When looking at any runway collection from a major accessories brand (and especially a major European one), there’s one thing you can usually count on seeing: leather, and a lot of it. Consumers have been conditioned to believe that leather is the ultimate in handbag luxury, and although there is good reason for that, plenty of it is also the magic of marketing—depending on the look you’re going for, another material might be lighter weight, more durable, better at taking dye, easier to embellish, more waterproof, or any number of other characteristics that are often nice to have in a handbag. But leather is what brands have conditioned the market for, so leather is what sells, and it’s what top-tier luxury brands use almost all the time. Except, it seems, on Dior‘s Spring 2019 runway.
Although Dior’s models toted a leather bag here and there, the vast majority of the collection was given over to textiles, Dior’s logo jacquard and beyond. Many of the bags expanded on two popular lines the brand already has up and running: the relaunched Dior Saddle Bag and the Dior Book Tote.
The Saddle was slimmed down for convertible belt bags (which were shown on the runway with both their belt and crossbody options, which gave the look a harness vibe), while the Book Tote was converted into messengers and slim sling bags, strapped with thick Dior logo webbing. The latter sometimes took on an Army Surplus vibe, and with pre-doodled embellishments, the look was very similar to the khaki green canvas messenger bags Chanel had in its feminist protest-themed collection several years ago. Check out all the bags from the collection below.
[Photos via Vogue Runway]
I really liked the Dior show. Lots of wearable clothing made for women who live in the real world. I like a good deal of the bags as well. The Saddle bag is very cute I am just not sure how user friendly it is and it they hold much, I need to go in the boutique and take a closer look at getting myself one.
The show was awesome, and the clothes as usual were gorgeous. I would not get any of these bags though.
I love Dior and the direction they are going in. I am very excited to visit them in October for Les Journeys Particulieres. It will be a highlight of my purse loving life! Hopefully I’ll get to see some of these lovely bags.
The bags look awful.
I’m still waiting for MGC to drop a bag that she designed that’s original and show stopping… so far everything have been throwbacks…
I like the dior pattern and all, but I cannot with the saddle shape?! Why do they need to make so many of them?! Haha. And why does so many of all the new bags that are produced need to have the monogram pattern on them? and the big “CHRISTIAN DIOR” tags? I mean, it looks cool and all, and the pattern is in fact beautiful and balanced, but I guess it will feel tacky and braggy soon enough?
I would love to buy something with the dior monogram pattern, but as I already bought a GG supreme patterned bag from Gucci I feel like has to be enough of logo mania for me. I am not so well of as a student that I can buy multiple bags a year and I do not want to end up with a bunch of logo-patterned bags that suddenly are super duper mega OUT like they probably will feel when the logo freakshow is overplayed, so I try to stay cool and just enjoy them for afar. Well, except for my Gucci that I enjoy daily.
What do Purseblog and all you other readers think? Will this be a long lasting trend? Or will the logos fade away soon?
Listen, I’ve been loving Gucci and Dior for 20+ years. I got my first Dior logo wristlet in the late 80’s at a department store in New York, no one I knew had an appreciation for Dior, they all were Gucci fans. Fast forward to 2016, I pulled my Dior out after a closet clean out and now, 2018 it all the rage. Keep and take care of your bags and you will see the trend come back again. Unlike designer clothing, you will never have to worry about sizing or weight gain with a quality handbag…they always fit.
I agree with an earlier TPF article which said trends bounce from one extreme to another. So, I think when the logo trend peaks (can’t be too far off), it’ll be gone quickly.
I think the trend shows the sad reality, that more and more people want to shout to people that they are rich, by showing off big loud logos of premier designers, that people care more about how they are seen by others instead of looking inward for happiness. I find it desperate and sad.
I personally hate this logo mania trend we have going on and foresee that it will end in about 2 years. I don’t see the point in showing off, for free might I add, the logos of brands. Most handbag connoisseurs would agree that we enjoy bags for their design, not because they’re an easy way for people to know you have $$$. Nowadays, I think that brands gear their products towards hypebeasts who would buy a product, regardless of whether they even like or appreciate the brand, just for the logo. But I digress, since these people do contribute a significant amount of revenue to these brands. So… ?????
I just feel like leather holds up much better over the long term, whereas fabric bags wear out faster. When I’m paying that much for a bag, I want to have it for a long as possible!
I don’t know, does anyone have a long-held fabric bag? What are your experiences?
I’ve been collecting Dior since the early 90’s and I’ve had my Dior Trotter (fabric) for almost 20 years. Of course, it has been on and off rotation. I brought it back out in 2016 along with my Coach made in New York backpack and now I really appreciate the quality of the Dior weaving. Yes it has a tiny bit of fraying but really take a look at the stitching, the intricate design is beautiful. If you are a lover of craftsmanship on leather… you will greatly appreciate the craftsmanship of the Dior.
This is rumored to be Maria’s last collection for Dior…thank god.
I wouldn’t mind Dior pushing this canvas agenda is they weren’t charging what they’re asking for it. I was so close to buying the canvas Quake but couldn’t justify a 1200 fabric pouch… not including a strap. And for 300 more I could get a quilted lambskin version. I guess I won’t be investing in Dior in the foreseeable future. It already doesn’t hold its value that well, won’t be worth sh** when Maria leaves. ALLEGEDLY
That’s what I’m thinking. The title of the is post is “Dior focuses on fabric (bags)”. I think we all know the reason – massive profits. The fabric bags must be dirt cheap to manufacture.
The bag in #7 looks like the cheap souvenir bags they sell to hippie tourists in Bangkok for $10.00. Shameful.
Oh, so true about the souvenir bag. Their bag are super over priced.
How much are these fabric bags?
I really don’t like these bags. The saddle bag looks like a bag made to put a gun in, maybe that’s why I’ve always found it so distasteful. That and the fact that you can barely put anything in it. These styles won’t last.
Love the fabric saddle bags in brilliant colors. Fantastic runway show was breathtaking
Rumor has it that this will be Maria Gazia Chiuri’s last collection for Dior ?
I am seriously surprised how many people go for fabric bags or bags with fabric as one of the components, when it comes to premium designer bags. Most of them are not only NOT as durable as leather, but more importantly, they are magnet for dirt. Also, how do you not lose your mind about the risk of the bag getting stained, from a drop of coffee, sauce, among many other stain hazards? That was why I couldn’t pull the trigger on a tweed bag. I would have ended up insane with worries about something happening to my bag.
I found one! I found one I liked! Really, I did. It’s #10, the blue one. But, I’d never pay big bucks for a fabric bag. Heck, every time I wear a white t-shirt, I worry I’ll get it dirty! I threaten my DH w a bib when he wears one. Forget abt body guards, I’d need bag guards to leave the house.
The clothes were the standout winners of this collection. I still don’t like the kidney bean handbag.
Okay, boys and girls! Can you say “BILLBOARD”?
I am wondering, how much is the “leather” saddle bag in small or medium sizes?not the mini one.
why are the prices not published anywhere for the public?