Is Dior's New Sling Bag Worth It? A Fashion Insider's Honest Thoughts on the D-Journey
The French luxury house debuted a new sling bag this spring, and it promises to be more functional than the unevenly shaped Saddle bag. Is it actually better?
As rough as I may be with them, I love handbags, and I especially love the classic ones, (which often overlap with which ones count as investment bags). For me, as is true for many, Dior makes some of the most desirable ones out there, including its Lady bag (loved by Princess Diana) and Saddle (conceived by former creative director John Galliano). But, fashion insiders also know that launching a new bag can come with challenges when legacy styles dominate the conversation.
On Dior's Spring/Summer 2025 runway, after the dusk of last summer's Olympics, were endless looks distinguished by a sporty feeling. (Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri even had a competitive archer, Sagg Napoli to be specific, shoot arrows at a target during a show.) Amid the fitted bodysuits and asymmetric suits revealing shoulder musculature was a new purse: the D-Journey bag, worn across model's bodies, during the Paris Fashion Week show. (The brand also debuted a semi-satirical ad about it starring Rosamund Pike, emphasizing its promise.)
Essentially, this handbag is Dior's high-fashion take on a sling bag. It's available in three sizes (small, medium, and large) and multiple neutral color options between its jacquard or leather fabrications. It starts at $4,000 for the smallest, non-leather version and retails for up to $5,300 in its biggest size, made with calfskin.
I gave the large version in blue monogram jacquard a try, and I brought it with me on some busy days running around NYC. Is this new accessory from the famed fashion house any good? Keep scrolling for my honest review. 
What I Like About Dior's D-Journey Bag
I was surprised by the sheer spaciousness of the D-Journey Bag when I unboxed it. When I ran around town with the D-Journey, is fit everything I bring with me on a daily basis (phone, keys, wallet, many lip products, my Touchland hand sanitizer, hand lotion, and still more). Plus, I added more stuff along the day to consolidate and stay hand free. Thanks to its unstructured construction, this piece offers a lot of flexibility (especially in comparison to the Saddle bag). Something with stiff edges, like a hardcover book, won't feel like it's doing damage or changing the bag's shape.
Despite its spaciousness, this Dior bag is also lightweight, which helps a lot if you tend to stuff your bags. While carrying my D-Journey full of necessities and knickknacks, I didn't experience nary a shoulder strain or any back pain.
What I loved most about this bag, though, is how versatile it is. It's easy to wear the D-Journey in several different ways, including as a sort of wristlet (for the smaller version), shoulder bag, or sling bag. The latter proved to be my favorite, especially when biking or running around with my hands full. But, this still makes a killer shoulder bag, especially if you tend to struggle with yours always slipping out of place.
Cons: When the Strap Comes Undone
One day when I was rushing out of an Uber with this bag, I tossed it around my body, getting ready to tuck it behind me, when the strap came undone. The hardware touches on the bag add a nice touch, including the more subtle logo detailed C-D initials on the strap. However, these are constructed with a tiny gap, which means the handbag strap may unexpectedly come undone. This doesn’t happen often, but it is something to be aware of.
Final Thoughts
As a sporty girl, crossbodies, shoulder bags, and sling bags are some of my all-time favorite silhouettes. These are the easiest to carry and go hands-free while roaming the city, running between events, and hopping on a bike whenever I'm running late. The D-Journey bag, to me, offers something new from Dior's bags. It feels more cool than a backpack, crossbody, or a bowling bag with a crossbody strap. This purse, instead, feels like it was made exactly for someone on the go who wants to stay stylish doing it all. It's too early to tell if this will be a major investment handbag in years to come, but it's off to a good start.
