Last December, it was reported in the fashion press that Anouck Duranteau-Loeper, Céline’s director of accessories throughout Phoebe Philo’s happy tenure at the brand, would be leaving for a position at the newly reinvigorated Paco Rabanne. Based on publicly available information and Dureau-Loeper’s LinkedIn profile, it appears she’s stuck with Céline in some capacity, but the new job means her involvement in the day-to-day creation of the brand’s accessories is likely. now. significantly limited, or at least significantly different. That might not be so great for the brand’s bags.
Céline showed her Spring 2015 collection in Paris over the weekend, and while the clothes were as flawless and modern as we’d come to expect from one of the industry’s brightest minds, the bags fell flat. They did it last season too. Philo has a general penchant for keeping the line’s bestsellers off the runway, but with there currently no apparent heir to the brand’s popular luggage, trapeze, and classic box bags, fans were surely hoping to take a look. look at the Next Big Thing.
The Tie Tote seemed positioned to take the momentum from the brand’s handbags, but the response from consumers hasn’t rivaled what the brand has enjoyed in previous years and with previous handbags. It would be silly to dismiss Céline’s accessories department right now, but the Next Big Thing certainly isn’t any of the weird round bags pictured below.
[Photos via UK Vogue]
