Image by DIOR
The Dior Toujours is one of the maison's most quietly considered contemporary designs — a structured tote introduced by Maria Grazia Chiuri at the Spring/Summer 2023 show, whose defining feature is the puffy, padded macrocannage quilting worked over supple lambskin. With its twin top handles, signature "D-I-O-R" charms, and CD Lock closure that twists to adjust the bag's silhouette, the Toujours brings quiet grandeur to the everyday tote. Proper Dior Toujours care preserves both the loft of the padded quilting and the small hardware details that define the bag.
Preserving the Toujours' Padded Macrocannage Quilting
The Toujours' defining feature — its oversized cannage quilting, created by stitching through padded lambskin — is what gives the bag its dimensional, almost cushion-like texture. But that same padding is exquisitely vulnerable. Stored empty or beneath other items, the puffy diamonds compress unevenly, and the loft that gives the quilting its identity slowly flattens. Once compressed, the padding rarely returns to its original volume.
A bag pillow shaped to the Toujours' interior, finished in satin, keeps the quilting supported from within, preserving the padded fullness that defines the bag. The pillow should be gently filled — never overstuffed — so it holds the shape without straining the stitching that binds each diamond.
Caring for the Raised Diamond Peaks
Unlike embossed leather, where wear concentrates in the valleys, the Toujours' quilted construction concentrates wear on the raised peaks of each diamond, where the padded leather sits highest and contacts every surface. Between wears, a dry microfiber cloth lifts dust from the peaks without disturbing the finish; water and conditioners should be avoided, as they can leave marks on the lambskin and mat the padded diamonds unevenly.
Protecting the Signature D-I-O-R Charms and CD Lock
The "D-I-O-R" charms hanging from the handle area swing freely, and their metal edges can rest against the quilted lambskin, leaving small impressions on the padded diamonds beneath them. Gathering the charms gently to one side during storage prevents this slow imprinting.
The CD Lock — the closure whose D twists to cinch the bag's sides — is plated metal and should be wiped only with a dry microfiber cloth. Chemical polishes will dull the finish permanently. Operating the twist mechanism gently rather than forcing it preserves both the hardware and the leather strap it threads through.
Storing the Dior Toujours Between Wears
A breathable satin dust bag, fully enclosing the Toujours, shields the padded quilting, charms, and CD Lock from dust and UV fade. The Toujours should be stored upright in a cool, dark place, never stacked beneath heavier pieces that would flatten the quilting permanently, and never sealed in plastic. Padded lambskin sealed in plastic can develop mildew that cannot be undone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent the macrocannage quilting from flattening?
Never stack other bags on top of the Toujours, and use a bag pillow shaped to the interior during storage to support the padded diamonds from within. Once the quilting is compressed, the loft rarely returns to its original volume.
Do the D-I-O-R charms damage the leather over time?
Only if left resting against the quilted lambskin during long stretches of storage, which can leave small impressions in the padded diamonds beneath them. Gather the charms gently to one side when storing the Toujours.
Can I use leather conditioner on the Toujours' lambskin?
No. Dior lambskin is not designed to be conditioned. Water and commercial cleaners can leave permanent marks on the padded diamonds and mat the quilting unevenly. Between wears, use only a dry microfiber cloth.
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