Dior has a special place in my heart; each bag, shoe and piece has a rich story to tell. Today’s post shines the spotlight on the structured 30 Montaigne Bag, which pays homage to the iconic Parisienne address.
The bag is new on the Dior scene: it made its debut in the Pre-Fall 2019 collection and takes inspiration from the 1960s. 2019 appears to be a year of innovation for Dior; the now very much iconic J’adior Slingbacks made their debut in 2019 also (see my review and inspiration here).
Released on 10 May 2019, I remember sitting in the Dior Selfridges boutique with my lovely SA Alexandra who showcased the bag to me the day before, on 9 May 2019.
FEATURES
Maria Grazia Chiuri has crafted a structured, utilitarian bag, with functionality at its core. The sharp rectangular box and thick adjustable strap create a practical piece.
Indeed, she explained in an exclusive Vogue interview how the Montaigne takes inspiration from Uniform Bags:
“Uniform bags – which form part of a uniform and are designed with practicality in mind – were the inspiration behind it. The idea of combining practicality with clean, clear-cut aesthetics has always intrigued me and continues to inspire my work a great deal”
The bag features an adjustable strap with a distinctive military clasp, meaning that the bag can be worn 3 ways. The strong holes mean that it can be resized to suit your height, and whether you would prefer to wear it crossbody or on one shoulder. The strap is also detachable, turning it from a functional day bag to a practical evening clutch; making the bag extremely versatile.
Raised textured “30 Montaigne” writing decorates the bag, adding further boldness to the bag.
The chunky gold CD clasp takes inspiration from the CD perfume bottle, and add further rigour to the sturdy bag.
The standard-sized bag has a large, wide flap, with a spacious interior pocket. Inside, there’s an interior zip pocket, which is a great place for keys and essential cards. The back of the bag also features a slip pocket, for items which require quick access.
The 30 Montaigne Bag is also available in a cute Micro size. This bag has a card slot inside and a back pocket – it is a sweet fashion statement.
COLOURS AND MATERIALS
The original bag is created with box calfskin, with the sides crafted with more supple calfskin, and the interior featuring silky lambskin lining.
A selection of current 30 Montaigne Bags in the standard size, currently retailing for £2,800:
- Black Box Calfskin – a classic, versatile piece
- Warm Taupe Box Calfskin – great for Autumnal outfits
- Amber Box Calfskin – a light tan bag, great for long summer nights and Autumnal events
- Latte Box Calfskin – a crisp white bag, which will make a true statement
For those wanting more of a sporty-chic look, the oblique canvas print is the way forward. Priced at £2,800, the below colours are available:
- Blue Oblique – the quintessential oblique piece
- Gray Oblique – a versatile neutral piece
- Blue Oblique with gold chain – similar to the standard oblique, but with a golden ring chain, rather than the standard Montaigne chain, to create a bolder bag
A couple of rarer spins:
- Ultramatte Indigo Blue Grained Calfskin – a more durable bag, with a discreet CD lacquered clasp, priced at £2,950
THE DIORAMA IN DISGUISE?
When I first saw this bag, I had to do a double take! The resemblance with the Diorama is u-n-c-a-n-n-y! If you’re on the hunt for the now discontinued Diorama, then check out my post here. I still can’t get my head round this piece – it looks more akin to the Diorama than the Montaigne, but I guess it may be their lovechild. With a top handle and the Diorama’s iconic cannage pattern, this twist will satiate those who have been pinning for the Diorama’s return. Priced at the higher end, £3,050, it’s a rare find and will make heads turn
- Latte Maxicannage Lambskin – a statement piece, for sure
- Black Maxicannage Lambskin – an edgy piece that screams rock n roll
- Black Maxicannage Lambskin (small) – the baby edgy bag
SIZES
- Micro: 15 x 11 x 4 cm (Debut in Summer 2022 show)
- Box: 17.5 x 11.5 x 5 cm
- Standard : 24 x 17 x 8 cm
Whilst the standard sized 30 Montaigne is great for both functional day wear and practical evening wear, the Micro is a cute fashion statement. Priced at £1,900, Dior have adopted a fair pricing strategy for the micro bags, making the bag more accessible than other fashion houses’ minis:
- Black Box Calfskin – a classic wardrobe piece
- Blue Grey Box Calfskin – a neutral, all-year-round bag
- Azure Blue Box Calfskin – a gorgeous light blue
- Bright Blue Box Calfskin – a must have for a Santorini outfit
- Fluorescent Orange Box Calfskin – a bright orange bag, perfect for spring and summer outfits
- Rose Des Vents Box Calfskin – a muted pink colour, making it a versatile piece
As well as the micro bag, Dior have a small “Box” size, which sits between the micro and the standard Montaigne size. The difference? The Box bag’s detachable strap has a click attachment. This gives more of a sporty look to your outfit. Priced at £2,550, it sits between the micro and the standard sized Montaigne Bag:
- Blue Oblique – a sporty look
- Gray Oblique – for a more muted look
- Latte – refined, sophisticated, and très chic!
- Noir – will pull your outfit together for a polished look
- Rose Des Vents – a gorgeous pink that will add a little touch of colour to a neutral, tan outfit
- Gray – a grey-green versatile piece if you want to add a new hue to all-black winter outfits and all-white summer outfits
LUXURY PROMISE
As always, Luxury Promise have a selection of gorgeous Dior pieces. Founded by Sabrina Sadiq in 2017, Luxury Promise have Live Shows everyday, where you can shop your favourite Dior pieces and beyond. They truly are disrupting the luxury resale market through creating these interactive shows which bring high-end pieces to their community. The Live Shows are a great way to directly ask questions about the bags on offer – this is a good way to learn more about the pieces, and see the bags, especially if you do not live close to central London!
30 Montaigne Box Bag in Rose des Vents. RRP is £2,550, but this unworn bag is £1,995!
Available here.
Dior Oblique Small Wallet – this is a cute little purse which would pair well with the Dior Oblique 30 Montaigne Bag.
Available here
Their cute store on South Molton Street (*the* side-road between Selfridges and Bond Street- IYKYK) is home to a selection of gorgeous bags – make sure to arrange an appointment so you can have a tailored experience with Sabrina and her wonderful team. However, do note that if you would like to view the Hermes collection, please email Grace: grace@luxurypromise.com
A fun finance fact for you (bc I’m still a banking girl by heart) … Luxury Promise recently raised $11m and is now backed by Pierre Denis, former CEO of Jimmy Choo and Francois Delage, former CEO of De Beers.
Which 30 Montaigne Bag is your favourite? Which Dior bags are on your wishlist? Let me know! Lots of love, Jo xoxo
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