The Rundown: Handbag Math, Fresh Receipts and Violette’s fresh money

Handbags aren’t dead, they are right-sizing.

Hi — I’m back from a quick trip to Reykjavik where I was able to tag along on my husband’s business trip. We had some delicious pastries, plenty of fresh seafood, had perfect weather, daylight for over 22 hours a day, explored multiple lagoons, saw serene waterfalls, dined at a tomato farm, and I, of course, spent an embarrassing amount of time looking at everyone's shoes. Sambas dominated the casual set, the rest were hiking boots or performance sneakers — a few Ons, some Nikes, Asics — plus Salomons. And compared to my Disneyland trip this spring, noticeably fewer Nike Dunks and not a single Panda colorway in sight.

I’m back and ready for another week in retail.

In this send: The handbag category is right-sizing, but where is the fun headline in that? With handbags on my mind I’ve also targeted a forecast from big to mini. Plus: a graphic stripe scarf, Charo Ruiz, lax shorts, Bain-Altagamma Luxury Report, Violette_fr Bisou Balm, Chanel 2.55, totes, the yellow shade du jour and so much more.

Share this with a friend who is obsessed with handbags. I know you can think of three friends right now who fit that description.

• Fresh Receipts

• Forecasting

• Handbag Math

• In My Feed

Fresh Receipts

• Graphic stripes and primary colors in this Loewe scarf can freshen up any outfit. The product detail page also does the heavy lifting of showing multiple ways to wear. (If you are looking for tips on how to tie a scarf, pick one of these Hermès card decks up from Poshmark or eBay. Helpful and chic.)

• Party polka dots from Charo Ruiz: maxi, mini, and top with skirt combo.

• Leset’s June drop went live and there is a bold floral print from the brand and a bright Daffodil. I’m most interested in trying a new to me style — they have been a top seller for the brand and launched before the Kyoto style — the Yoko pants. I love the Kyoto style and the Yoko is a lighter weight material so will be my heat of summer update. They’ve been around for even longer than the Kyoto, and also a best seller. Easy pants sticking around because, well, they are easy. This new drop has a lace crop style, tanks, dresses all in the Yoko collection. Plenty of easy summer options.

• Tory Burch’s Reva is updated as a mule.

• Given how quickly Lacrosse as a sport is growing, I’m not surprised at this sell out. Check out these in the meantime – the non collab version.

• The oversized bag that everyone rolls around, a highly recommended bag for schlepping that helps you from needing a back supporting sports bra, partnered with Susan Alexandra to charm it up. Charms are to have fun, give the shopper a reason to come back, and a little treat for the customer.

  

  All images courtesy of brands featured.

Forecasting

• Before we get into whether handbags are relevant (spoiler, they are), what I noticed in handbags recently:

  • Both Kelly Williams [Midimalist] and Joyce Lee [Time Less] had the same idea with their own fabulous take on Tote-ally totes Monday posts. Cementing the idea that summer is for the big canvas tote. I’ve seen a bunch of colorful totes on the market like Cahu (Laurel Pantin carries at Earl IRL and I played around with them there), the Herve Chapielier possible return (or go directly to eBay if you don’t still have yours), and Rue de Veurneil (love the denim smaller one too). Interesting, all three French options! A mini trend in a trend.

  • And, of course on the other end of the extreme, a silly little handbag. The two pair together really well. Crochet stripe, Macrame, linen, mixed material mini. Cinch classic, cinch butter yellow at Cos, Loewe canvas under $400 cinched, or cinch mini Loewe flamenco.

• If you love the dupioni fabrication this season but would rather have a dress than shorts/pants, check out this shift dress.

• While I’m still seeing plenty of butter yellow, the yellow that is popping up more is a mustard (and here and striped here), marigold (english marigold) or daffodil shade. Deeper, more jewel tone, and brighter.

  

  All images courtesy of brands featured.

Designer bags aren’t over, but why do we keep hearing this?

What’s really going on in the handbag category? Rather than making a proclamation that the handbag is O-V-E-R over, let’s dig into the data and peel a layer back to see