Some of the fashion world’s most recognisable IT bags bear the name of one of the world’s most influential figures.
Princess Diana’s relationship with fashion extended far beyond the clothes she wore. Her endorsement could transform a handbag into an international icon, prompting luxury houses to create, rename or reintroduce designs in her honour. Some were commissioned especially for her, while others became favourites she carried so frequently that her name became inseparable from their identity. These are the iconic bags created for an icon.
Lady Dior
Perhaps the most closely connected to Lady Diana is the Lady Dior bag. Created under the direction of Gianfranco Ferré, the structured design was originally known as the Chouchou.
In September 1995, France’s First Lady Bernadette Chirac presented Diana with a black version during a visit to Paris for the opening of a Paul Cézanne exhibition at the Grand Palais. Diana quickly adopted the bag, carrying it during official appearances and later requesting further versions.
Its architectural silhouette is softened by rounded handles, while the quilted Cannage pattern references the Napoleon III chairs used at Christian Dior’s early presentations. Letter charms spelling D-I-O-R complete the design. Following Diana’s enthusiastic endorsement, the house renamed it Lady Dior in 1996. A navy version accompanied her to the Met Gala that same year, securing its place in fashion history.
Gucci Diana
Introduced in 1991, Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote became an unexpected fixture of Diana’s more relaxed wardrobe. She was frequently photographed carrying a capacious suede version with sweatshirts, cycling shorts and tailored jackets, giving the refined Italian bag a newly informal attitude.
The curved handles draw on Gucci’s long history of bamboo craftsmanship, which began in the 1940s. Their sculptural shape contrasts with the tote’s practical, spacious body. In 2021, Alessandro Michele revisited the archival design and officially introduced it as the Gucci Diana. The contemporary edition added removable leather bands around the handles, referencing the functional straps originally used to help the bamboo retain its shape. It remains an example of Diana’s ability to make heritage luxury feel personal and relevant.
Tod’s Di Bag
Diana’s preference for understated Italian leather goods was reflected in her affection for Tod’s. Alongside the house’s Gommino driving shoes, she regularly carried a roomy leather tote that suited her increasingly streamlined wardrobe.
Spacious, softly structured and largely free from conspicuous decoration, the bag represented a quieter approach to luxury. It could accompany tailored separates, casual sportswear or travel looks without appearing overly formal.
Tod’s launched the D Bag in 1997 as a tribute to its most famous admirer. It was later revisited as the Di Bag and has continued to evolve through new sizes, finishes and personalised editions.
Ferragamo Diana Clutch
Ferragamo’s connection with Diana was more personal. The house created a custom clutch for her in 1990, beginning an enduring relationship with the design. The slim rectangular bag featured a gently curved flap and a gold Gancini clasp, one of Ferragamo’s most recognisable signatures. Elegant without being ornate, it was particularly suited to Diana’s tailored dresses and evening ensembles.
She reportedly commissioned the clutch in multiple colours, allowing it to work across different occasions and wardrobes. Ferragamo has since returned to the original design through contemporary editions bearing the Diana name, preserving its clean proportions and distinctive hardware.
Chanel Diana
Designed during Karl Lagerfeld’s tenure and produced from 1989 until the mid 1990s, the bag now widely known as the Chanel Diana offered a softer interpretation of the house’s classic flap silhouette.
The design combined quilted leather, a gold chain strap and the interlocking CC closure with a curved flap framed by a smooth leather border. Diana wore the style regularly in the early 1990s, helping establish its enduring association with her.
Although it is no longer part of Chanel’s permanent collection, the Diana name remains widely used within the vintage market. Its relative rarity, classic construction and royal connection have made it one of the most sought-after designs from Lagerfeld’s early years at the house.
