• by Sarah Mahoney , Yesterday

Rent the Runway and Perrier think American women might be longing for a little je ne sais quoi this summer — but both brands are bringing more than French elegance to the table. The two companies are launching French Girl Summer by Maison Perrier, a limited-time curated fashion collection of more than 150 pieces designed to capture the breezy, effortless spirit of Parisian summer dressing. Think très chic, at an accessible price point.

The collection arrives at an interesting moment for both brands. At Rent the Runway, the news is largely good. The company reported a 29% jump in revenue, with sales rising to $89.9 million, while losses narrowed to $18.9 million, down from $26.1 million in the same period last year. Subscribers climbed 8% to more than 196,000.

The company is also in the middle of a leadership transition, with co-founder Jennifer Hyman stepping down and Nordstrom veteran Teri Bariquit stepping in as interim president and CEO. It also recently hired Paige Thomas, formerly of Signet Jewelers, as chief commercial officer, and tapped fellow Nordstrom alum Dave Loretta as interim CFO.

"The team has built remarkable momentum, and this quarter's results reflect the strength of a strategy that is clearly resonating with our customers," Bariquit said.

The collab gives the new leadership a timely, high-visibility way to signal the brand's direction. "We're giving shoppers a fresh way to tap into the chic essence of modern French styling, with a collection of elevated, versatile styles that make summer dressing feel effortless," said Kaitlyn Bailey, senior vice president of buying at Rent the Runway, in the press release.

Perrier's moment is more… compliqué. Parent company Nestlé, which sold its North American water business in 2021, is pursuing the sale of its European water portfolio — which includes Perrier, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna — with deconsolidation expected from 2027.

Then there's what French media have dubbed Watergate. Reports emerged that at least a third of mineral water sold in France had been illegally treated — with ultraviolet light, carbon filters, or micro-meshes used to screen out bacteria. The treatments are considered safe, but they mean the products can no longer be marketed as natural mineral water. French anti-fraud investigators subsequently raided a Perrier bottling site and a lab. Nestlé says it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Against that backdrop, a sun-drenched summer fashion collab might be exactly the kind of relief both brands could use right now.