Month: November 2017

twist: this week in sports talk november 26th, 2017

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

You don’t love professional sports, but your livelihood and/or personal happiness depends upon your being able to converse intelligently about it. It’s a common dilemma with a simple solution: you need to learn a new language. You need to learn how to talk sports. And we’re here to help! The TWIST is our weekly Dandelion Chandelier guide to what’s happened on the field, on the court and on the ice. Every weekend you’ll find the three (and only three) things you need to know this coming week to speak cogently about professional sports with the boss, the gang at the office, your barber, your barista, your secret crush, or your in-laws. Do the TWIST every week and we promise you’ll know how to talk about sports like a champion.

November’s Sparklers: Those Who Choose to Shine

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Sparklers is a monthly series at Dandelion Chandelier designed to highlight people, groups and institutions who have recently spread light in the world, even in the midst of great darkness. Every day, people choose to shine in ways large and small. These moments of grace and generosity don’t always get reported on, and unfortunately they can be quickly forgotten. We need to hear, reflect on, and share these stories. Because good news, optimism and kindness could be the sweetest luxuries of all. It’s Thanksgiving Day, so it’s a particularly apt moment to showcase some Sparklers who caught our attention in recent weeks:

What are the Best Pieces in the New Resort Collections?

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

The 2017-18 luxury designer resort collections are now fully delivered, and available online and in-store. Resort (or “cruise,” if you like the old-school moniker) is one of our favorite seasons – the clothes tend to be less trendy and therefore a more sensible investment. The looks are usually polished, optimistic and versatile. Plus they evoke distant lands untouched by snow and ice: the desert, the tropics, the Mediterranean. What better way to dream a little dream than to browse the best of the resort collections? Whether you’re buying because you’ve already got an elegant trip planned, or just “window-shopping” and looking for inspiration, this is a great time of year. Our intrepid team here at Dandelion Chandelier has zeroed in on seven luxury brands we love, to see what’s on offer this resort season. We like to think of them as the “Magnificent Seven:” Gucci, Valentino, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, FENDI and Prada. We’ve assessed apparel, shoes, sneakers and handbags. And we’ve got the one must-buy item of the season. Here’s our Style Editor’s resort …

The Charities Luxury Brands are Helping This Holiday

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Amidst all the glitter and sparkle of the holiday season, it’s important to know whether the brands we’re supporting with our purchases are in turn doing something meaningful to support the communities in which they do business. It’s a relevant question all year long, but particularly at the year-end holidays. Many local charities rely on donations garnered at this time of year to support their programs all year long. While you may be making a number of charitable contributions on your own, here at Dandelion Chandelier we thought that you might also want to know what some of the leading global luxury brands and retailers are doing to lend a hand to those in need right now. Here’s a sample of the philanthropic activity underway in the luxury sphere for holiday 2017:

Luxury Insider Tips on the Best First Trip to Cape Town

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Insider Itinerary is an occasional series here at Dandelion Chandelier that shines a light on the best places to see, stay, and dine in some of the hottest travel destinations worldwide. Our far-flung correspondents are sharing their inside tips about how to best experience their chosen cities, especially if you’re visiting for the first time. Consider it your local luxury GPS. You’re welcome!  First up, our Paris Bureau Chief shares the ideal itinerary for a first trip to Cape Town, South Africa. His (lightly edited) suggestions follow. The coastal city is the second-most populous urban area in South Africa after Johannesburg, and the legislative capital of the country. In 2014, Cape Town was named the best place in the world to visit by both the New York Times and the Daily Telegraph. It made several lists of the best places to go in 2017. Several of our correspondents name it as one of their favorite destinations in the world. After reading this, we’re pretty sure you’ll want to see it for yourself.