Christian Dior 2002 Burgundy Oblique Saddle Bag

The Archive

Designed during John Galliano’s era at Dior, the Saddle became one of the defining handbags of early-2000s fashion. Its asymmetric equestrian silhouette debuted at the turn of the millennium and quickly became inseparable from Galliano’s maximalist vision for the house. This 2002 version is particularly striking in burgundy Dior Oblique jacquard—a richer and less commonly encountered alternative to the classic navy Oblique.

The construction is unmistakably early Saddle: the curved flap follows the body’s saddle-inspired shape, while burgundy leather trim frames the monogram canvas. Oversized gold-tone C and D hardware hangs dramatically from the front, and additional sculptural letter hardware connects the shoulder strap to the bag. Rather than treating the Dior name simply as a logo, Galliano turned the letters themselves into jewelry and part of the architecture of the bag. The burgundy Oblique Saddle is documented in Dior's 2002 production, making this a strong example from the original Galliano-era run rather than the later Saddle revival.

The Details

Designer: Christian Dior
Style: Saddle Bag
Era/Year: 2002
Color: Burgundy / Cream
Material: Dior Oblique Jacquard Canvas with Leather Trim
Hardware: Gold-tone
Closure: Curved Flap Closure
Made in: Italy
Height: 7"
Length: 11.5"
Depth: 2"
Strap Drop: 7"
Authentication: Entrupy Verified
Includes: Christian Dior dust bag

Condition Report

Very good vintage condition 8.7/10. The burgundy Oblique jacquard remains vibrant and well defined with light surface wear consistent with age. There is minor rubbing and fuzzing to the woven canvas, particularly along portions of the lower edges and corners, with a few small areas of thread wear visible upon close inspection.

The burgundy leather piping and trim show light creasing, rubbing and surface wear, particularly around the strap and high-contact edges. Gold-tone letter hardware remains bright with light scratches and surface wear. The bag retains its distinctive structure and curved Saddle silhouette exceptionally well for a 2002 piece.

Curator’s Perspective

This is quintessential Galliano-era Dior. The Saddle itself is important, but the combination of burgundy Oblique, tonal leather and oversized dangling CD hardware gives this version considerably more personality than the standard neutral iterations. It captures exactly what made early-2000s Dior so recognizable: historic house codes reworked into something provocative, graphic and unmistakably of its moment. More than two decades later, it still reads as one of the strongest silhouettes from Dior's Y2K archive.