Since taking the creative helm of Dior in 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri has reinvented the aesthetic of the house while paying homage to her predecessors. No product illustrates this more than the Saddle bag.
“The Saddle bag is one of those emblematic pieces that always manages to remain contemporary,” Chiuri tells Vogue of its appeal. “It's also one of the codes that symbolises Dior's recent history.” And so, Chiuri reintroduced it to Dior’s handbag offering in the brand’s autumn/winter 2018 collection, spawning the celebrity craze for the Saddle once more.
Here, Vogue takes a look at the history of this iconic bag design...
How the Saddle bag became an icon
First conceived in 1999 by former artistic director John Galliano and debuted in the spring/summer 2000 collection, the Saddle was quickly propelled into the mainstream by celebrities slinging their slice of Galliano’s Dior aesthetic over their shoulders. Beyoncé carried one! Ditto J-Lo! Sienna Miller! Elle Macpherson! It became a Sex and the City favourite, as Sarah Jessica Parker adopted the equestrian symbol as part of Carrie Bradshaw’s uniform.
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