The model with perhaps the greatest appeal is Dior’s Lady Dior. The Bag was introduced in 1994 and soon became a bestseller. Celebrities also embraced the French heritage house. Another model with a very high recognition value is the Saddle Bag designed by John Galliiano. The Dionysus is also very popular: with its tiger-head clasp, it is a real eye-catcher.

The name goes back to Diana, Princess of Wales.

In 1995, the then French First Lady Bernadette Chirac gifted the Princess a newly designed Dior handbag during a visit to Paris. Princess Diana then wore it very often — at official engagements, while travelling and even to evening events. Photos of it went around the world, and the Bag suddenly became extremely sought after. Originally, the model did not yet have an official name. However, as it became so strongly associated with Lady Diana, Dior renamed the Bag in her honour to “Lady Dior” in 1996.

Typical features of the Bag are the quilted Cannage pattern (inspired by the chairs at Dior fashion shows) and the Tag with the letters D-I-O-R.

Oblique Canvas is a monogram textile. It is therefore not leather, but a tightly woven fabric (canvas) featuring the well-known repeating Dior logo pattern. The motif was designed in 1967 by then Dior designer Marc Bohan.

The diagonally arranged (→ “oblique” = slanted) Dior letters form a continuous monogram — similar to other luxury brands that use a recognisable logo pattern.

Dior bags are distinguished above all by their timeless design and strong recognisability. Typical features include clean, structured shapes as well as signature details such as Cannage quilting, the D-I-O-R.-Tag, the CD logo or Oblique Canvas. Many models — such as the Lady Dior — have remained virtually unchanged over the years and are therefore considered fashion classics. In addition, the bags are crafted from high-quality materials and made with great care, making them durable and helping them retain their elegant shape over time.

Dior bags are distinguished by high-quality materials and exceptionally precise craftsmanship. The quality of the materials alone often provides an initial clue: leather feels firm and evenly finished, stitching is neat and hardware feels substantial and carefully made. By contrast, many counterfeits cut corners on materials and workmanship.

There are also several specific features that stand out on an authentic Lady Dior Bag. The letter Tag do not hang completely freely, but are securely attached and therefore do not jingle loudly. The interior is always lined with a fabric in the signature Cannage pattern; different lining materials are often a sign of a fake.

For Oblique canvas models, the monogram should also be examined closely. On the original, the pattern is precisely aligned and repeats evenly, whereas copies often show slight shifts or irregular spacing. Inside, there is also a code that indicates the place of production and the manufacturing period.

Yes, most Dior bags have a leather label inside, with an individual date code embossed on the back. On newer models, this small tag is firmly stitched all the way around, whereas on older bags – especially those made before the 1990s – it was often attached with just a single stitch. The embossing can be colourless, silver or gold, and should always appear clean, clearly legible and without overlapping details. Typical features also include slightly rounded corners, precisely placed stitching and centred lettering.

The text is limited to two to three lines: it contains the name of the founder, Christian Dior, as well as “PARIS” in capital letters. In some cases, the country of manufacture is also shown below, such as “MADE IN ITALY” or “MADE IN SPAIN”.

It is not possible to determine exactly since when Dior has used date codes, but they are generally thought to have been introduced around 1997. As a result, early models – for example older Lady Dior bags – may also exist without such a code.

The code provides information about the place of production and the manufacturing date.
In an example such as 16-BO-0133, “BO” stands for the manufacturing location. The month and year can be read from the numbers: the first and third digits indicate the month, the second and fourth the production year – in this case March 2013.

More recent codes usually include hyphens. Formats such as RU 0928 also exist and are linked to the LVMH group; they are read according to the same principle (here: February 1998), but without hyphens.

It is also important to note that the date code should not be confused with the serial number. This is found on the authenticity card and identifies only the respective model of the Bag.