The Luxe Chronicles

Fashion: Lessons From The Master.

As a consumer, I'm frankly tired of the hype surrounding young designers. No sooner is the paint dry on their studio walls that they're being proclaimed industry darlings and inking deals with Target. Sometimes, it's hard to escape the impression that a number of them are more interested in the money than the craft. Others are being pushed to walk before they can crawl by an industry that has become increasingly brutal and relentless.

Well Said Indeed Olympia Le Tan!

Paris-based accessories designer Olympia Le Tan has been designing whimsical handbags in the shape of classic novels, milk cartons and other unusual shapes favored by discerning Parisians for years. Hand beaded by Ms. Le Tan herself, a single bag can require up to thirty hours of meticulous stitching and fetch upwards of £1000 GBP. The outspoken Ms. Le Tan was recently asked about her bags' hefty pricetags to which she rightly retorted:

Luxury: A Showcase For French Gastronomy & Craftsmanship.

I'm honored to be attending this evening a very special dinner hosted by French-born, U.K.-based chef Raymond Blanc and historic French cognac brand Martell. The dinner, which will take place in the windows of Harrods on Brompton Road, is quite literally and figuratively meant to be a showcase for France's long tradition of craftsmanship and gastronomy.

Must See: Pavillion of Art & Design London

I love an interior with personality. I love walking into a home filled with objects that tell a story. I love the feeling you get from sitting in a room where seemingly disparate objects from various historical periods and varying pedigrees exist in total harmony. This is why I'm particularly excited about the Pavillion of Art & Design London which takes place this week from October 12 till October 16.

Fashion: The Limits of Celebrity Status.

My regular readers are probably all too familiar with my point of view on celebrities and their forays into fashion design. To put it mildly, I'm not a fan. My position has always been that if people like Lindsey Lohan, Sarah Jessica Parker and others are so passionate about fashion that they want to try their hand at designing, then let them train first. Let them attend design school or apprentice with professionals who can teach them about stitching, draping, pattern cutting and tailoring. Let them learn that there's more to good design than what meets the eye. Perhaps this is why I tried to keep an open mind about Kanye West.

Digital Privacy: Please Scan/Rob/Stalk Me!

By now, most of my regular readers have probably concluded (correctly) that I love technology almost as much as I love shoes. Mind you, I don't love technology in of itself the way I love shoes but I do love what technology enables me to do. Thanks to technology, I can save precious time by working more efficiently and eliminating hassles. I can stay in touch with my loved ones regardless of my geographical location and I can even connect and exchange with complete strangers with whom I share an interest or passion. In short, I believe in the tremendous power of technology. The problem is that I don't always believe in the good intentions of the purveyors of that technology.

Well Said Valentina Schlee!

"Mainbocher unquestionably made the Duchess of Windsor look like a lady; for the same price, I could make her look like a queen." (Valentina Schlee)

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Luxury: A Steady, Deliberate Course For Ethan Koh.

My first encounter with Ethan Koh, the mild-mannered designer behind the fledgling Ethan K brand, took place over tea at The Connaught last April. At the time, Ethan was leading a duel existence: business student by day and purveyor of exquisite bespoke bags and clutches by night. By contrast, the young man I sat down with yesterday is still mild-mannered and determined but there is a new energy or spark to his demeanour. Recently graduated and with his degree in hand, his eye is now firmly focused on developing his business. His excitement is palpable.

Culture: Mad Men With British Accents? Think Again.

I was in a particularly dark mood on Tuesday evening when I sat down to watch the debut of The Hour, the new BBC2 six-part drama set in mid-1950's London about the development of a weekly news show in what was then the early days of television broadcasting. Like most of the U.K., I had watched snippets of the farcical parliamentary hearings into the News of the World debacle throughout the day and was feeling extremely cynical about the current state of journalism in Britain not to mention the British political class. I wasn't exactly keen therefore to watch a show about the golden age of journalism, especially one that on the surface at least, closely resembles Mad Men.

Fashion: Spotlight On The Dynamic Duo Of Italian Design.

I have been kindly invited to attend the launch party marking the introduction of Dolce & Gabbana to Net-A-Porter's already stellar designer line up this evening. To be honest, I've always had a soft spot for their sexy Dolce Vita-inspired vibe and am intrigued by their decision earlier this year to fold their D&G diffusion line into their main line. I otherwise know very little about them beyond the usual PR hype.