, only a few months after launching his first collection in Paris. This iteration features over a million red, white, and blue embroidery stitches, alongside Christian Dior’s lucky stars.
Any version of the Book Tote will immediately become your go-to tote—the bag you don’t leave home without when you have a bit more to carry, or a place to go, or a trip to take. We spent some time with the Dior American Flag Book Tote, living my ideal summer day.
Day Trip: Coney Island
Don’t pass up this summer hot spot if you’re in NYC—it’s worth the trip. Just a short subway or car ride from Manhattan, Coney Island offers food, rides, and the beach all in an iconic location. Right next to the boardwalk is the amusement park with rides and games. Pack a towel in your tote and hit the beach while you’re there.
Eat: Nickel & Diner
Nickel & Diner is one of my favorite spots in NYC because it serves upgraded diner classics and contemporary plates in a cool retro setting. Counter seating and booths are offered, and you can order a killer burger, fries and a shake… then stroll around the neighborhood afterward.
Shop: Soho
Everyone knows Soho, but that doesn’t change that it’s still one of the best and most iconic areas to shop in NYC. The cobblestone streets and elegant cast-iron facades house some of the most sought-after shopping destinations in the world. Stroll up and down the streets popping in and out of shops, and later meet your friends for a drink at one of the countless bars.
See: NYC Skyline
If you go to NYC, you need to take in the skyline—all of it. To get the best view of the city, travel to Rockefeller Center and buy tickets for Top of the Rock. Regular tickets are $32 to $38, but you can purchase a VIP ticket for $85, which lets you skip the lines and head straight up (it’s worth the splurge). With unparalleled views of both downtown and uptown, this is the best way to take in the city.
The book tote has a nice vibe.
$3,000. Sadly, I feel (or hope & pray) that I’ve just been spoofed.
It’s really cute, but too gimmicky. I would get a bag like this at the $100 price point just for BBQs where I don’t have to worry about it being on the ground, around dogs, etc.
$100 is too much to spend on something you set on the ground or are ok with maybe a dog getting ahold of. Or, if you really don’t think $100 is too much to waste I’ll give you a PO box that you can send that $100 to.
$100 is much more reasonable to pay for this bag vs. the $3K price tag. However, if someone has $3K to spend on this then I also have a PO Box they can send the $3K to since there are many more beautiful bags I could purchase. Or I could go on a vacation, pay a few bills, etc. 🙂
Then I guess you don’t want to hear that previous versions of the Dior book bag are selling on pre-loved sites for as much as $4000, especially the multi-colored one. LOL.
I believe Christian Dior would roll over in his grave if he laid eyes on what his name has been placed on..
LOL
When you think his main source of inspiration was his garden’s flowers.
So sad.
I love the Book Tote and at first wasn’t sure if I liked this version but it’s grown on me already! For beach vacations this is the best!
I have to agree with Irene. This is bag is very tacky. If I wanted a flag influenced bag and I do not, I’d go to Wal-Mart or a souvenir stand in NYC and buy one for $25 rather than buy this one that looks like it should cost $25 but costs $3,000. The house of Dior must have very low opinions of the taste and financial acuity of Americans.
Would people still buy this bag if it didn’t say “CHRISTIAN DIOR”?
I doubt it. It looks like it came from Hobby Lobby.
Hell no. It looks like the tatty decor in a chain steak restaurant.
HAHAHAHA true
Aww! I just love Dino’s Wonder Wheel! The bag on the other hand…
I like how different this version of the tote is from the others, I’d totally wear it!
I see so many women carrying this. Mostly as diaper bags… that says it all.
One of the things it says is you’re in an area where $3,000 for a diaper bag isn’t a big deal.
True. Pretty scary.
I’ve been wanting a book tote and love Americana anything so I love this bag, I’d totally buy it!
I love this bag, but I am unfortunately too embarrassed of America right now to carry something like it.
Ok, I don’t want to get too political, but currently “America” is the way it is because of our President. His mistakes don’t reflect on the person that I am. I am, and always will be a strong, moral and ethical person. Recently, I was in London and rode the double decker bus to my hotel. It was clear that I was an American and many ppl spoke to me, but it was nice that they understood that not all American’s support his political views. I wasn’t embarrassed to be an American, I just don’t appreciate his representation of our Country.
America isn’t the way it is because of Trump. Tens of millions of Americans voted to elect him (a minority but still literally tens of millions, and about 40% of Americans still enthusiastically support him, including 80 – 90% of registered Republicans). Trump didn’t “make” America anything; he’s merely a reflection of what a large segment of America already was and is. His elevation merely emboldens bigots to say out loud what they used to only think and were to polite or afraid to admit publicly before his election.
*too
I live in London and it’s mortifying. It’s so much worse than when George W. was re-elected shortly after I first moved there, and I thought *that* was bad. Back then I was willing to talk to people and try to be a ‘goodwill ambassador’ for Americans, but this go-around it’s basically a verboten subject with me. I just can’t.
SAME LOL
Does anyone really want to rep the American Flag when the country is probably at its worst right now? lol
Totally agree. The US is an embarrassment right now. Oh, and btw Sue Grant, I don’t watch CNN at all. Perhaps it would be too predictable to suggest that maybe you should stop mouth breathing in front of Fox News?
Really… maybe you need to watch something other than CNN…
I actually use a variety of different news outlets to form my opinion thank you very much.
I’m glad that I’m not the only one who thought this bag was tacky. Also, I kept wondering how is it “iconic” because I couldn’t think of one reason that made it iconic.
It’s a rectangular bag with two handles:
Iconic. ?
I would proudly carry anything patriotic for this amazing country we live in! How blessed are we every single day? BUT, I don’t think I’d spend 3k for it since I would most likely take it absolutely everywhere I went & use it for takeout and groceries 😉
Many of us aren’t blessed every single day. I can afford to read purse blogs and daydream, but can’t afford a doctor visit, minor surgery, or college.
I could not either. I worked very hard to get a scholarship for college and worked my way through at a fast food chain that provided medical benefits. I was able to graduate and start an entry level job at an IT firm, where I have been promoted twice, and also have good benefits. I can also practice my religion freely, speak freely and drive to beautiful places in this country to watch sunsets (sunsets are free too). It’s not all about meritocracy and 1%. I was free to work hard and create my opportunities, I am sorry if you weren’t as motivated to do the same. Cheers.
Wow, presumptuous much? You have no idea what that person is or isn’t motivated to do, nor are you in any position to judge someone else’s life path based on YOUR personal experience. You have every right to feel proud of yourself for your hard work and where it’s gotten you, but that last sentence is shameful.
Sochen Hao: There are many, many people that have done the same as you, myself included. I grew up in extreme poverty and perhaps due to this I was motivated to work full time through high school, college and graduate school. My grades allowed me to receive scholarships which was great since I was married with 3 young children. I appreciated that my hard work provided opportunities which allowed me, and my family, to live a comfortable life. However, I never forgot where I came from and always gave back to the community. With all of that said I find fault with your statement re: that you are assuming that Pinkhoo is not motivated since he/she may not have achieved the success you did. We all live in the U.S.A., but despite that we don’t all have the same opportunities for a multitude of reasons that are not my business or yours.
I get what you are saying, but she is all over this thread judging how everyone spends their money and asking others to send her some (PM me for my PO Box to send $$ if you have extra – see below). All the while she is spending time “daydreaming” about luxury items while not being able to afford a doctor’s visit. My point there is, medical insurance is very easy to come by with a minimum wage job. Secondly, being on the thread and judging others’ spending habits isn’t kind. Lastly, I would not get on a site such as this and wax on about what I can’t afford at the expense of minimizing others’ opportunity to do so.
If you think medical insurance is easy to come by in the USA from minimum wage jobs, you’re suffering under serious delusions. Source: my M.S. in public policy & administration + years working at both state and federal legislatures in the US and then Parliament in the UK (for a very telling contrast).
Why do you think that you are more motivated than Pinkhoo?
Because it’s easy to work a minimum wage job and get full benefits.
No it is not. Don’t just make stuff up. Perhaps you should read the book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.
My parents immigrated to this country and took low paying jobs and two or three jobs simultaneously for all of my childhood and all three of their children, me included, got scholarships to excellent colleges and went on to be successful professionals/business owners. So yes, the American Dream happened for my family but that does not mean that I can demean others and their struggles. I agreed with lots of what you said until you started questioning the motivation of a person you know nothing about.
For an Americana themed tote, it’s ugly. But if a person has entirely too much money and wants a flag tote than I guess the ugly quality gives it the aura of being ironic, and the label makes it chic. Those of us not in the 1% will just shake our heads because we can’t afford the irony of designer ugly flag.
This version is so fun for summer! I have 2 book totes already and might get this one now, thanks megs!
Ok so I love the Dior Book Tote so much but this version isn’t for me. However can we talk about how perfect these photos are?! Nailed it!
Photos are excellent. The bag is awful. I would not want to be seen in public carrying that thing.
I agree!
Pier 1 Imports, is that you?
Haha
I’m a huge Dior fan and book tote fan. I’d love this for summer, But I mostly love the small accessories at the bottom of the post!
i hate Dior these days.
Maybe between the years 2008 and 2016 I’d have considered it. Now, not so much…
I don’t understand the appeal of this bag, in any of its iterations. I like the canvas tote I got at the V&A’s Christian Dior Designer of Dreams exhibition much better. It still has CHRISTIAN DIOR emblazoned on it, and it cost me $30, not $3,000.
Uh 3 grand for a canvas tote no thanks. I much prefer the Valentino red white and blue all leather tote and it is now on sale for around $1300 and much chicer!
I agree. The Valentino at $1300 is nice or one could buy a Givenchy Easy Tote and put the rest into your “purse fund” for something timeless.
The USA is the freeist and greatest country ever so don’t ever forget that!!
Really???? Do tell….. are you the greatest because every person has free access to healthcare? Maybe its how you treat the poor or how people fleeing violence and repression in their home country are treated when they land on your great shores. Maybe its locking children in cages or maybe its that gun deaths is the second leading cause of death among children ages 1 – 19, second only to car crashes. Maybe its the monthly (weekly?) mass shootings. I could go on but I think you get the picture. Thanks, but I’d rather be anything but an American. Signed, a proud Canadian
Looks like something Trump would buy his Mrs! No thanks!
one of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen. epitome of Ugly American.
Nice try, but were’re not buying.
Good ad for an ugly and riduclously expensive tote bag.
No Dior.
Wow, these posts turn political very quickly. It’s hard to believe that the symbolism behind an American flag style tote can elicit such an array of emotional responses! It takes the fun out of these purse reviews.