Designed in 1999, Dior‘s recognizable Saddle Bag debuted on the runway in John Galliano‘s Spring/Summer 2000 collection – and the rest is history. The bag quickly became the most talked about accessory, with every it-girl wearing the funky-shaped purse on their arm. Saint Laurents "Love" Clutch Will Be Your New Favorite Party Bag‘s Saint Laurents "Love" Clutch Will Be Your New Favorite Party Bag character Carrie Bradshaw even sported one in the series, and it became a defining piece for the luxury fashion house.
Fast forward to 2018, the Saddle Bag has made its return – both in Kim Jones‘ first collection for Dior Homme, as well as Messenger Bag HXTN SUPPLY Prime Clip H122011 Black‘s Fall/Winter 2018 range. The piece has quickly become a street style staple, with the it-girls today also rocking versions of the piece. Yes, it its the 2000’s again and nothing has changed.
The accessory might have been one of the first pieces to really fit the description “ugly-chic,” with it’s saddle-shape and countless colorways and iterations. The bag was meant to be worn short-strapped and tight against the armpit, which started a whole new trend in an instant. Beyoncé and Paris Hilton both sported the iconic piece after its runway debut in Galliano’s cowboy-inspired range, and at the time, The Guardian commented on the collection saying “accessorized with versions of last season’s successful kidney-shaped ‘saddle’ bag.” Later that year, Dior’s accessories sales were up more than 60-percent.
“She’s become a classic.”
Six years later, Galliano is still pushing the Saddle Bag, designing 12 iterations all inspired by 12 different nations he’s inspired by. When talking about the bag, the designer said, “She’s become a classic.” But, only a year later the purse began to fade, and customers began to lose interest in the eye-catching piece. Eventually, everyone forgot about the bag, and Galliano left Dior in 2010, where he was succeeded by Raf Simons.
Years went by, and needless to say, it was quiet for the Saddle Bag. But then something happened. Beyoncé was spotted in 2014 wearing one, loud and proud, and people began speaking about it again. Slowly but surely, the bag started popping up here and there, with celebrities like CL frequently rocking the vintage purse. Three years later, the old bags were everywhere. With the surge in popularity and demand for vintage, and the ever-growing vintage trend, the bags made a return that was too big not to notice. Its return was so big that even Dior noticed, and decided to bring back the iconic silhouette.
It’s now 2018, and Dior has brought back the defining piece in a multitude of colors and designs – and they’re escape off the shelves. Whether it is proof that influencers have all the power to bring an item into the spotlight, or just the fact that trends come and go we can’t tell, but it’s safe to say that the Saddle Bag is back and here to stay. At least for now. The signature bag became the centrepiece of the luxury label’s Fall/Winter 2018 campaign, and is now available in 20 different colors and designs. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to saddle up.
