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Refinery29
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Is The Celine Phantom The Next Big Designer Comeback Bag?
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. The 2010s were the golden age of the It bag — and few designers had a hold over the category quite like Phoebe Philo. The British designer became Celine's creative director in 2008, and had her first hit in the accessories department shortly thereafter, with the introduction of the Luggage bag in 2009. The boxy tote, with its distinctive handle placements and exterior zipper, quickly became a staple on the arms of the oft-papped, from Nicole Richie to Lindsay Lohan to Rihanna. 'That was the height of the It bag era and the It Girl era,' says Noelle Sciacca, associate director of fashion and strategic partnerships at The RealReal. 'Whether you were in the fashion space or not, you knew what that bag was because of the paparazzi photos… If you saw Lindsay Lohan or someone from The Simple Life had it, you wanted that style.' As a result, this ignited a desire for boxier handbags, even among shoppers who didn't have a Celine budget. (Most Luggage bags fell in the $2,000-$3,500 range.) 'Every contemporary brand, every mall brand started to do that [Luggage] shape because it felt so unique,' she says. A few years later, in 2011, Philo riffed on the design and birthed another soon-to-become icon: the Phantom. Roomier than the Luggage, with wings jutting out from either side, the Phantom was inspired by Celine suitcases from the 1970s. It boasted the same handles and zipper (except the latter had a long braided rope pull) as its handbag sibling, so, together, they were often referred to as the 'smile bags.' The silhouette attracted an even bigger celebrity following than the Luggage, spotted on the arms of Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Celine Dion, as well as models of the moment like Alessandra Ambrosio and Lily Aldridge. 'The Phantom always stood out because of its oversized, unstructured shape and dramatic wings,' says Anais Rivera, director of procurement at Fashionphile. 'It felt bolder, cooler, and a little less polished than the rest. It has this effortless, slouchy vibe that makes it feel different. It doesn't try too hard, and that's exactly what made people gravitate toward it. You could throw it over your shoulder with jeans and a tee, and still look elevated.' Almost 15 years later, there's a lot of nostalgia around the Phantom, especially for millennials who wanted one during its heyday but couldn't afford it. 'I remember being in college and dreaming of owning one — I would've given you my left kidney to buy one,' says Rivera. 'That bag defined a whole era.' Sciacca was an assistant at a fashion magazine at the time. 'It's similar to what the Miu Miu Sparkle Bootie was for me — one of those iconic accessories that everyone wanted to call in, that was seen on every cool editor,' she says. 'I would try it on and play with it when it was in the fashion closet. It definitely has a hold on me personally.' To Sophie Hersan, the co-founder and fashion director of Vestiaire Collective, the Phantom is inextricably linked to Philo, embodying 'the ghost of Phoebe,' who left Celine in 2017. 'It's the day-to-day bag for modern women,' she says, likening it to a Hermès Birkin in its utility. 'It's for the modern woman who works and has a messy bag. Not everyone can afford a Birkin, but the Phantom is exactly what every woman wants… I was waiting for the maison [to reissue] it.' Michael Rider, Celine's new designer, worked at the brand when both the Luggage and Phantom came out. Though he was on the ready-to-wear team at the time, he dipped into the accessories of the era for his debut as creative director for Spring 2026 and reintroduced the Phantom — bigger, but slightly shorter, and even wider — in black, brown, and Yves Klein blue (another nod to Philo). Rider even riffed on the bag's unofficial nickname, curving the zipper upwards so it resembled a smile. 'It's this nice, beautiful way to honour the codes of the fashion house, but also add this playful irreverence to it, and indicate the direction in which he's going to take it,' Sciacca says. Even before Rider's runway debut in July, the Celine Phantom had been on the minds of resale shoppers. Fashionphile reported that it saw the highest search volume for the style of the year back in January, with a 79% increase from the prior month. In the days after the show in Paris, though, searches were up 1,205%, compared to the preceding week. On The RealReal, searches for the Celine Phantom were up 120% on the day of the Celine show, and nearly doubled the next day. Obsessions — when users 'heart' an item on the resale platform — are up 123% year-on-year; searches are up 263% year-on-year. 'What world news is for the stock market, fashion news is for the resale market,' says Sciacca. 'We always see that correlation: As a past season It bag gets reintroduced on the runway, it automatically creates a desire. People have to wait months for Spring 2026 to go into production and be released by the brand. People see it and they want it, so that instantly drives them to the resale market.' Hersan has noticed secondhand's impact on the firsthand market at Vestiaire Collective, too — when 'there's such a demand [for] a bag, an accessory, or ready-to-wear that you can find it again in the new collection from the maison.' (The platform saw a 10x increase in searches for the Phantom after the Celine show in July, compared to June.) She first picked up on it when Dior reissued the Saddle, and foresaw it happening with the Chloé Paddington (also designed by Philo, who was the creative director of the brand from 2001 to 2006) once Chemena Kamali joined the brand. She sees this as an effort from brands to own their heritage and show customers that they can stick with a brand even amid designer switch-ups. 'All the codes are there,' she says. Sciacca points to nostalgia as another driving factor: 'The people who loved the bag [when it first came out] and feel nostalgic for it want to gravitate towards it again, but then that new generation is able to adopt it for the first time. It's a good time for brands to play on that.' Beyond that, the Phantom comeback is aligned with a desire we're seeing for big bags, specifically 'sizes over 35 — thinking about The Row Margaux or the Birkin,' says Rivera. 'Now that everybody's coming back to the office, you want bags where you can fit your laptop and all your needs.' The Phantom, she adds, is 'in a very unique position to thrive.' Sciacca agrees, noting that a big part of the Phantom's appeal is its practicality. 'You feel like you can be playful with fashion, but it's a serious bag at the same time,' she says. 'When I first started working at The RealReal, I was surprised by how many color combinations there were... There's still personal style. You're not just subscribing to a trend, in that sense.' The Phantom 'is a piece that will last over the years,' says Hersan. Even as other styles came and went, it was never totally out of the picture: 'I could never say that it wasn't on-trend anymore.' It has that 'effortless silhouette that we're looking for today,' when 'we want to invest in more timeless pieces than ever.' Another thing they agree on: Now's the time to buy — and sell. 'It's the very simple economics of supply and demand. As demand goes up, we can increase resale prices… As these things start to be gobbled up on the resale market, there's going to be less and less [inventory], so people will pay more of a premium,' Sciacca says. 'To anyone who wants to buy it: Scoop it up now, because if you wait a couple weeks, you're going to pay hundreds of dollars more for it.'
Refinery29
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Is Celine Phantom The Next Big Designer Comeback Bag?
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. The 2010s were the golden age of the It bag — and few designers had a hold over the category quite like Phoebe Philo. The British designer became Celine's creative director in 2008, and had her first hit in the accessories department shortly thereafter, with the introduction of the Luggage bag in 2009. The boxy tote, with its distinctive handle placements and exterior zipper, quickly became a staple on the arms of the oft-papped, from Nicole Richie to Lindsay Lohan to Rihanna. 'That was the height of the It bag era and the It Girl era,' says Noelle Sciacca, associate director of fashion and strategic partnerships at The RealReal. 'Whether you were in the fashion space or not, you knew what that bag was because of the paparazzi photos… If you saw Lindsay Lohan or someone from The Simple Life had it, you wanted that style.' As a result, this ignited a desire for boxier handbags, even among shoppers who didn't have a Celine budget. (Most Luggage bags fell in the $2,000-$3,500 range.) 'Every contemporary brand, every mall brand started to do that [Luggage] shape because it felt so unique,' she says. A few years later, in 2011, Philo riffed on the design and birthed another soon-to-become icon: the Phantom. Roomier than the Luggage, with wings jutting out from either side, the Phantom was inspired by Celine suitcases from the 1970s. It boasted the same handles and zipper (except the latter had a long braided rope pull) as its handbag sibling, so, together, they were often referred to as the 'smile bags.' The silhouette attracted an even bigger celebrity following than the Luggage, spotted on the arms of Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Celine Dion, as well as models of the moment like Alessandra Ambrosio and Lily Aldridge. 'The Phantom always stood out because of its oversized, unstructured shape and dramatic wings,' says Anais Rivera, director of procurement at Fashionphile. 'It felt bolder, cooler, and a little less polished than the rest. It has this effortless, slouchy vibe that makes it feel different. It doesn't try too hard, and that's exactly what made people gravitate toward it. You could throw it over your shoulder with jeans and a tee, and still look elevated.' Almost 15 years later, there's a lot of nostalgia around the Phantom, especially for millennials who wanted one during its heyday but couldn't afford it. 'I remember being in college and dreaming of owning one — I would've given you my left kidney to buy one,' says Rivera. 'That bag defined a whole era.' Sciacca was an assistant at a fashion magazine at the time. 'It's similar to what the Miu Miu Sparkle Bootie was for me — one of those iconic accessories that everyone wanted to call in, that was seen on every cool editor,' she says. 'I would try it on and play with it when it was in the fashion closet. It definitely has a hold on me personally.' To Sophie Hersan, the co-founder and fashion director of Vestiaire Collective, the Phantom is inextricably linked to Philo, embodying 'the ghost of Phoebe,' who left Celine in 2017. 'It's the day-to-day bag for modern women,' she says, likening it to a Hermès Birkin in its utility. 'It's for the modern woman who works and has a messy bag. Not everyone can afford a Birkin, but the Phantom is exactly what every woman wants… I was waiting for the maison [to reissue] it.' Michael Rider, Celine's new designer, worked at the brand when both the Luggage and Phantom came out. Though he was on the ready-to-wear team at the time, he dipped into the accessories of the era for his debut as creative director for Spring 2026 and reintroduced the Phantom — bigger, but slightly shorter, and even wider — in black, brown, and Yves Klein blue (another nod to Philo). Rider even riffed on the bag's unofficial nickname, curving the zipper upwards so it resembled a smile. 'It's this nice, beautiful way to honor the codes of the fashion house, but also add this playful irreverence to it, and indicate the direction in which he's going to take it,' Sciacca says. Even before Rider's runway debut in July, the Celine Phantom had been on the minds of resale shoppers. Fashionphile reported that it saw the highest search volume for the style of the year back in January, with a 79% increase from the prior month. In the days after the show in Paris, though, searches were up 1,205%, compared to the preceding week. On The RealReal, searches for the Celine Phantom were up 120% on the day of the Celine show, and nearly doubled the next day. Obsessions — when users 'heart' an item on the resale platform — are up 123% year-on-year; searches are up 263% year-on-year. 'What world news is for the stock market, fashion news is for the resale market,' says Sciacca. 'We always see that correlation: As a past season It bag gets reintroduced on the runway, it automatically creates a desire. People have to wait months for Spring 2026 to go into production and be released by the brand. People see it and they want it, so that instantly drives them to the resale market.' Hersan has noticed secondhand's impact on the firsthand market at Vestiaire Collective, too — when 'there's such a demand [for] a bag, an accessory, or ready-to-wear that you can find it again in the new collection from the maison.' (The platform saw a 10x increase in searches for the Phantom after the Celine show in July, compared to June.) She first picked up on it when Dior reissued the Saddle, and foresaw it happening with the Chloé Paddington (also designed by Philo, who was the creative director of the brand from 2001 to 2006) once Chemena Kamali joined the brand. She sees this as an effort from brands to own their heritage and show customers that they can stick with a brand even amid designer switch-ups. 'All the codes are there,' she says. Sciacca points to nostalgia as another driving factor: 'The people who loved the bag [when it first came out] and feel nostalgic for it want to gravitate towards it again, but then that new generation is able to adopt it for the first time. It's a good time for brands to play on that.' Beyond that, the Phantom comeback is aligned with a desire we're seeing for big bags, specifically 'sizes over 35 — thinking about The Row Margaux or the Birkin,' says Rivera. 'Now that everybody's coming back to the office, you want bags where you can fit your laptop and all your needs.' The Phantom, she adds, is 'in a very unique position to thrive.' Sciacca agrees, noting that a big part of the Phantom's appeal is its practicality. 'You feel like you can be playful with fashion, but it's a serious bag at the same time,' she says. 'When I first started working at The RealReal, I was surprised by how many color combinations there were... There's still personal style. You're not just subscribing to a trend, in that sense.' The Phantom 'is a piece that will last over the years,' says Hersan. Even as other styles came and went, it was never totally out of the picture: 'I could never say that it wasn't on-trend anymore.' It has that 'effortless silhouette that we're looking for today,' when 'we want to invest in more timeless pieces than ever.' Another thing they agree on: Now's the time to buy — and sell. 'It's the very simple economics of supply and demand. As demand goes up, we can increase resale prices… As these things start to be gobbled up on the resale market, there's going to be less and less [inventory], so people will pay more of a premium,' Sciacca says. 'To anyone who wants to buy it: Scoop it up now, because if you wait a couple weeks, you're going to pay hundreds of dollars more for it.'
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
‘Lightweight and sturdy' expandable carry-on suitcase is slashed by £130
If you need to upgrade your luggage ready for your next holiday, this expanding Samsonite suitcase is a great choice – and it's now for £130 off in an Amazon Prime Day deal As we enter the final day of the Amazon Prime Day sale, now is the last chance to snap up some great bargains, especially if there are any larger purchases you've been putting off making. With plenty of summer holidays and staycations ahead, now is also a great opportunity to nab yourself some new luggage in the sale, particularly when it has as good a saving as this Samsonite Intuo Expandable Hand Luggage. The carry-on size suitcase is usually priced at £229, but while the Prime Day deals are running, it's now available for £101.80, saving you almost £130 and knocking 56% off the price. That also means you could get your hands on two cases for the price of one if you have other family members who are also in need of some new luggage. The Samonsite suitcase comes in five different sizes, although it's the 'small' version which is currently on sale for £101. Measuring 40cm by 23cm by 55cm, it's just the right size to take as a carry-on case, although it may be a little too large for some budget airlines with super strict guidelines, like Ryanair. If you do want a carry-on case that definitely fits even Ryanair's restrictions, this Velocity Expandable Cabin Max Suitcase from Cabin Max has been made to fit the exact dimensions of 55cm by 40cm by 20cm, and is available for £50. Alternatively the Aerolite Expandable Suitcase is also the exact measurements required, and is now on sale down from £69.99 to £44.99. You can however pick up a smaller version of the Samsonite Intuo, not to mention larger options too so you can create a full matching luggage set. The small version, however, also has a deceptively roomy interior with a capacity that reaches up to 48 litres when expanded, and weighs just 2.7kg thanks to its lightweight and scratch-resistant exterior. The inside also features a fixed divider, two zip pockets and adjustable packing straps to keep everything organised and in place. The case also comes with double wheels which make it easy to manoeuvre, and a TSA008 lock which keeps it secure. Free Amazon Prime membership Product Description The Samsonite Intuo also has some rave reviews from Amazon shoppers, who have awarded it 4.6 out of 5 stars. One said: 'Very sturdy and lightweight good price definitely recommend this case, just need to travel to test it out now.' Another agreed: 'Samsonite are the best suitcases. This suitcase is robust, good locking system lightweight. Design great just been on holiday with it Samsonite a few marks Flite suitcase smashed to pieces. Will be buying another Samsonite to get matching pair. Worth paying a little more to get rock solid quality and top top brand.' A third chimed in: 'Very light, really well made & glides easily, excellent quality.' One who was less pleased said: 'Lightly built, only reasonable value for money. Easy to pack and rolls easily. Not sure how durable this will be in the longer term.' Whilst another flagged the Ryanair fit issues, saying: 'Looks great. Quality is unmatched, comfortable to drag around and can hold lots of clothes but is too big for Ryanair standards and only usable with Easyjet. Swapped for smaller size.' Others were delighted with the Samsonite Intuo though. One reviewer wrote: 'Fabulous case, so roomy and has 2 sides to pack. I put shoes and bags of toiletries in the zipped lid side and clothes in the main compartment. Even the taxi driver liked the way it rolled along so easily despite the weight!' With someone else adding: 'Great price and delivered in time for my trip. Made the airport hike so much easier with the spinner wheels, huge capacity - had to be careful not to over pack!'
Elle
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Celine Just Brought Back This 2010s It Bag
Michael Rider made his debut for Celine over the weekend and it was filled with a massive array of references. The new artistic director took care to balance codes from both of his predecessors, Phoebe Philo and Hedi Slimane. As a result, a few familiar silhouettes came strutting down the runway—most important of all, the Phantom bag. The purse first debuted in 2011 under then-creative director Philo and was inspired by the house's original suitcase design. The more spacious sister to the Luggage, which was released the year prior, the Phantom added flared gussets and leaned into the 2010s carryall craze that was just beginning. Like the Luggage before it, the bag was an immediate success, becoming synonymous with celebrity status and paparazzi street style. At the height of its fame, the bags flew off the shelves and waitlists could reach months-long. Anyone who was anyone tossed their belongings into the caverns of one of these bags before leaving the house, including Celine Dion, Kim Kardashian, Linsday Lohan, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, the Phantom is here again, and hopefully to stay. On the runway, Rider showed two new iterations with some key differences. One was chestnut and the other reminiscent of Yves Klein blue—another Philo reference from his decade spent as her design director. Don't worry, the bag still retains its wide-winged shape. If anything, Rider pushed the silhouette even further, shortening the height and expanding the width. The new style feels similar to many of the presiding popular rectangular shoulder bags—the Bottega Veneta East/West Andiamo, Prada Bonnie, and Alaïa Le Teckel all offer options in this shape. However, the advantage of the Phantom is and always will be its size, especially since we've all had enough of micro-purses too small to even hold your phone. While Rider is paying homage to those who came before him, he's also smartly investing in the current It bag resurgence. In recent seasons, designers like Chloé and Fendi have reissued their own street style icons: the Paddington and the Spy, respectively. There's no stopping it—nostalgia is saturating design to the max, and Celine is smart to play into it, especially under the leadership of a Philo disciple. Fashion fans rejoice: on the runway, all good things eventually come back around.
Style Blueprint
19-05-2025
- Style Blueprint
The Best Travel Luggage For Your Next Getaway
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit You know that woman at the airport who looks impossibly pulled together, complete with her hair done and her matching loungewear set? Another detail adds to that incredibly chic look: her suitcase. She never has scuffed-up, mismatched old bags. They are always practical and pristine, ready for jet-setting to the next destination. That can be you, and we've got the luggage to make it happen. Here are our 11 best travel luggage picks for 2025. This article contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Briggs & Riley: Sympatico Hardside Luggage The Briggs & Riley Sympatico Hardside Luggage is a favorite of veteran travelers, thanks to its hardshell construction and sleek look. This 22″ carry-on gives you extra room for all your goodies (and souvenirs!) thanks to its one-touch CX expansion, which increases its capacity by 25%. Swivel spinner wheels add to its versatility, whether you're navigating the airport or the tiny side streets of Europe. At $649, it's an investment, but it comes with a lifetime guarantee. Pin Samsonite: Omni 2 Carry-On Hardside Luggage Samsonite is a beloved brand thanks to both its affordability and reliability. The company has been manufacturing luggage since 1910, and its suitcases continue to stand up to local and international travel. The Omni 2 is a straightforward, functional suitcase with extendable storage and a hard shell. Plus, at $147.97, it's an affordable alternative to some of the more splurge-worthy brands. Pin Delsey Paris: Chatelet Air 2.0 Hardside Luggage Delsey Paris luggage has the most iconic, retro-inspired look, especially in classic ivory. A two-piece set of the Chatelet Air luggage is $652.90 and offers a carry-on size, as well as luggage for extended holidays. The reinforced edges with faux-leather detailing make this set look like something straight out of an Old Hollywood movie, as if you should be catching a fabulous train cross-country. Pin L.L. Bean: Adventure Rolling Duffle Bag If practicality is the name of your travel game, it doesn't get better than this rolling duffle bag from L.L. Bean. This durable bag, made from 100% recycled fabrics, is a cross between your carry-on suitcase and the toss-it-anywhere duffle bag. It can stand up to camping trips and boutique hotels alike, and, when you're not using it, it easily folds up for storage. Pin Tumi: Hardshell Suitcase Tumi has been the gold standard in luggage for years, maintaining the same level of sophistication today as it has had for the past several decades. It's both sleekly styled and incredibly durable. These hardshell suitcases are built for avid travelers, and the lightweight construction is perfect for hauling on trips both near and far. At $795, these are some of the splurgiest carry-on suitcases, but devotees will tell you they're well worth it. Pin Away: The Carry-On Away stormed the luggage market ten years ago, and this direct-to-consumer bag quickly became the darling of the travel world. It's one of the best suitcases for those looking for something understated, stylish, and incredibly functional. The Carry-On is practically a cult classic at this point — overhead bins on every plane and train are filled with them. Pin BÉIS: The Large Check-In Roller If you want the ultimate Instagrammable luggage, the BÉIS Large Check-In Roller is as chic as it gets. In the beige colorway, it looks like something designed to have its picture taken. Luckily, it's just as functional as it is pretty. This size is ideal for a summer getaway to Florida or France, and the suitcase itself expands to accommodate up to two more inches of packing space—a must when you're fortunate enough to book a two-week vacation. Pin July: Carry-On Trunk The July Carry-On Trunk looks more like modern art than a suitcase. Its pop art-inspired gloss stands out when you're traveling. From a hidden laundry bag to built-in compression features, this suitcase was designed for travelers who take hitting the road seriously. It also has a built-in charger, so you'll never find yourself at 2% battery while traveling. Pin Calpak: Hue Carry-On Luggage You'll never lose this suitcase at baggage claim. The Calpak Hue Carry-On comes in vibrant colors, including orchid (a fresh and punchy lavender), dragonfruit (a Barbie-esque hot pink), and Key lime (a vivid green). Of course, you can also get this cheerful carry-on in more serious colors like emerald, hazel, and black, but why not reach for something fun? Pin Quince: Carry-On Suitcase Quince has cornered the upscale yet affordable style, home, and jewelry markets, so we shouldn't be surprised they've also gotten into travel and are producing some of the best luggage out there. Their hardshell suitcase is incredibly sleek and styled, and it comes in classic colors like navy, tan, dark green, and blue. It has all the function and form of the more expensive brands, yet it's the lowest price tag on the list at just $129.90. Pin Lo & Sons: Catalina Deluxe Whether you're hitting the pavement for a road trip or taking the train for a quick weekend getaway, sometimes it's nice to have a soft-sided bag to throw in the car. Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe style has been a favorite for years, and it's still some of the best weekender luggage out there. A bottom pocket to keep your shoes separate and a suitcase sleeve are two of the most clever features. Pin Safe travels! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. ********** Looking for your next getaway? Visit our Travel archives. About the Author Heather Bien Heather Bien is a Southern writer, Richmond native, and aspiring gardener. She loves small-town travel and homemade lattes.
