Longtime Céline Fans, Celebrate! The Phantom Bag is Returning, and I Have Information on How You Can Obtain It.

      Michael Rider, the newly-appointed creative director of Celine, began his role with show notes that articulated his vision for the French brand. He wrote, “Celine represents quality, timelessness, and style—ideals that are challenging to capture and even harder to maintain.” This established the tone for his inaugural collection, which presented an array inspired by the concept of an American voyager in Paris, but more significantly, it heralded the return of one of the house’s most iconic designs: The Celine Phantom bag.

      The top-handle bag was reimagined for this new phase, offered in Yves Klein blue, midnight black, and deep burgundy, which paired well with the sharp tailoring, flowing trousers, preppy knitwear, and laid-back bourgeois vibe that characterized the spring 2026 collection. Notably, just months earlier, Chemna Kamali had revived the Chloé Paddington bag, featuring its distinctive chunky lock and wine bottle shape, during the autumn/winter 2025 collection. The simultaneous resurgence of two iconic accessories from the 2010s is certainly not a mere coincidence in the fashion realm. So, why is Celine embracing nostalgia despite this new beginning?

      What exactly is the Celine Phantom Bag? In 2011, when Prince William and Kate Middleton were married and One Direction dominated the music charts, Phoebe Philo was leading the brand, then spelled with an acute accent. Following the success of the Luggage bag, her first 'It' bag, Philo introduced a larger version in the pre-fall collection. Characterized by a broader wingspan, a pseudo east-west shape, and a zipper that triggered a psychological response known as pareidolia—where the brain perceives faces in inanimate objects—the Phantom became emblematic of Philo’s design philosophy, showcasing understated elegance with an artistic twist.

      To Philotes, as her fans are called, the Phantom bag epitomizes ‘Old Céline’, a term they use to refer to her era. While many hold a deep respect for past directors such as Tom Ford for Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ‘Old Céline’ retains a nearly sacred status. Brenda Weischer, known on social media as @brendahashtag, believes this period in fashion history is so lasting because of how Philo captured and timelessly distilled that moment. “Few designers blend fun, wearability, innovation, and art in their women’s wear designs. Many women desire something other than a sheer mini dress from Saint Laurent or a floor-length caftan from The Row, and Phoebe provided that!”

      Residing between Berlin and New York, the German fashion writer, consultant, content creator, and influencer shared via email that Philo's impact reaches far beyond her creations, resonating even a decade later. Weischer emphasized that “everyone who worked with Phoebe during her time at Céline has gone on to hold significant positions and influenced our styles and the way we dress, which speaks volumes.”

      On the Phantom bag specifically, it marks a full circle for both Celine and Rider. The American designer began his personal letter by reflecting on his time studying under Philo. For those unfamiliar, Rider gained experience alongside industry figures like Daniel Lee and Matthieu Blazy, who later took roles at Burberry, Bottega Veneta, and Chanel, as Philo's protégé. (Rider most recently worked at Ralph Lauren.) “Returning to Celine… in a transformed world has been incredibly emotional for me and an absolute joy,” he noted. Weischer regards Rider’s acknowledgment of his mentor as a particularly meaningful aspect of the Phantom's revival. “Creative directors often aim to erase the legacy of their predecessors, and I appreciate that Rider opted for the opposite, paying tribute instead.”

      Will the Celine Phantom truly be returning? A single runway appearance does not constitute a revival; however, the overall reaction to the return of this shape is quite positive. The Celine Phantom isn't anticipated to hit stores until at least next year, yet the buzz surrounding its comeback is already generating headlines and sparking interest online. One of the leading rental platforms in the UK, By Rotation, reported a 100% increase in searches for Celine’s Phantom bag. According to By Rotation's founder, Eshita Kabra-Davies, this trend reflects the growing allure of nostalgic fashion.

      Weischer offers a slightly different perspective. “You can’t introduce a new bag shape every season, or you risk creating a vicious cycle; people become bored too quickly,” she points out. When asked why today's market makes the Phantom a viable option, she explained, “A good tote never goes out of style,” and mentioned that “now there are many men who are more inclined to use bags for their daily or travel needs, so I believe the demand will persist!”

      It remains to be seen whether Rider’s Phantom will endure or become a fleeting trend, like Philo