spotlight: Sidney Toledano

2016 marks the integral moment when the house of Dior finally appoints a female design to the helm of it's oh-so successful ready-to-wear and couture designs. The house built by Christian Dior in 1947, one based on a feminine silhouette that empowered women with a "New Look" of nipped waists and ample skirts celebrating the female form, welcomes Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri to take over 60 years after its' creation.

As with all great fashion brands, Dior is a house shrouded in controversy with a touch of drama. John Galliano's bias-cut dresses, passion for historical references, and a flair for the dramatic created some of the most beautiful, elaborate, and profitable collections the company had ever seen. In the last few years, however, handbags and accessories have become the money-makers, a fact that the CEO of Christian Dior Couture is well aware of. 

Adecade at the helm of Lancel, a french-based handbag company, offered him the opportunity to learn what women looked for in a handbag. Quick to catch on to the needs of the clients, the year following his arrival to Christian Dior, he would oversee the introduction of the house's now-iconic bag, the Lady Dior. Wife of French President Jacques Chirac gifted the bag to Princess Diana, and the rest is, as they say, history.