All posts filed under: Critiques

LUXURY PRODUCTS AND EXPERIENCES WE LOVE

Valentino Launches a New Exclusive Luxury Resort Line

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Is this athletic wear? Are these party clothes? Can I wear them to the office? Or to the gym? Yes, yes, yes and yes – at least in a manner of speaking. Last week, Valentino launched a 4-weeks-only pop-up shop on Spring Street in SoHo to showcase its latest resort collection. And it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen from the house of Valentino. We were invited to the “VIC” (that’s Very Important Client, thank you very much) event last Thursday, so we got to see it firsthand. And we love it. It’s luxury sportswear with a more literal take than usual – fresh, vibrant, energizing colors; crisp silhouettes; an urban sensibility; and an explicit nod to sports – especially basketball and boxing. The ad campaign was shot on a basketball court, with the models shooting hoops. The vibe of the collection is femme and macho, practical and whimsical, relaxed and hard-charging. The pieces are smartly-priced, and as a result they’re flying out the door. You should get yourself to the pop-up store before it closes …

Do Wolfgang Puck’s Luxury Steakhouses Make the Cut?

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Steak or salad? Which one is a true luxury meal? In our ongoing series, here at Dandelion Chandelier we’ve been exploring the pressing matter of whether a modern luxury dining experience is best experienced by kicking it old-school at a steakhouse. Or by joining in the wave of vegetable-forward, vegetarian and vegan fine dining restaurants, and forgoing a large piece of protein as the centerpiece of the meal. Team Salad has fared well: Restaurant Nix in Manhattan and Restaurant Millennium in the Bay Area both proved to be up to the challenge of providing a satisfying, beautiful and enjoyable meal. We were even moved to list the best vegetarian and vegetable-forward restaurants in Manhattan so that anyone who cares to can join in the fun. Now it’s time for Team Steak to get in the game. First up? On our recent trip to Los Angeles, I found myself with both a free evening and a great steakhouse in the immediate vicinity. So I had a solo dinner at CUT by Wolfgang Puck in the Beverly Wilshire …

How to celebrate Halloween like a hedge fund boss

How to Celebrate Halloween Like a Hedge Fund Boss

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

Why do the ultra-wealthy in New York love Halloween so much? We have no idea. But if you love the holiday and you’ll be in Manhattan, check out how the 1% like to prepare for the big night. On the Upper East Side of New York City, you’ll find over-the-top, fiendishly clever Halloween decorations on many of the elegant homes in the neighborhood. Here’s how to celebrate Halloween like a hedge fund boss.

A Luxurious Vibrant Jewelry Garden of Earthly Delights

Published by Pamela Thomas-Graham

In the rarified sphere of high jewelry, the highest possible level is bespoke pieces, custom-made for individual clients. Like haute couture, haute joaillerie items are made to order and crafted by hand, with intense collaboration and interaction between the jewelry designer and the client. The items are heirloom quality and — like royal jewels – each one has a story behind it. If you’re operating at this price point, you have the option of working with one of the storied European jewelry houses: Asprey, Bulgari, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpel, Graff, Cartier, Chanel and Dior all offer haute joaillerie designs that are essentially custom-made. An alternative that many sophisticated clients turn to is working directly with an artist who is classically trained in one of these maisons, but now creating work on their own. The advantage of that approach is that you are intimately involved in every step of the process, and you’ll receive highly personalized attention from a skilled artisan. You’ll also be the owner of a piece that is truly one-of-a-kind, created …