How it started

Caroline’s Couture first debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 with an impressive collection of 50 pieces and was modelled by the likes of Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Natalia Vodianova.

If you’re wondering, why fashion? Ms Scheufele has a good answer for you.

Normally, she explains, clothes from high fashion brands like Elie Saab, Dolce & Gabbana, Zuhair Murad and others were used to showcase Chopard’s Red Carpet high jewellery line during the Cannes Festival of which the jewellery brand is a sponsor. “But these dresses are often already full of precious ornaments, where the jewels are drowned out. So I started to imagine models that were less rich in the upper part and with just the right necklines to better show off my adornments,” she says.

Teaming up with Maximiliano Modesti who has been developing embroidery workshops in India including the Kalhath Institute in Lucknow, North India, which is where all of Caroline’s Couture embroidery is crafted, and, working with Fridtjov Linde as Design Director, Caroline brought her dream to life.

And to instant acclaim. “The day after the first show, a queue began to form around the models that had remained on display in the showroom, where we were presenting our Red Carpet jewellery collection. We were totally overwhelmed! It didn’t take long for the first orders to come in.” A few months after, Saks opened a dedicated pop-up for the collection in Palm Beach, bringing “us a new clientele who didn’t even know about Chopard.”

Where Caroline’s Couture is now

It’s been a year since the premier Caroline’s Couture show and Ms Scheufele is back with a slightly larger collection of 77 pieces, including a few men’s silhouettes that are slated to make their runway appearance on May 21. She has also expanded her team of creatives to include milliner Philip Treacy who will create six hats and Parisian fashion house Cifonelli who is handling the menswear with five dinner jacket silhouettes embroidered with rhinestones.

And the pieces are not just about showcasing the Maison’s jewellery and accessories in the best light. They are also a reflection of the Swiss brand’s savoir-faire in the world of haute joaillerie. For example, a long strapless sheath in aqua green is entirely embroidered with flowers and tiny stones. And there is a black suit completely covered in black sequins in a hearts motif emblematic of Chopard jewellery.

Most of the fabrics are developed exclusively for Chopard by the Comes Gentili Mosconi silk manufacturer, while the tweed is supplied by the Reggiani wool manufacturer in Piedmont. The shoes, on the other hand, are courtesy of Casadei.

Caroline is confident that the success of her fashion collection last year isn’t just beginner’s luck, as this second edition will prove. And what’s behind her confidence? Well, the fact that it appears that she has done her homework and knows who her target audience is. In her own words, pivoting to haute couture, for Chopard, “ is good business … If we stay small, it can be profitable. There’s a market for it, especially in the Middle East and India.”

So, will Caroline’s Couture by Chopard succeed where most brands have failed? From all indications, it appears that it is on the right path, and maybe other luxury brands looking to pivot can borrow points from its playbook.

The post Caroline’s Couture V2.0: Chopard is Now a full-blown Fashion Brand first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Caroline’s Couture V2.0: Chopard is Now a full-blown Fashion Brand appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Which is why we have our gaze on the new Cartier Libre Polymorph collection. The creativity, savoir-faire, brilliant execution and surprising elements that run through every piece in this truly dazzling drop will not only delight but inspire even the most ardent non-Cartier fan.

Case in point, the Carabiner. Why would anyone want to turn the humble, hardworking shackle into a haute joaillerie piece? To which Cartier’s answer is, why not? And in this spirit, the Polymorph Carabiner is not just another shiny stoned piece in this collection: adorned in diamonds, lapis lazuli, black spinel, onyx, turquoise and chrysoprase beads with a sapphire cabochon, ruby-bordered, diamond-paved lock, the Carabiner doubles as a timepiece which no one who owns it is going to use unless in the most severe situation. And seeing as accessories are beginning to adorn other body parts not considered in their original design – only recently, Rihanna chose to convert the Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon to a neck piece – who says that this jewellery piece will be confined to a belt loop?

Then there’s the Celestial Encounter ring which ensures that even if you never get to experience a solar eclipse because you cannot be bothered to get the necessary observation tools out when one is taking place, you can at least have a perpetual visual representation of this yearly occurrence. This white gold, onyx and diamond piece mimics the natural phenomenon with its movable discs that can be spread out across the fingers or folded inwards to resemble a cocktail ring.

And if you are forever in awe of the rising of the sun or its setting, then Cartier’s From Sunrise to Sunset bracelet may be the best gift for you. Like the Celestial Encounter Ring, the design of this bracelet is reminiscent of the colours and shape of the sun as it moves from sunrise to sunset. There’s pink chalcedony, orange moonstone, palmeira citrine, Madeira orange citrine, intense fire opal, spessartite garnet, pink and yellow sapphires, diamonds, and an orange rutilated quartz at the tip all sitting on gold just like rays beaming from the sun.

Of course, it would not be a nature-inspired collection without a special appearance from the panther, Cartier’s beloved ‘spirit animal.’ This time, it finds expression in a Claws Out brooch that doubles as a timepiece, you know, just in case you need to surreptitiously check the time.

Other notable pieces in the Cartier Libre Polymorph collection include yet another timepiece brooch — the French brand is either fascinated with the concept of time, or takes the passage of time very seriously; a bracelet inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi (first picture), and sunglasses featuring coral, onyx, diamonds, and emeralds that drop down to look like earrings behind its wearer’s ears.

In the world of high jewellery, Cartier stands out as a big-time player, but not so big that it cannot play, recreate, re-imagine and surprise, as it has done with its Libre Polymorph collection. As the saying goes, All work and no play…

The post The New Cartier Libre Polymorph Collection is Creative … and Very Cheeky first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post The New Cartier Libre Polymorph Collection is Creative … and Very Cheeky appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Ask Google, and you’ll quickly realise that everyone has an opinion on what makes a bag a true luxury item and a great investment piece. In the end, it appears that a mix of design, function, scarcity, marketing and who thinks the bag is good enough to carry not just once, but repeatedly is what makes luxury handbags good investment pieces. Hermès makes a lot of fantastic bags, but it is the Birkin and the Kelly that are well-known. Chanel has released viral handbags over the years, but it is the Classic Flap that continues to catch and hold the attention of true fashion lovers over several generations.

No new fashion brand seems to have quite the appeal heritage luxury maisons enjoy in the world of handbags. Of course, a case can be made for the newer brands that they have only arrived and would need years to build a following over generations of fashion enthusiasts. But, with the kind of success the Row’s Margaux has had, not even this argument can hold much weight.

The Margaux: A Brief History

It is impossible to speak of the Margaux without discussing its parent company, The Row. Established by sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (if you’re a 90’s kid, you’d know who they are) in 2006, the logo-less, ‘quiet luxury’ brand has risen over the years to become the go-to luxury brand for celebrities and high-profile individuals seeking high-end, quality fashion pieces that look ordinary yet are anything but.

When the Margaux tote was released in 2018, it carried the brand’s timeless, top-notch quality DNA. Chunky in size but extremely sleek in quality, it quickly and quietly rose through the ranks to become the ‘it’ bag of the very rich.

Deconstructing the Margaux

There isn’t much to break down when you consider how minimalist the design of the Margaux is. It is a leather or suede handbag that features a rounded silhouette with a top handle and comes in four different sizes that are big enough to contain all your essentials including your laptop.

That’s it, No extra accessories featuring rare stones and very precious metals.

And yet, the Margaux continues to sell out at retailers and has been pictured on the arm or in the hands of the who’s who in society. Per Lyst, it was the hottest bag of 2023 Q4, although you wouldn’t guess this going through the brand’s page on Instagram.

Is the Margaux the new Birkin?

No.

This has nothing to do with whether or not one is bigger than the other or one commands a higher price on the resale market than the other. It is just as hard to walk into a retail store and pick up a Birkin as it is as hard to quickly grab a Margaux in-store. And both continue to remain hot on the resale market.

In reality, the Margaux is the Margaux and the Birkin is the Birkin and both are beloved for different reasons. And while the former may surpass the latter in value and status in the future, it takes nothing away from what the Birkin is and stands for. Which, in the end, is exactly what makes the Row’s Margaux handbag so unique.

The post The Row’s Margaux Tote May Be Just as Beloved as The Birkin, But… first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post The Row’s Margaux Tote May Be Just as Beloved as The Birkin, But… appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

It is not altogether surprising that Frank Ghery has put his spin on a Louis Vuitton timepiece. The renowned architect has had a longstanding relationship with the lifestyle maison spanning decades. It started back in 2001 when the LVMH chairman, Bernard Arnault and Ghery met, and the former commissioned the architect to design the Foundation Louis Vuitton. Years later, and Ghery has since designed more than buildings for Louis Vuitton: an 11-piece handbag collection was unveiled last year, and now, the Tambour Moon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Sapphire by Frank Ghery — which is the first ever LV timepiece to get the Poinçon de Genève stamp — is first of all a sapphire timepiece: more than 50% per cent of its parts are sapphire with the entire case and its components made from a single block of sapphire. The dial, its case and its crystal are the most impressive features of this piece aesthetically. Each dial is handmade from start to finish – because it is too thin to stay on a mount – in a process that took 250 hours to complete. It was finished with diamond powder and a diamond-tipped drill that imparts asymmetric patterns and swirls that can be seen at different lighting angles, all inspired by Gehry’s deconstructivist designs.

For movement, Louis Vuitton chose the LFTMM05.01 the delicate, open-work mechanical movement that gives the timepiece 80 hours of power at 21,600 vph. The entire timepiece is attached to white leather straps with a rose gold folding buckle that matches the movement’s base plate.

Limited to just 5 pieces, the Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire by Frank Ghery will set you back a whopping 935,000 USD. But, if you’re a lover of fine art, then it is a small price to pay for a truly remarkable, dual-function piece.

The post Frank Ghery’s Take on the Louis Vuitton Tambour is More Art Than Horology first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Frank Ghery’s Take on the Louis Vuitton Tambour is More Art Than Horology appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Not only has it reported that counterfeits in circulation in the UK have surpassed one million, but its research has also revealed that theft of luxury watches is on the rise. As of last year, the pre-owned luxury watch brand recorded about 6,815 pieces missing, a 60% increase from the previous year.

This is not surprising. Although prices of luxury timepieces continue to fall from their pandemic highs, they are still more expensive than they were pre-pandemic, and resellers will still definitely command a higher price than current retail value should they choose to sell today. For example, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500 model is listed at around $29,000, nearly double its original price, on the luxury watch price tracker, WatchCharts. On the same site, a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 stainless steel model goes for $103,357 on average, a threefold increase from its retail listing of $34,890.

If you’re looking to add a luxury timepiece to your rotation, here are some useful tips to keep in mind in times like these

1. Avoid making purchases where counterfeit pieces are high in circulation.

Per Watchfinder & Co, the UK is currently one such place. But in reality, counterfeits of luxury items are on the rise everywhere as they continue to prove to be valuable assets in and out of times of economic uncertainties.

Which may make it better to

2. Avoid the secondary market.

Especially if you cannot confirm the authenticity of the reseller or access credible pre-owned luxury watch dealers.

However, getting new models of some luxury timepieces is nearly impossible, since some are limited editions restricted to loyal customers or have been discontinued. If the timepiece you’re looking to buy falls in these categories, then it is best to

3. Employ the services of a trustworthy personal shopper.

Personal shoppers are known to source for deals that are not available to the public, including hard-to-get items. Instead of relying on online/offline secondary markets that may or may not have authentic timepieces on display, a better option would be to leave the sourcing and authentication of your desired timepiece in the hands of an experienced personal shopper.

But remember, theft of luxury timepieces is on the rise, which means you may end up still losing out even if your Rolex is the real deal. To this end, you may want to

4. Get your luxury timepieces from ‘less popular’ luxury brands or indie houses.

Although the value of luxury timepieces has skyrocketed since the pandemic, not all luxury watch houses have enjoyed this hike in value. In fact, it appears as though this ‘windfall’ is restricted to only Patek Philippe, Rolex and Audemars Piguet.

Try timepieces from other luxury brands that are still valuable but without the ‘hype’ associated with the big three. However, if you already own one from any of these labels

5. Be careful of the places you wear your timepieces to.

Keeping them safe includes not taking them to areas that are known to be unsafe and environments whose security you are not sure of.

It is also a good idea to insure your timepieces, so that, in the event they ever get lost, you do not lose both the watch and the money used in getting it.

The post Here’s Why Owning a Luxury Timepiece Now is More Challenging than Ever first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Here’s Why Owning a Luxury Timepiece Now is More Challenging than Ever appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Certainly not, because the 20th century is well, a whole century ago. But, luxury fashion appears to be edging towards the brink of yet another set of novel trends, and the possibilities peaking out from its depths hold the promise of truly exciting times ahead.

Marrying luxury fashion with visual arts and culture: On The Wings of Hermès and Goddess Awakened

Public fashion shows may no longer be considered groundbreaking, but putting up an art show where fashion and performance fuse synergistically is certainly a novel and interesting concept.

On Friday, July 17, Hermès welcomed select guests to On The Wings of Hermès, a cinematic performance that ran from the 15th to the 23rd of July at The Barker Hangar in California. Performing on stage for the first time was a chorus of singing Kelly Bags, pairs of dancing interlacing gloves, scarves and lipsticks from the French house.

According to Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès Artistic Director, “[On The Wings of Hermès] metaphorically illustrates the lightness that is omnipresent at Hermès: in the delicate hands of our craftsmen sewing with two needles at once; in the elegance of materials, and in the subtle notes of a perfume. It is an experience which sparks the imagination, designed by artisans of dreams.”

For Nike however, incorporating art into fashion was less about illustrating the versatility of the products and the skills that bring them to life, and more about showcasing why the products exist in the first place – for the athletes and the people who embody the ethos of the American brand.

Goddess Awakened, Nike’s immersive show which took place at the end of the Haute Couture week in Paris, focused on amplifying sportswomen’s achievements with the help of over 30 Nike partners and athletes. Performers, dressed in existing and yet-to-be-released merch from the brand held the audience’s attention while also subtly drawing their gaze to the products themselves. Athletes Ibtihaj Mohammed and Scout Bassey also made an appearance, cementing the notion that Nike is committed to being a reliable partner in women’s success stories and not just a mere high-end sports apparel brand.

As Nike and Hermès have proven, it is no longer enough for luxury brands to dress up models for a short strut down the walkway. Creatively immersing the audience into how their products are beneficial in real life just might be the 21st century’s version of a fashion show.

Finding new uses for existing luxury items: the Rihanna timepiece necklace and Beyoncé’s Tiffany & Co mesh gown

It is perhaps a wonder that timepieces have managed to remain in existence, in spite of newer technologies that have rendered their primary functions obsolete. Watchmakers like Tag Heuer and Bulgari are elevating these wrist accessories to tech and jewellery pieces that do more than tell the time or calculate speed to keep up with modern needs, but even these might not be enough to keep them on wrists in a new millennium.

Jacob&Co thinks so too, but the American jewellery house, known for its very complicated, non-traditional designs, does not seem to think that this would mean they would be discarded, but more like they would be worn on other body parts. Which is why when Rihanna approached them with the novel concept of designing a timepiece for her neck, founder Jacob Arabo was quick to say yes and sit with the singer to choose an appropriate piece for the purpose.

In the end, they settled for an 18-karat-gold Flying Tourbillon, set with 339 baguette diamonds, on a custom alligator-embossed calfskin strap and powered by a hand-wound movement and 42-hour power reserve.

Perhaps, it was easier for Jacob&Co to transform a timepiece into a neckwear, seeing as they are a jewellery brand, but how does the latter transform into making high-end garments? Tiffany & Co offers a clue, with their custom-designed Elsa Peretti gown for Beyoncé’s ongoing tour.  The garment – which took 200 hours to make, and was created from 150 feet of mesh ribbon woven with 300,000 rings through the mesh, side panels and shoulders – stole the show just as much as her performance.

Luxury fashion is clearly changing, with different items taking on new forms. It is interesting to see what the next re-imagined trend would be: purses that double as time and wrist pieces? Or perhaps footwear that also work as navigators?

The post Luxury Fashion is Finding New and Exciting Expressions first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Luxury Fashion is Finding New and Exciting Expressions appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

And, because Cartier is aware of these reasons, it has revamped this classic and timeless timepiece to make you fall even more in love with the understated yet unique and sensually beautiful style.

The Baignore: inspired by a bathtub or a more exclusive item?

Search for the Baignore, and nine out of ten times, the story is that its name is the French word for bathtub and its oval/elliptical dial and rounded bezel are reminiscent of this bathroom fixture. However, Pierre Rainero, Cartier’s image, style and heritage director is quick to debunk this popular myth.

The word ‘Baignore’ actually refers to VIP seats at the opera. “It was where the wealthy people sat. There were six seats together, with a kind of barrier around them,” he explains.

So, the next time someone tries to convince you that you have a bathtub on your wrist, you know exactly what to say in reply.

The 2023 Cartier Baignoire: more style, more bling

While the Cartier Baignore has undergone several changes to its shape since it first debuted in the early 1900s, its curved elliptical shape we know today only actually came on the scene in 1958. For its 2023 iteration, Cartier is preserving its shape but adding subtle changes to fit modern tastes.

First off, the bezel appears to be somehow more rounded and chunkier, adding a certain sensual voluptuousness to the entire piece, and putting the dial in sharper focus. Cartier chose two options for straps: a bangle that transforms the Mini Baignoire into full-blown jewellery, and leather alligator straps for a more muted look.

The Mini Baignoire Bangle comes in solid yellow or rose gold and a fully pavéd white gold version that is an absolute showstopper with a total of 834 brilliant-cut diamonds. Another version of the mini is attached to the alligator straps and offers the option of a solid gold case with or without diamonds.

The Small, on the other hand (pun intended), comes in six variations with cases in yellow, rose or white gold adorned with or without diamonds.

With prices ranging from $10,100 for the alligator-strapped, solid rose-gold model, to $48,800 for the fully pavéd Mini, the 2023 Cartier Baignoire cements its position as the timepiece for every woman, whether she leans towards more practical, stylish looks, or favours a blinged-out, still stylish piece of jewellery.

The post Love The Cartier Baignoire? You Would Adore its 2023 Iteration first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Love The Cartier Baignoire? You Would Adore its 2023 Iteration appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

‘A Masterpiece on the Wrist’: a Vacheron Constantin x The Louvre collaboration years in the making

Per Vacheron Constantin, this collaboration with The Louvre is titled A Masterpiece on the Wrist and will give interested clients a unique chance to work with Les Cabinotiers – the bespoke arm of Vacheron Constantin – to replicate their preferred art on the dial of their selected timepiece.

But this is not the first time the Swiss brand will be working with the French museum to create one-off artistic pieces. In fact, the idea started way back in 2016, after VC supported The Louvre in its restoration efforts of an 18th-century precision clock that belonged to King Louis XV. This project helped both brands to see how they could work together, and in 2019, they both entered into a formal partnership that gave birth to the Bid for the Louvre sale in 2020.

This first sale, the precursor to A Masterpiece on the Wrist project, was an auction that gave the winning bidder unique access to not only tour The Louvre but also the Cabinet des Dessins, a by-reservation only part of the museum which houses carefully curated artworks. It was here that the bidder chose a drawing – La lutte pour l’étendard de la Bataille d’Anghiari, by Pierre Paul Rubens – to be replicated on the dial of his timepiece, another benefit of the special sale.

Two years after, a special edition of four timepieces inspired by the museum’s antique collections: Métiers d’Art – Tribute to Great Civilisations, launched. This year, both establishments are going back to how it all started: one-off pieces featuring a historical artwork selected by the clients.

Making an Homage to Pierre Paul Rubens, La lutte pour l’étendard de la Bataille d’Anghiari

One would think that replicating art on the enamel of a dial would simply be a case of transferring a computer-generated miniature image of said art onto it or some other equally uncomplicated process. But this is far from the reality.

“Transcribing a drawing composed of ink and pen strokes onto a dial measuring 3.3 cm in diameter is a real challenge. You have to get inside the work and make it your own in order to find the level of detail while preserving the strength of the graphics”, explains Vacheron Constantin’s master enameller.

In order to achieve this feat, the master enameller chose to combine the Geneva miniature painting technique with the blanc de Limoges style generally used in grisaille enamel, a technique that allows only black, white and shades of grey to be used. The entire process involved the use of exact tools like brushes with 3-4 bristles and cactus spines; about 20 shades of brown, grey-brown, sepia brown and cream brown to replicate an image that looks just like the original drawing, and, alternate firings that preserved the first shades in the first layers of the dial.

The result is an artistic 18K 5N pink gold timepiece driven by in-house Calibre 2460 SC with a case back engraved with 17th century ‘Cerca Trova’ (he who seeks finds) calligraphy. “Engraving gives an extra-special touch to Haute Horlogerie watches”, says Vacheron Constantin’s master engraver.

The new Vacheron Constantin x The Louvre offer

A Masterpiece on Your Wrist is offering clients the possibility of experiencing a behind-the-scenes look at the Louvre Museum and its workshops, as enjoyed by the purchaser of the Les Cabinotiers – Homage to Pierre Paul Rubens, La lutte pour l’étendard de la Bataille d’Anghiari watch.

It will also involve the creation of a bespoke single-piece edition timepiece with a dial featuring an enamel reproduction of an artwork, selected by the purchaser from a collection of works, most of which are not on display in the Louvre Museum. The experience will be accompanied by a private tour of the Louvre in the company of its experts as well as another tour of the Vacheron Constantin factory to meet its master watchmakers and master artisans.

As for how much this experience will cost you? That is a question left for Vacheron Constantin: visit the website for further enquiries.

The post Create a One-of-One Art-Inspired Timepiece with Vacheron Constantin and The Louvre first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Create a One-of-One Art-Inspired Timepiece with Vacheron Constantin and The Louvre appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Designed by Damilola herself, the collection featured bold, vibrant prints and colours ubiquitous on the African continent. The clothes, which ranged from long, flowing gowns in tie and dye prints to casual brightly-coloured two-piece sets hit the runway alongside eclectic, afro-themed streetwear from Ethnic Attitude in a collaborative effort that proved that African fashion can be very much at home anywhere in the world as it is on the continent.

Guests at the event included fashion industry experts such as French fashion entrepreneur Eva Louves, fashion trends specialist Jessica Duarte, actress Aohod Al Nowais, TV presenter Lara Thabet, African media producer The Lady Mayowa, investor Abdulla Salem, and fashion stylist Bandar Algarmoushi.

Speaking at the event, OSalu Couture Founder, Damilola Salu, expressed her excitement saying, “I was thrilled to showcase my latest designs at the Network of Fashion Show alongside Ethnic Attitude. It was an incredible experience to see our unique vision come to life on the runway and to witness the audience’s positive reaction. I am pleased to showcase my work alongside other talented designers and to celebrate the beauty of diversity in fashion.”

Ethnic Attitude Founder, Oloyede Oyebanjo Ariyo, was just as ecstatic. “Our latest streetwear collection celebrates the richness and diversity of African culture in a trendy and modern look that any global citizen will love,” he stated. “We created a range that is both stylish and meaningful, with designs that reflect beauty and heritage. I am very pleased by the results of our collaboration with OSalu Couture. I believe we did the continent of Africa proud.”

Both the OSalu Couture and Ethnic Attitude brands started their design journey in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, and later established their global headquarters in Dubai, UAE. Since then, they have expanded their international reach and continue inspiring and empowering individuals to embrace their cultural identity.

The collections received high praise from fashion critics and enthusiasts present, with many applauding the brands’ unique and innovative approach to fashion, as well as their commitment to sustainability and ethical fashion practices especially in their use of locally sourced materials and the brand’s dedication to supporting local artisans and craftsmen.

To view their newest collections, visit their websites at osalucouture.com and ethnicattitude.com.

The post OSalu Couture and Ethnic Attitude bring African Fashion to Life on Dubai Catwalk first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post OSalu Couture and Ethnic Attitude bring African Fashion to Life on Dubai Catwalk appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Maybe because everyone suddenly seems to be watching Succession, or maybe because Gwyneth Paltrow’s trial happened at about the same time the trend started to get really ubiquitous: but, whatever it is, ‘quiet luxury’ or ‘stealth wealth’ currently has the fashion world in a chokehold. All of a sudden, branded items are tacky, down to your almost $53,000 Patek Philippe or your lesser-priced $2,700+ LV Air Force 1s.

If quiet luxury has always been your thing, it may be unsettling to see everyone and their pet claim to be connoisseurs of the ‘latest fashion trend.’ On the other hand, if it has never been your thing, you may be in a state of FOMO right now, wondering if perhaps it is not time to rethink your fashion choices. Fear not: whatever extreme you’re on, come with us to explore the core of quiet luxury – or, if you prefer, stealth wealth – and see why the hype around this lifestyle is simply that: hype.

A scant history of stealth wealth

With the noise about quiet luxury and everyone offering advice on go-to brands for anyone wanting to jump on the trend, it appears that the concept of understated luxury just started yesterday. But, dig a little further, and you would see that stealth wealth has been around for as long as luxury as a lifestyle exists.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Patricia Mears, deputy director of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Museum at FIT, explains that uber-rich people choosing not to flash their wealth through what they wear has been in existence since at least the 18^th century.

“You really have to go back to the end of the 18th century. You have the fall of the French monarchy, and then you have this sort of dual rise of industrialization and the rise of urbanization. And so men step into what is called the Great Renunciation,” she said.

“All of this court life goes away, and now you have the real power base being the industrialists. They come in, they build wealth and power, and they’re doing it in a uniform, the dark suit,” Mears stated further. “A lot of scholars have said that this really becomes the respectable uniform if you want to be both powerful and understated.”

Usually, stealth wealth or quiet luxury is a phase that is associated with economic changes. There was the minimalist aesthetic of the 1990s when Donna Karan and Miuccia Prada made practical dressing fashionable, and a show of stealth wealth amid the recession of 2008-09. But unlike most fashion trends, it is one that never really goes away because it has always been more of a lifestyle than it is a fad.

A thousand and one examples abound, but perhaps a really obvious one can be found in yet another popular TV series, Netflix’s Inventing Anna. The protagonist, Anna Delvey (Anna Sorokin), learnt a quick lesson in stealth wealth after she and her metallic ruffled mini dress were dismissed from Alan Reed’s office during her first meeting in his firm. Returning unannounced in a black suit from The Row, grey Chanel tote and thick-framed Celine glasses,  she got his attention and convinced him to vouch for her before possible lenders. Hate or like her, you have to hand it to her: Anna understood the lifestyle of the super-rich, and realised quickly that for this group, fashion is less about trends than it is about how people consciously (or unconsciously) express their views and understanding of wealth.

For other real-life examples, look no further than the fashion choices and lifestyle of multi-billionaires like Jack Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and even Bill Gates.

Quiet luxury – to be or not to be?

For a great number of people who are already stealth wealth practitioners, this is not even the question.

But, for the rest of us, this is one that we have to absolutely consider, especially if we are keen on fashion and the way we express ourselves through it. Is this fashion fad one to follow? Or is it at least one to explore?

Whatever your decision is at the end of the day, just remember that quiet, timeless luxury is a lifestyle that transcends time and seasons. It would never go out of fashion because if there’s anything the Roys in Succession or Anna Sorokin in Inventing Anna have taught us, it is that there would always be a time, place and season where it is imperative to display your wealth without necessarily putting it on display.

The post Quiet Luxury: What Most People get Wrong about the Latest Fashion Trend first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Quiet Luxury: What Most People get Wrong about the Latest Fashion Trend appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.