The little-known ‘quiet luxury’ bag Princess Diana wore all the time

You mightn’t be familiar with Princess Diana’s favourite tote—but that’s the point. Meet the bag that proves there’s eternal power in the understated.

Image credit: courtesy of Tods

You mightn’t be familiar with Princess Diana’s favourite tote—but that’s the point. Meet the bag that proves there’s eternal power in the understated.

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Just like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle today, Princess Diana had the power to make cult fashion items out of anything she wore. It was a product of being the most photographed woman on the planet—the kind of ripple-effect only social media could create, though Di was before its time—and saw brands dedicate items to her, even before her untimely death in 1997. Take Dior’s ‘Lady Dior’ handbag, which the Princess of Wales wore on a trip to Argentina in 1995, causing the French maison to name it in her honour.

In the 1990s, after divorcing Prince Charles, Diana was able to dress more expressively than she had in the past, favouring new and avant-garde designers like Gianni Versace. But her off-duty outfits garnered just as much attention, if not even more (like those bike shorts, which carry nearly as much clout as the iconic ‘Revenge dress’)—and there was one bag she favoured for its utility, which fits squarely in today’s ‘quiet luxury’ category. 

Designed by Italian leather house Tod’s, the aptly named ‘Di’ bag was a staple for the Princess, whether paired with a suit or carried to the gym; it’s tucked under her arm in photos of her wearing fitness garb or strolling around London in moments of relative normalcy. The tote is relatively simple; thick, buttery and made from textured handmade leather, with two large handles allowing it to be slung underarm or carried by hand. But in a world where ‘quiet luxury’ and utilitarian items are taking flight over bold, trendy pieces—one only needs to look to the spring/summer 2024 season for proof that minimalism is back—the ‘Di’ bag makes as much sense today as it did in the ’90s, when low-key elegance was the trend du jour.

Princess Diana carrying the Di handbag. Image credit: courtesy of Tods

Image credit: courtesy of Tods

The ‘Di’ bag was among Diana’s favourite accessories, but there were others; during the same era, in addition to her Dior and Tod’s carry-alls, she was partial to wearing a Gucci tote that featured the brand’s signature bamboo handles. (Naturally, Gucci named their bag the ‘Di’ after the late Princess, too, like they did with their ‘Jackie’ handbag in honour of former US First Lady and fellow style deity Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.)

‘Quiet luxury’ may be an of-the-moment term, but understated elegance carries its weight in gold—or in this case, leather. 

SHOP NOW: Tods Di leather bag in medium, $4,390 from Tods

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Originally published as The little-known ‘quiet luxury’ bag Princess Diana wore all the time