The Luxe Chronicles

Ab Fab For Alexis Bittar? Well Why Not Sweetie?!

I love that rather than enlisting a celebrity to front her ad campaign, New York-based accessories designer Alexis Bittar has chosen the beloved Ab Fab characters "Edie" and "Patsy" in all their obnoxious, politically incorrect, drunken fabulousness to do the job. I love the statement it makes about the Alexis Bittar brand even more: Humour. Most brands have too little of it. Kudos to you for taking the risk Ms. Bittar!

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Here's To You Facebook Users!

To all those Facebook users out there (especially women who drive 62% of activity on the site) who freely share links, stream music, read the news, play virtual games, click on Facebook’s “like” buttons, express political views, meticulously update your relationship status, upload family pictures and other deeply personal information about yourselves, congratulations! You are about to collectively make Facebook, its founder Mark Zuckerberg, his early investors and key executives of his company very wealthy. Or, more accurately, you're about to make them wealthier still.

Top Ten Reasons Why Madonna Remains The Undisputed Queen Of Pop!

If the untimely demise of Michael Jackson cemented his title as the King of Pop, then Madonna's Super Bowl extravaganza this past weekend cemented her title as the Queen of Pop. At 53, and in just under 13 minutes, she managed to wipe away any doubts as to her ability to reign supreme over the fickle, sexist and ageist industry that is pop music. Here are the top ten reasons why she deserves our respect.

Books: A Very Thoughtful Gift.

Shortly after I arrived in Paris this past January, I received a very thoughtful present from French friends I met a few summers ago. They had read my post about moving to Paris and my reference to that mythical creature "la Parisienne" and promptly sent me a copy of Sabine Denuelle's La Parisienne dans l'Art (Citadelles & Mazenod, 2011). It arrived at my door beautifully wrapped with a very sweet note. Of course, being in the midst of moving and surrounded by a mountain of boxes, I leafed through it briefly and reluctantly tucked it away in a safe place to resume the tedious task of unpacking.

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:

Change Is Good But ...

I think I'll just stand still for a little while.

I often hear the expression "change is good for you." While I agree with this sentiment (in principle), I feel strongly that a caveat is required. I would add that change is good for you in a "whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger" kind of way and as far as I'm concerned, I've embraced just about all the change I can take for a while.

All I Want For Christmas This Year ...

Dear Readers:

The world seems like an increasingly harsh place right now. The holidays are going to be painful for a great many people as Western economies continue to stagnate and austerity measures begin to bite in earnest. To be honest, I'm finding it rather difficult to enjoy my good fortune when there is so much misery around me. This year, as you prepare to spend the Christmas holidays warm and safe amongst friends and loved ones, please have a kind thought or prayer for those less fortunate. Better yet, make a contribution to your favorite charity. It doesn't matter what worthy cause you ultimately choose to give to or the size of your contribution so much as the act of giving itself. I wish you all a merry Christmas and all the very best for the new year ahead. Don't forget to count your blessings.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Martell: The Art of Marketing A Heritage Brand.

One of the aspects I value most about my recent trip to Cognac for the House of Martell is the opportunity to learn more about the cognac industry. Too often, luxury brands shroud themselves in mystery. Cultivating a certain reserve can obviously be a useful way of managing a brand's image and in some instances can even enhance it. As a consumer however, I find that my affection or admiration for a brand is often enhanced by being offered a glimpse behind the scenes.

Gastronomy: The House Of Martell Embarks Upon An Audacious Culinary Adventure.

It takes a certain audacity to cast aside generations of tradition and plot a radically new course.  Cognac, a drink long associated with the antiquated post-dinner ritual where men withdrew to the library for cigars and serious discussion while women stayed amongst themselves for coffee and light banter, is being rebranded as a total culinary experience.  The move is all the more audacious when you consider that it is the work of France's oldest cognac house, Martell, founded in 1715.