Ms. Philo’s sustained impact can also be measured through online searches and sales. On eBay, searches jumped 225 percent on Sept. 29, the day after Mr. Slimane showed his first collection. Sales, which sprinted ahead 35 percent from September to October, continue to climb, up 10 percent month over month, according to the company.
At the RealReal, searches increased in October, with a sustained growth of 32 percent over the same period last year, said Rati Sahi Levesque, the chief merchant of the company. Prices have climbed by 30 percent over last year at this time, she noted, and revenues are up 35 percent.
Demand for Philo-era knitwear, statement outerwear, dresses and jackets has been especially keen, Ms. Levesque said: “Overall, customers are looking at all Phoebe Philo clothing items as collectors’ pieces.” In accessories, the so-called box clasp handbag, a structured design worthy of British royalty, remains on the company’s most-wanted list. The capacious luggage bag, Ms. Levesque said, stands to survive as a classic.
At Tradesy, searches for Celine have increased 34 percent since September, compared with June through August. In October, the average selling price leapt 35 percent, according to Tracy DiNunzio, the company’s founder and chief executive. “The things that cost more were the things that sold,” Ms. DiNunzio said.
“We have more people asking, ‘Oh, what do you have in Celine?’” said Ina Bernstein, the owner of the Ina group of consignment stores in Manhattan. “Philo designs have alway gone fast, but they go even faster now. We can’t keep the signature trapeze and luggage bags in stock.”
Never mind prices that range from $1,800 to about $2,500. A pair of boots combining pony, camel, black leather and leopard, outré by conservative standards, sold the day they arrived, Ms. Bernstein said.
By RUTH LA FERLA
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