Sandra‘s Closet

A timeless icon, the Lady Dior never ceases to reinvent itself, like today’s woman. For the fourth edition of Dior Lady Art, eleven artists from around the world have participated in the game of metamorphosis by rendering the iconic Lady Dior as a unique piece of art.

Below you can explore the amazing eleven artists and their breathtaking designs. Honestly, I love every single bag… true pieces of art!

LoL, Sandra

LADY DIOR ART BAG, JOANA VASCONCELOS

Joana Vasconcelos delivers a resolutely futuristic ode to love with her interpretation of the Lady Dior, featuring a beating heart illuminated by 300 LEDs.

€5000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, KOHEI NAWA

Like bubbling magma, Japanese sculptor Kohei Nawa’s kinetic creations for Dior Lady Art change in function of temperature and light. 

€6000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, WANG GUANGLE

Inspired by his ‘Coffin Paint’ series, Chinese conceptual artist Wang Guangle creates relief effects and textured movement in rainbow stripes on leather for Dior Lady Art.

€5500

LADY DIOR ART BAG, RINA BANERJEE

Sculptor Rina Banerjee transforms the Lady Dior into a spiritual message evoking universal peace. Her designs bring together organic materials to create a “cabinet of curiosities” for the fourth edition of Lady Dior Art.

€10.000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, JIA LEE

Korean painter Jia Lee transforms the Lady Dior into a pristine canvas imbued with her poetic, emotional vision of nature.

€6000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, RAQIB SHAW

The melancholic beauty of London-based Indian artist Raqib Shaw’s imaginary paradise is transposed onto leather and embellished with dazzling enamel charms for Lady Dior Art. 

€7000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, EDUARDO TERRAZAS

Eduardo Terrazas offers up a precious tribute to Christian Dior, who dreamed of being an architect before becoming a couturier. The Mexican architect drew on Amerindian folk art techniques for his intricate, graphic reinterpretation of the Lady Dior.

€ 4000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, ATHI-PATRA RUGA

African artist Athi-Patra Ruga explores society through the prism of art, crafts and pop culture. In this video, see how he transformed the Lady Dior into a self-portrait, with a spectacular play of embroidery and textured beading.

€12.000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, MARIA NEPOMUCENO

Evoking the joyful atmosphere of Carnival, Brazil-born artist Maria Nepomuceno painstakingly embroidered a heady mix of flowers and mouths on her sensual creation for Lady Dior Art. 

€ 8000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, MICKALENE THOMAS

For Lady Dior Art, American artist Mickalene Thomas creates a graphic landscape evoking Monet’s garden at Giverny. Take a closer look at her vibrant collage and discover how she conceived this dazzling patchwork of embroidered leather and intricate beadwork.

€14.000

LADY DIOR ART BAG, MARGUERITE HUMEAU

French contemporary artist Marguerite Humeau merges hi-tech and tradition with her 3D-printed interpretation of the Lady Dior for her sensual, wave-like work.

€5500

Photos: © Dior

Nancy Gonzalez understands the importance of the relationship between a woman and her handbag. “I incorporate elements to each piece that make us smile: a colour, a texture, a detail, a surprise,” the Colombian-born handbag designer said about her creations.

Gonzalez sets out to establish an emotional connection between her clients and their bags by adhering to the highest level of quality, exclusivity, authenticity, and timelessness when designing her collections. Her unique combinations of rare exotic materials and bold colours make her a leader in the accessories world.

During Paris Fashion Week, I had the honour to meet her son Santiago Barberi Gonzalez, President of Nancy Gonzalez. I was able to browse through the new S/S 2013 collection in the showroom located at the famous Plaza Athénée on Avenue Montaigne and was truly impressed by the love for detail and the outstanding craftsmanship and quality of the products.

By artfully combining eclecticism and exoticism, Nancy Gonzalez revolutionizes the luxury handbag. From electrically hued crocodile to three-dimensional ostrich flowers, this S/S 2013 collection proves that timelessness is not without whimsy.

SHOP THE NANCY GONZALEZ S/S 2013 COLLECTION NOW BY CLICKING HERE. The trunkshow ends on Thursday, October, 25, 2012 at 11pm EDT.

Finally, let me introduce you to an amazing art and charity project for which matte white crocodile leather was used as the “canvas” for each bag: THE ARTIST TOTES.

Will Cotton/ Nancy Gonzalez 2012 crocodile with suede lining and acrylic polymer. Will Cotton used the tools and vocabulary of cake decoration to re-imagine the bag as a frosted confection.

Nancy Gonzalez and her son share a passion for art. Therefore they have collaborated with TWO x TWO to create ten “priceless” artist totes. Those extraordinary collector’s items will be auctioned off tonight, Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the TWO x TWO for Aids and Art gala at Howard and Cindy Rachofsky’s Richard Meier designed home in Dallas, TX. 100% of the proceeds will be benefitting TWO x TWO for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art.

If you are interested in placing an absentee bid, send an e-mail to . For the full catalogue, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Jim Hodges/ Nancy Gonzalez 2012 crocodile with suede lining, silver, japanese silver, charcoal, and 24k gold on paper. Jim Hodges created a separate artwork apart from the bag, boxed and wrapped inside the bag, packaged so that only the winning bidder will unveil his artwork.

Raqib Shaw/ Nancy Gonzalez 2012 crocodile with suede lining, enamel, glitter, and rhinestones. Intricate designs adorn both sides of the handbag, while a crowned alligator, Santiago’s logo, reigns on the bottom of the bag.

Josephine Meckseper/ Nancy Gonzalez 2012 crocodile with suede lining, fur tails and metal fixture, acrylic, fabric, and paper on canvas with metal chain. Josephine Meckseper built upon the handbag to create a wearable sculpture.

Photos: Courtesy of Nancy Gonzalez, Moda Operandi and © Sandra Bauknecht