Latest news with #TheRealReal
Refinery29
3 hours ago
- 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.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Julie Wainwright is building what comes next— Join her fireside chat at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 returns to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27–29, uniting over 10,000+ startup founders, VCs, and tech leaders for the ultimate look at what's next. One of this year's must-see conversations on the premier Going Public Stage features iconic entrepreneur and e-commerce trailblazer Julie Wainwright, in a candid fireside chat on reinvention, resilience, and how to spot — and build — the next big thing. In this intimate fireside chat, Wainwright will unpack the real stories behind category creation, scaling under pressure, and the personal pivots that shape great companies. Expect lessons on navigating market shifts, the underestimated power of experience, and why betting on yourself is always the right move. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned operator, this is one conversation you won't want to miss. Wainwright's career is a masterclass in riding waves before they break. She's led companies through multiple technology shifts, from the early days of personal computing to the rise of online video, ecommerce, and now personalized wellness. As the founder and former CEO of The RealReal, she redefined luxury resale, taking the company public in 2019 and becoming one of only a few women in history to do so. Today, she's back at it with Ahara, a personalized nutrition platform aimed at transforming how people eat and live. Her journey — from CEO stints at Berkeley Systems, and the dotcom-era to leading a billion-dollar IPO and penning a bestselling memoir — makes her one of the most dynamic and battle-tested founders in tech. Wainwright's accolades include the Silicon Valley Visionary Award, a Forbes cover story, and a spot on the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 list. In 2025, she's expanding her reach with a new podcast, The Armchair Entrepreneurs, offering advice to the next generation of founders. Don't miss this session live on the Going Public Stage — one of 250+ sessions happening across five industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts. Register now to save up to $425 before prices increase! Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
11-07-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Julie Wainwright joins TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in a fireside chat
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 returns to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27–29, uniting over 10,000+ startup founders, VCs, and tech leaders for the ultimate look at what's next. One of this year's must-see conversations on the premier Going Public Stage features iconic entrepreneur and e-commerce trailblazer Julie Wainwright, in a candid fireside chat on reinvention, resilience, and how to spot — and build — the next big thing. What to expect on the Going Public Stage In this intimate fireside chat, Wainwright will unpack the real stories behind category creation, scaling under pressure, and the personal pivots that shape great companies. Expect lessons on navigating market shifts, the underestimated power of experience, and why betting on yourself is always the right move. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned operator, this is one conversation you won't want to miss. From flying toasters to billion-dollar exits Wainwright's career is a masterclass in riding waves before they break. She's led companies through multiple technology shifts, from the early days of personal computing to the rise of online video, ecommerce, and now personalized wellness. As the founder and former CEO of The RealReal, she redefined luxury resale, taking the company public in 2019 and becoming one of only a few women in history to do so. Today, she's back at it with Ahara, a personalized nutrition platform aimed at transforming how people eat and live. Her journey — from CEO stints at Berkeley Systems, and the dotcom-era to leading a billion-dollar IPO and penning a bestselling memoir — makes her one of the most dynamic and battle-tested founders in tech. Wainwright's accolades include the Silicon Valley Visionary Award, a Forbes cover story, and a spot on the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 list. In 2025, she's expanding her reach with a new podcast, The Armchair Entrepreneurs, offering advice to the next generation of founders. Don't miss this session live on the Going Public Stage — one of 250+ sessions happening across five industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts. Register now to save up to $425 before prices increase!
NZ Herald
10-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tracksuit's Times Square takeover: Global growth figures revealed after $42m raise
The brand measurement software provider Tracksuit has grown its United States-based division by 260% in the past year, landing clients such as retailers Steve Madden and The Real Real. 'We're more than doubling every year,' Tracksuit co-founder and co-CEO Connor Archbold told Markets with Madison. 'We're starting to crank into
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Volatile Stock Worth Investigating and 2 to Avoid
Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy. Navigating these stocks isn't easy, which is why StockStory helps you find Comfort In Chaos. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock with massive upside potential and two best left to the gamblers. Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.77 Founded by consignment store aficionado Julie Wainwright, The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL) is an online marketplace for buying and selling secondhand luxury goods. Why Are We Wary of REAL? Decision to emphasize platform growth over monetization has contributed to 5.5% annual declines in its average revenue per user Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders At $5.34 per share, The RealReal trades at 21.3x forward EV/EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why REAL doesn't pass our bar. Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.32 Founded in 1917, Parker Hannifin (NYSE:PH) is a manufacturer of motion and control systems for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. Why Do We Think Twice About PH? Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth Estimated sales growth of 1.9% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend Free cash flow margin shrank by 2.5 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive Parker-Hannifin is trading at $719.15 per share, or 25.3x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PH. Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.51 With security scanners deployed at airports and borders worldwide and patient monitors used in hospitals across the globe, OSI Systems (NASDAQ:OSIS) designs and manufactures specialized electronic systems for security screening, patient monitoring, and optoelectronic applications. Why Does OSIS Stand Out? Market share has increased this cycle as its 18.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional Earnings per share grew by 27.4% annually over the last two years and trumped its peers Returns on capital are increasing as management's prior bets are starting to bear fruit OSI Systems's stock price of $232.51 implies a valuation ratio of 23.2x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today Sign in to access your portfolio
