The Rundown: Has Canvas Bag Pricing Lost the Plot?
Fendi Baguette data, Hill House Home's Nell Diamond on the Williams-Sonoma collab, and the pricing landscape of canvas totes.
I’ve gotten so many DMs and messages on the canvas bag situation. Shout out to Sogole Kane who might have already purchased one she found (please report back Sogole). And another source reminded me that French canvas tote brand Rue de Verneuil raised their prices this year. The canvas tote is everywhere, you don’t even have to purchase it. I bet you have a handful in your closet that you were given for free. I counted my stash in one closet (I have more in another) and my main stack has 19. While I shouldn’t even mention the Trader Joe’s Tote Bag, I think I have to since it was on the Lyst Index of top items from Q1! We’ll use the canvas tote bag as a conversation on pricing for today’s Rundown.
Share this send with your friend who has too many canvas totes in the closet. No judging.
In this send: How might a brand be thinking about retail pricing and positioning? Plus: terry towel dressing, Claire Dane’s t-shirt dress, a Nap Apron, Zucca Baguette, L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, canvas tote bag pricing matrix, Reformation’s IPO, Dua Lipa’s Chanel Couture wedding dress, Parker & Thatch, etc. etc. etc.
Fresh Receipts
Forecasting
Canvas Tote Pricing Hierarchy
In My Feed
What’s Next
Fresh Receipts
Will the Suede Prada pouch be as popular as the green silk or nylon versions?
I don’t like to play the dupe game, but if you are looking for a good quarter-zip I think this one would scratch the itch.
Left on Friday launched a collection of terry ready to wear, think towel cover-ups, that are made for casual wear from the beach or pool to either be in transit, lounge, or pop in for last minute essentials. The items worth checking out are the towel to go dress (forget the towel and just throw this on for super hot days post pool), and the jogger and hoodie combo for the cooler temps. Left on Friday really nails the colors, so if you already have a bathing suit from them it is the perfect layering item.
The Reformation x Umbro collab launched (I promise I’ll stop posting about it soon, but it is so good!) and while this dress and this t-shirt mostly sold out, plenty of other styles still have inventory. I think they knew it would do well and forecasted inventory appropriately.
Donni’s part 2 of summer launches today at 10am PST. The track shorts are available now and the polka dot shorts were part of summer 1.
Loeffler Randall’s jelly sandals with the crystals are available for pre-order.
Zac Posen’s Gap Studio launched a t-shirt dress inspired by Claire Danes Golden Globe dress. I really liked the Claire Danes dress, and it is smart to do a t-shirt dress available to purchase, but a bit of a head scratcher why they are launching now. I feel like everyone moved on from the moment since it was in January, although of course this is the season to sell it. So I can argue either way.
Crown Affair x Ilia collab on an out-the-door ritual kit (hair care and Ilia’s popular mascara) and a special hair towel (my favorite hair towel is from Crown Affair.) They partnered with Sephora to do an in app exclusive for launch – meaning you had to shop in the Sephora mobile app on 6/22 to get it first.
Saie did this too with their new SuperSuede Powder Blush, which already has 517 five star reviews. As you can see many “received free product for review” since it was disclosed.
I love seeing the Hill House Home collab with Williams-Sonoma (fun fact, I was the Buyer for Cooks’ Tools at Williams-Sonoma earlier in my career — I would have been the merchant for this) and I know how much work they put into collaborations and who they partner with. I was curious why HHH, a brand that has an assortment of housewares – and has HOME in their name – would choose to partner with a third party on this and Nell Diamond shared with me:
“Hill House began as a home brand, and while we’ve grown significantly into fashion, home remains such an important part of our DNA. Partnering with Williams Sonoma gave us the opportunity to bring our prints and perspective into categories and rooms of the home at a scale we couldn’t have achieved on our own.”
When I asked Diamond about her favorite items, she pointed out that the bigger furniture items work back to the bedding items on their site:
“I’m also obsessed with the canopy bed and the way it pairs with the bedding. There is a particular kind of luxury that comes from climbing into a beautifully made bed at the end of the day, and that’s a feeling I always want our customers to experience.”
Another great point from Diamond:
“One thing I’m always interested in understanding is how our customer wants to live beyond what she wants to wear. We’ve spent years learning about her wardrobe, but home offers an entirely different lens into how she entertains, decorates, hosts friends, and creates traditions with her family.”
And there is a Nap Apron too!
While not a Fresh Receipt, it is a Fresh Markdown you need to know about. This is my absolute favorite skirt. So easy to dress-up or down with a simple tank or t-shirt and I have gotten so much wear out of it. I also bought it on sale and it feels like the sale price is the right price for this item.
A fun mix in the Rundown. Images courtesy of brands featured.
Forecasting
Posse Pre Fall ‘26 just launched and a few trends worth noting.
First, the brand used butter yellow and red as the pops, which I’ve been noticing with so many brands at all price points (see the Left on Friday towel collection above too.)
Second, they’ve done linen sets really well (remember this?), but this season the crochet sets look fresh and well done. Eyelet too – like this little white dress which can go from cover-up to day dress seamlessly.
Finally, polka dots! I added a few items to the Polka Dot Forecast.
A follow-up: After the recent Fendi Baguette campaign, I was curious about recent trends, we have insights from Katie Bickle at Fashionphile:
Fendi Baguette searches have increased 188 percent year over year.
A “brilliant secondhand purchase” because this style is all about the materials and variety. Vintage pieces are just as relevant. Demand for sequin baguettes have increased 89 percent year over year, but the most in demand is the Zucca Baguette in Tobacco. Logos aren’t going anywhere.
Rhyme and Reason to Canvas Tote Prices?
I’ve seen so many plain canvas totes coming out this summer and when I noticed the Toteme version at $690 and the Phoebe Philo at $650 my brain immediately started thinking of what is traditionally referred to as Good – Better – Best and trying to assort and this one had me a little confused.
