Celine vs Dior: Discover Which Fashion House Is Right For You
Celine and Dior are two of the top French luxury fashion brands, but which one is right for you? This Celine vs Dior article will help you to decide which fashion house to go for!
If you love Parisian chic style, then you are bound to just adore the luxury leather goods and beautiful ready-to-wear collections available from both Celine and Dior.
On the surface, these brands may appear similar, with long and rich histories, incredible creative directors, and striking collections shown at Paris Fashion Week each season – but there are also some significant differences between these French brands too.
We will explore the key differences between the brands in this Celine vs Dior article to help you choose which brand to add to your wardrobe! This article will take a look at the history of each brand, the differences between them, and some of the best-selling bags from each fashion house before coming to a conclusion on Celine vs Dior.
The analysis of the price range, materials, brand aesthetic, and more of each brand will help you work out whether you should opt for Celine or Dior. We have also included some of the best-selling, classic bags from each brand so you can find the next handbag to add to your collection!
Celine vs Dior
The History of Celine
Celine started as a made-to-measure children’s shoe business, with a boutique located at 52 rue Malte in Paris, founded by Céline Vipiana, and her husband Richard in 1945. However, in 1960, the positioning of Celine changed to focus on women’s ready-to-wear clothing, with a practical, sportswear approach.
The chic design aesthetic of the Celine brand meant that the business grew quickly, and soon leather goods and fragrances were added to collection. By the ‘70s, Celine had gone international, with new boutiques opening across the globe, from Monte Carlo to Beverly Hills to Hong Kong.
In 1973, the brand decided to create a new logo – the design was of intertwined Cs that were intended to reference the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – hence why the Celine logo canvas is known as ‘Triomphe’ and there is a whole range of Triomphe bags.
Céline Vipiana stepped down as the creative director in 1997, just after the brand became integrated into the LVMH luxury conglomerate, and Michael Kors became the new creative director. Kors continued to create elegant and practical clothing with a sportswear glam edge, then in 2008, Phoebe Philo was appointed creative director of Celine.
Philo ensured Celine was the go-to brand for busy working women who wanted stunning, easy-to-wear clothing. After 10 years, Philo stepped down Hedi Slimane became the creative director, completely changing the aesthetic of the brand, with more of an edgy, rock, youth culture focus.
The History of Dior
The French fashion designer, Christian Dior founded his namesake fashion house in 1947, and his first collection was an instant success. The lines from the Spring Summer 1947 show were named Corolle and Huit, but soon became known as the New Look.
The aesthetic of the New Look, with its full skirts and tiny waist, set the tone for the ultra-feminine silhouette of the 1950s and inspired fashion designers all over the world. Dior’s collection continued to be incredibly popular and was worn by Hollywood actresses and European royalty until he suffered a heart attack in 1957 and a 21-year-old Yves Saint Laurent was promoted to creative director.
The first collection designed by Saint Laurent in 1958 was beloved but his later collections did not appeal to Dior’s rich customers, so Marc Bohan took over the role of creative director and soon introduced a new menswear line to the brand, named Dior Homme.
In 1989 Gianfranco Ferré became the new creative director, until 1997, when the British designer John Galliano took over this role. Galliano brought a new, fresh lease of life to the brand, creating some of the most memorable fashion shows, filled with avant-garde designs that took the fashion world by storm.
After Galliano came Raf Simons before Maria Grazia Churi was announced as the new creative director in 2016, and the first woman creative director at the house of Dior.
The differences between Celine Vs Dior
There are several crucial differences between Celine and Dior that will help you to decide which brand is right for you – we are going to explore some of these differences to help you make that decision!
1. Price Range
The price range of each of these brands will have an impact on which luxury French fashion house you opt for. At Celine, handbag range between $990 and $6,000, but there are also some exotic leather bags that retail for as much as $22,000.
Christian Dior bags have a similar price range, retailing for between $1,300 and $8,600, but again there are handbags made from exotic leather that are much more expensive. Although the price ranges are quite similar, you will see that Dior is slightly more expensive and this may affect whether you go for Celine or Dior.
2. Materials
Choosing the right leather or fabric for a new handbag is an important decision so let’s look at the materials available from Celine and Dior.
The majority of Celine bags are made from calfskin leather, which is available in multiple different finishes including smooth, laminated, drummed, grained, and shiny to give each bag a striking look. Calfskin is known for its durability as well as its luxurious look and feel. There are also Celine bags made from coated canvas, raffia, lambskin, suede, lizard skin, and crocodile skin available too.
At Dior, there are also many calfskin leather and lambskin leather bags – you will find that the lambskin bags are a little more delicate, while the calfskin leather bag has a textured finish to make them more durable. Just like Celine, there are also canvas, wicker, satin, and raffia bags available from Dior for a unique and striking look.
3. Brand Aesthetic
Celine and Dior have very different brand aesthetics that can be seen through their range of leather goods – let’s take a look at each of the brand aesthetics so you can see which one best suits your personal style. Celine has a very minimalist, chic style that focuses on silhouette and luxe materials rather than any decoration – this is illustrated perfectly by the Belt Bag and Luggage Tote available from the French brand.
Other than the Triomphe bags, most Celine bags do not feature a prominent brand name or logo, making them the ultimate sleek, sophisticated, and quietly luxurious handbag.
Dior, on the other hand, has a slightly bolder brand aesthetic, with lots of quilted leather, intricate patterns, and Dior-branded hardware. Similar to Celine, Christian Dior bags are known for their stunning silhouettes, but you will often find more glamorous hardware and monogram prints on Dior handbags.
The Dior bags are timeless and iconic pieces but have more of an eye-catching, instantly recognizable style that may appeal to you if you love a striking look.
4. Resale value
If you are purchasing a new luxury handbag you may also consider the resale value of your new handbag. Celine handbags retain their value well because of the high-quality materials and timeless aesthetic of the brand, which means they stay in good condition and never really go out of style. The Luggage Tote, Box Bag, and Belt Bag are all favorites that sell well on resale sites.
Dior bags also retain their value well, particularly the Lady Dior and Saddle bags which are iconic handbags that many people want in their collections. You will also find that there are more vintage and rare Dior bags available on resale sites, which is something you see less frequently with Celine handbags.
If you are looking at Celine Box Bags, a new one will cost you $3,800, while a second-hand Box Bag in excellent condition will retail for between $2,000 and $2,700. A new Dior Oblique Saddle bag is available for $4,400, while the same bag on a resale site will retail for between $2,900 and $3,600. As you can see, there are certain beloved and famous bags from each brand that have a great resale price.
Noteworthy Bags From Celine Vs Dior
There are lots of gorgeous handbags available from Celine and Dior, so we have narrowed it down to a few of the best-selling bags from each brand. We have included tote bags, shoulder bags, and top-handle bags so there is something for everyone and perhaps this will inspire your next luxury purchase!
1. Shoulder Bag
The Celine Triomphe bag is a fantastic investment piece that will suit a wide range of outfits, for both day and night and will never go out of style. This handbag is crafted from high-quality glossy black calfskin leather and then decorated with a glittering gold press lock in the shape of the CC logo.
Open up the front flap to reveal a partitioned interior, lined with black leather for a luxurious finish. There is a zipper pocket inside the bag too so you can keep all of your everyday essentials well-organized.
The Dior Saddle bag is another beloved and best-selling bag that you really need in your life. The unique shape and bold hardware mean this handbag never goes out of style. There are lots of different Dior Saddle bags available, in a range of colors and materials so there is an option to suit any personal style.
We love this signature black leather edition, finished with gleaming gold hardware. The shoulder strap is attached to the bag with a gold CD logo, while the interior is fitted with a handy zip pocket.
2. Top Handle Bags
We love the summery look of this chic Celine bucket bag, made from striped textile and finished with tan leather lining. If you’re looking for a casual summer bag that can be worn anywhere from the city to the beach, this medium-sized bag is definitely worth considering.
One of the most famous Dior bags is the Lady Dior bag, as seen on the arm of Princess Diana, Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, and Sarah Jessica Parker. This bag is a must-have in your collection, made from glossy pink patent leather, and quilted with the signature Dior Cannage pattern.
This handbag features two leather top handles and is decorated with a sparkling silver Dior charm for an added glamorous touch. The bag comes with a detachable shoulder strap for versatility, while the interior is fitted with a handy interior pocket.
3. Tote Bags
If you’re looking for a sizeable carry-all tote bag, this chic option from Celine is an absolute winner. This textile bag is trimmed with tan calfskin leather and features the brand’s signature Triomphe logo at the forefront, making it a stylish addition to any of your summer outfits. Plus, as this is a textile bag, the price is quite affordable compared to Celine’s leather options – this large tote retails for just $1,800!
You are likely to have seen the Christian Dior Book Tote all over your social media feeds in the past few years – this beautiful bag is a summer essential! This tote bag is made from grey and white canvas, decorated with the Toile De Jouy, and then embroidered with the Christian Dior brand name across the center.
The tote is fitted with rolled canvas top handle, while the spacious interior is left unlined and there is plenty of room for all your weekend must-have items or your beach day essentials.
Conclusion
Both Celine and Dior offer gorgeous handbags that will really stand the test of time and would make a fantastic addition to any bag collection – but it comes down to brand aesthetics, materials, and price range as to which brand is right for you.
If you have a slightly smaller budget and are looking for a minimalist, timeless, and effortlessly chic handbag, then Celine is the right brand for you! There are lots of sophisticated and refined calfskin leather bags available that are durable and will suit a wide range of different looks for years and years to come.
If you have a little more money to spend and are looking for a striking yet classic handbag, then Dior is the brand you should go for. Dior has lots of stunning handbags with a bold, glamorous look, each made from luxurious materials to add a high fashion touch to any look!
We hope you found this Celine vs Dior article helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
Get more luxury fashion ideas
Why Is Dior So Expensive? The Top 4 Reasons
7 Best Celine Bags That Will Stand The Test Of Time
