Men’s Edit: The Dior Saddle Bag
In recent years, there have been few men’s bags as iconic and timeless as the Saddle Bag from Dior. Coming in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes, sizes, and even limited editions, the Dior Saddle Bag has become a street style star darling, gracing the shoulders of notable style bloggers and global tastemakers alike.
From the genius mind of John Galliano the former creative director of Dior sprung the concept of the Saddle Bag. Inspired by equestrianism, the Dior Saddle Bag first debuted in 2000 in Dior’s Spring/Summer collection taking reference to a bag typically seen on a horse. It became an instant hit and Dior’s accessory sales skyrocketed.
After a brief hiatus, the bag was rereleased by Dior, in the Autumn/Winter 2018 collection under the guidance of creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. The Saddle Bag, previously only worn over one’s shoulder, was now made into more of a messenger bag, featuring longer straps and more unisex styles.
Kim Jones is truly the force that brought the Saddle Bag to men. During his debut as Dior’s artistic director in the Dior Spring/Summer 2019 collection, he made the bags more man-friendly with some masculine touches. For instance, Jones tapped the founder of 1017 ALX 9SM, Matthew Williams, to add utility buckles to the bags, giving the items the designer’s signature brutalist industrial aesthetic chic. Future artistic collaborations with the Dior Saddle Bag have also emerged in recent years, featuring the likes of KAWS and Daniel Arsham.
