THOUGHTS ON THE WORLD OF LUXURY AT LARGE
Who says you can’t have it all? Thanks to the new trend toward ugly, clunky, “Dad” sneakers with formal wear – even wedding gowns – you can simultaneously be totally on-trend and totally comfortable. You just have to have the confidence to own and rock the look.
One of the reasons we love covering luxury here at Dandelion Chandelier is because the topic is so complex and the very definition of what luxury is eternally evolves. For example, our very name reflects one of luxury’s enduring inherent dualities: luxurious objects and experiences must be perceived as authentic and deeply rooted in the ground – but they must also soar high above our heads, just out of reach, generating desire and acquisitiveness in the hearts of those who behold them.
Did you get the inside jokes about race in the film Black Panther? They were all there, lying in plain sight for those of us who grew up black in certain decades and certain kinds of households. As I watched Black Panther with my family on its debut weekend, I found myself making eye contact and laughing aloud with my wife and kids at times during the movie that some of my fellow movie-goers didn’t quite seem to get. It’s the same feeling I have when I watch the TV show Black-ish – with its upscale family of five children who attend private school, and whose parents are professionals. It’s so spot-on with the wry humor that lives in every striving black family that I still can’t believe America has embraced the show so enthusiastically. Like all great entertainment, both of these properties exist on multiple levels – and it feels as if some of the jokes were written just for us: for the members of the black community.
February 16, 2018 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dog on the lunar calendar, and the world’s luxury houses are responding with capsule collections of dog-themed gift items that might appeal to canine parents the world over, in addition to those actually celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY). Which raises an interesting question: who are these collections actually for, especially this year?
The new year has kicked off in the luxury sphere with a startling series of heartfelt and provocative moves by some leading brands to stay woke. Recently, we found three examples that moved us to stop and take note. We’re sure there are more, but these three caused us to reflect on what might be a new reality: woke luxury. Purveyors of luxury products and experiences can potentially play a transformational role in forging genuine connections between disparate communities, celebrating and encouraging human courage and decency, and ultimately helping to foster social justice in the world — if they choose to engage in actions that are viscerally moving, even shocking. Or just plain generous.
