The phrase ‘modern icon’ gets thrown around a lot, but theDior Book Toteis the real deal. First imagined by Marc Bohan in the 1960s, it was part of the late creative director’s mid-century defining aesthetic that also saw the creation of the now synonymous Oblique monogram. His tenure launched a range of canvas accessories, synonymous with Paris’s wave of literary-minded, cafe-gravitating post-grads of the 1970s (hence the ‘book bag’ moniker).
In 2018, current creative director Maria Grazia Chuiri paid homage to Bohan’s creation within her feminist academic-inspired collection – the same line which launched the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-collaborated ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ t-shirt – recreating the refreshingly unfussy bag shape. So, the modern Book Tote was born. Since then, it has been updated each season in ever more fantastical and world-spanning designs, from colourful Mexican heritage fabrics and Indian embroidery to plastic-effect leather and maps ofParis.
So what makes this the ideal holiday bag?
It’s surprisingly versatile
I took the latest version –this pink botanical design– on holiday, and it stayed with me from the airport to thebeach club. It’s practical yet beautiful, capacious without being cumbersome, and looks great whatever the setting. For the airport, it sits neatly atop asuitcase, its handles perfect for being looped around acarry-onhandgrip, and it can be neatly packed with all your airport essentials. It was also really handy fortravelling with a child. All those extra bits and pieces (bottles, snacks, toys, books, etc) can be thrown in before boarding without repacking nappy bags or ensuring you have everything ready for take off. There’s just one central compartment, so you can instantly see (and find) everything. It fits seamlessly underneath a seat – everything you need in flight is right there at the reach of a baby-laden arm.
Then, upon arriving at your hotel, it miraculously turns into the ideal beach bag, ready to be stuffed withsunscreen, magazines, flip-flops, and beachwear. But the real triumph is that it also works for smarter beach clubs. Emblazoned with ‘Christian Dior’ on one side, it’s a statement luxury item with instant recognition, and servers often fetch a little stool lest it be placed on the floor.
It has a sturdy shape
It might seem like a simple design, but the shape is a real feat of engineering. It retains its sturdy box shape and has a narrow top opening. Although it’s wide enough to fit a laptop, books, passports, or even a pair ofshoes, it’s very narrow, so it never feels bulky or burdensome. Unlike a bucket bag, similarly valuable for its ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ mindset, the slim design keeps everything ordered and in line, like a Filofax. I kept my beach read to one side, with our passports next to it, and they didn’t move around. Likewise, on the beach, I used a magazine as a divider and kept all of my baby’s bits and pieces to one side, meaning everything was on display and instantly grabable.
Its size is ideal for travel
