About the Christian Dior Diorama Bag
The Diorama made its initial appearance on the Christian Dior runway in Spring/Summer 2015. A distinctly chic and ladylike handbag, the Diorama instantly captured an audience of collectors who prefer understated luxury. Raf Simons, a renowned Belgian couture designer responsible for bringing classic yet feminine sophistication to the Christian Dior label, conceptualized the bag, becoming his trademark piece.
The Christian Dior Diorama Bag: Then and Now
Two different iterations of the Diorama exist—the original handbag from 2015 and a second-generation from 2020. The main differences between the two versions are sizing, material and color combinations.
The House introduced the original 2015 Diorama in five different sizes—WOC (Wallet on Chain), the micro, the mini, the medium and the large. The 2020 Diorama comes in three sizes: the WOC (albeit in slightly larger dimensions), the medium, renamed simply as “the Diorama bag” and the mini, renamed as “the Diorama clutch.” Additionally, the 2020 Diorama became available in many more colors and patterns to the delight Dior collectors everywhere.
A few limited-edition Dioramas also appeared for Cruise 2016, with stripes and sequined patterns.
Diorama dimensions include:
2015
Diorama WOC: 7.5’ x 4.7’
Diorama Micro Bag: 5.5’ x 3.5’
Diorama Small Bag: 7.5’ x 5’
Diorama Medium Bag: 10’ x 6’
Diorama Large Bag: 11.5’ x 7’
2020
Diorama WOC: 8’ x 4.5’
Diorama Bag: 10’ x 6’
Diorama Clutch: 7.5’ x 5’
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Christian Dior Diorama Bag
The Diorama is what is known as a classic flap bag, meaning a flap goes over the opening, and a clasp holds the handbag closed. Original Dioramas were handcrafted in soft calfskin leather, either smooth or grained, and bear the Cannage quilt pattern that many Christian Dior accessories share. The Cannage pattern came in either a singular larger pattern, covering the entire bag, or a smaller repeating pattern.
The process for creating the bag and its pattern is one of painstaking care, with a trained leather artisan preparing the piping first and then hand-sewing the piping for the Cannage pattern onto a larger piece of soft leather.
The bag’s beauty truly shines through in its minimalist design, which includes a long, adjustable chain strap. The iconic diamond clasp, which adds unmistakable luxury to the Diorama, is stamped onto the leather for precise placement, then screwed into place. Pushing the diamond closure will lock the handbag closed.
The Diorama’s interior features smooth leather of a contrasting color from the outside of the handbag. Inside is more room than you’d expect, thanks to two interior pockets, one with a zippered closure and perfect for stowing cash or other items requiring security.
When the 2020 line of Diorama handbags emerged, collectors rejoiced at the abundance of gorgeous colors and materials. The newer generation of Dioramas offered more textures aside from the beautifully classic smooth or pebbled calfskin. Patent leather, exotic leathers such as crocodile or deerskin and metallic finishes joined the Diorama family, as well as embroidered and printed bags. Still, each Diorama had the standard shape and diamond clasp, distinguishing this beloved handbag from any other.
The Christian Dior Diorama Bag’s Value and Collectibility
The Diorama is no longer available for retail purchase. Fortunately, a search through the secondhand marketplace for the Diorama is sure to prove fruitful for any Dior collector since a bevy of materials, color options and sizes are available at multiple price points. In the first quarter of 2021, in various types of leathers, the medium Diorama sold for more than $2,400 on the resale market, while Diorama WOCs sold for an average of $1,100.