Dior launched the Lady Dior handbag in 1995.
The bag was originally called the Chouchou before receiving the name Lady Dior. It became closely associated with Diana, Princess of Wales, after she received one from France’s First Lady Bernadette Chirac during a visit to Paris in 1995. Diana was photographed carrying it, helping turn the design into a major fashion symbol.
The Lady Dior is recognized for its structured shape, Cannage quilting, rounded handles, and dangling letter charms spelling D-I-O-R. The Cannage pattern was inspired by the Napoleon III-style chairs used in Dior’s 1947 fashion-show venue, giving the accessory a connection to the house’s earlier visual history.
The Lady Dior is sometimes confused with Dior’s Saddle bag, which was introduced later, in 1999. The two bags have very different silhouettes: Lady Dior is structured and rectangular, while the Saddle bag has a curved, equestrian-inspired form.