THE DRG STYLE INDEX: THE ROW, MOYNAT, LOUIS VUITTON, DELVAUX

My weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranks the brand stories that have most resonated with me, in order of interest. This week it’s all about timeless luxury and buying the best you can get…

1. THE ROW’S NEW RETAIL HAVEN

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That’s it. My bags are packed and I’m moving into The Row’s new modernist Melrose Place flagship right now. It has a pool, people! And of course is stuffed full of antiques and iconic furniture of the Jean Prouve kind. And a yummy-sounding ‘vitrine containing antique jewellery, cutlery and desktop items culled from the sisters’ personal collections,’ according to WWD. As celeb brands go (although I’m sure they loathe being called that), I can’t help comparing The Row to Victoria Beckham. The Row’s discreet aesthetic feels much more authentic than Beckham’s faux-minimalist ‘look at me’ brand. To be improved? The Row’s website and ecommerce, which apparently is the next thing on the agenda.

2. MOYNAT’S ARTFUL MONOGRAMS

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There’s monogramming and then there’s Moynat monogramming which takes the art to a whole other level. The heritage leathergoods brand (revived by LVMH) is a new addition to London’s Mount Street and constantly shows the most inventive ways with handpainted personalised initials on its Instagram. I mean, who wouldn’t want one of these? Although, I’m wondering if they need to switch up their packaging, which looks rather familiar, no? Is this a naughty little dig at H*rmes, Mr Arnault?

3. LOUIS VUITTON’S ULTIMATE AD CAMPAIGN

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Why commission one super-photographer to shoot your campaign when you can have three? Nicolas Ghesquiere’s first fashion campaign for Louis Vuitton will reportedly boast the skills of Bruce Weber, Juergen Teller and Annie Leibowitz – now that’s a lot of ego talent. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Meisel campaigns (too stylised) so I’m looking forward to this portraity approach. And of course, Charlotte Gainsbourg will be reporting for modelling duties

4. DELVAUX HEADS TO BOND STREET

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Exciting news broke this week of Belgian leathergoods brand Delvaux’s plans for a standalone store on Bond Street. If you like a modern classic style to your handbag, Delvaux is a good place to start, especially if you want to avoid It Bag territory (that’s Garance Dore above carrying her vintage Delvaux). The 185-year-old company is the oldest fine leathergoods brand in the world, its bags still being made in the Brussels atelier. As Delvaux’s product and image director, Christina Zeller told me in 2012, “we don’t want to be the latest but we don’t want to become too establishment and boring. We have an obligation to be contemporary.”

[Image credits: The Row/WWD; Moynat/Instagram; Juergen Teller/Saskia Lawaks for Vogue.fr; Delvaux/Tommy Ton]