Continuing from last week’s jewellery post, I’m enjoying this less-is-more evolution of fine jewellery courtesy of Ilaria Icardi. The idea of wearing something super-refined with a normcore bodywarmer is very high-low me and also perfect for the sporty & rich generation. (more…)
Retail-edutainment is the latest portmanteau on my mind.
Dior is finally ready to reopen its Avenue Montaigne flagship after a two-year reno. This latest incarnation is a ‘universe of Dior’ which includes retail, restaurants and a gallery, plus a private shopping apartment that gives its guests the keys to the store – accompanied by concierges to attend to their every whim.
The Galerie de Dior is the masterstroke. (more…)
“I find the joy of collecting, the fun of hunting for objects, the exciting thing. But once I [win] it, I lose interest. I don’t want to be a curator living in a museum.”
Karl Lagerfeld
It was fascinating looking through the lots of Karl Lagerfeld’s estate auction a couple of weeks ago. Among them were his 1980s scrapbooks, his Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme jacket, a Shu Uemura makeup box and his own Chanel croc-embossed tote bag (below, which sold for €94,500). “Collectors from the world over, snapping up Karl Lagerfeld’s objects and designs, have consecrated his status as a fashion icon. The ‘Kaiser’ would surely have been moved by this immense public success,” said Pierre Mothes, vice president of Sotheby’s France. (more…)
Great news for fans of Yang Li. He is now creative director of Shang Xia, the Chinese luxury brand founded in 2010 by Hermès and Qiong Er Jiang. Now majority owned by Italian holding company Exor, it will stage its first ever show at Paris Fashion Week on October 4th.
Until this point, Shang Xia has exemplified the quiet luxury vibe of Hermès, focusing on ‘good taste’ craftsmanship and style designed for longevity. But as hype culture accelerates in the luxury space, some wonder if we’ll now see the brand looking to attract a younger, cooler crowd. Definitely one to watch. (more…)
