Love it or hate it, the Christian Dior Saddle bag is back. The eponymous kidney-bean saddle-shaped back was brought back by Maria Grazia Chiuri, and it has since taken over our social media feeds. As of last fall, I’m the proud owner of my own vintage Dior double saddle bag in ostrich leather, and I’m here to share my honest thoughts in this Dior Saddle bag review.
History of the Dior Saddle Bag
A little history on the saddle bag… it was first introduced by John Galliano during the Spring 2000 Collection, and gained popularity after being seen on celebrities like J-Lo and Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City. It was one of the first “it-bags” and I remember laughing at all the denim and embellished Dior saddle bags on display at Amsterdam’s Tassen Museum of Bags and Purses. In 2014, Beyoncé (ever the trendsetter) was seen wearing one again. For the Autumn/Winter 2018 collection, Chiuri brought back the Dior saddle bag, followed it by an at times aggressive social media marketing campaign and it’s since returned to it-bag status.
I was dismissive of the saddle bag, mainly due to pricetag, but kept my mind open to acquiring a vintage one. In September, I went to the Toronto Antique and Vintage show, and found a stunning Dior double saddle bag in ostrich. It was in excellent condition, and the owner of the vintage shop bought the bag herself. For only $195 CAD, I was the new happy owner! At first, I wasn’t sure about the bag, but I’ve since fallen in love… which is why I’m sharing my Dior saddle bag review.
Dior Saddle Bag review
The Dior saddle bag features a unique saddle shape, with a medium shoulder strap. Aside from its shape, the distinctive gold logo hardware adds a luxurious, bold branded touch. In 2019, it’s all about logos and this bag does it in a wonderful way. If the printed logo canvas Dior saddle bags are too much for you, you can opt for a leather version like mine, or pick up an embellished one! I love that there are so many options now. The shape of the Dior double saddle bag is like a kidney bean, and it’s a bit retro, but still unique. I like how it’s slim and fits under my arm comfortably, but also holds quite a bit. The shoulder strap is padded and made of beautiful, soft leather. It’s so easy to sling on your shoulder and wear around! I also hold it in my hands and it’s very light and comfortable as well.
On a regular day, I can easily fit my medium-sized wallet, a pair of sunglasses, my Google Pixel 3 phone, a change purse, lipstick and a compact. It’s not a huge bag, but I find I can push its limits a bit. This bag is perfect for a weekend on-the-go, or even a night out as you can sneak snacks, bandaids and a mini brush or can of hairspray if needed!
The hardware on the Dior saddle bag is simply fabulous. Because mine is the double saddle bag, there is both the “CD” logos on the front, while a traditional Dior Saddle bag has only the D on the front flap. I like how you can wear this bag on either shoulder and the CD logo on the strap will always show! It’s a small detail, but I like how this aspect was thought out. My Dior saddle bag review is a bit different, as I have a vintage bag, it’s opened and closed with VELCRO! It makes me nostalgic for my light-up velcro sneakers I wore as a kid. The new version has a magnetic clasp, but the velcro is so easy to open, that I actually like it. You can also purchase a Dior saddle bag strap to make it crossbody.
In short, would I spend $2,000 + for this bag? No. It’s a trendy bag that has been played out on Instagram. Do I like this bag? Yes. As I explain in the video below, it’s a very unique iconic design, and unlike anything in my collection. If I had a larger handbag budget and wanted a baguette style bag, I would definitely consider buying an embroidered Dior saddle bag, because they are works of art! I’m hoping the Dior saddle bag trend will stay for a couple years, and I can keep this original one as a memento of SATC and early 2000s it bags.
As for styling, I find this bag goes well with many casual outfits. It pairs excellently with a sweater and jeans, teddy bear coat and boots or a western-inspired dress. You can see how to wear the Dior saddle bag in some photos below.
If you’re still thinking of getting this bag, I’ve shared a Dior saddle bag review in my latest YouTube video. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this bag, and whether you’d get it for yourself!