Is Hermés Overtaking Louis Vuitton a Click-Bait Pipe Dream? Or a Scientific Math Possibility
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LVMH Reports Record 2023 Financial Results Adding $30 Billion to Market Value
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Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon and Hennessy [LVMH] reported 2023 year-end sales of 86.15 billion euros [$93.46 billion], representing a 10% organic increase in fourth quarter and a 13% organic growth yearly increase against 2022.
Profit from recurring operations stood at €22.8 billion for 2023, up 8%. The current operating margin remained stable with respect to 2022. In addition, LVMH has advised the markets that it anticipates no further price increases across its business units in 2024.
Now that he is back to being the richest man in the world, thanks to a 12% rise in LVMH’s stock price on Friday, Arnault’s practice of engaging his children in collective conversations around every aspect of the entire LVMH business over Zoom lunches — early breakfast in New York — reminds us that the family is not a Rupert Murdoch-like clan of cannibals.
Read MoreTom Ford SS2024 Campaign Launches Zegna-Lauder March to Top 10 Luxury Brand
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Tom Ford’s codes, “of glamour, sexiness, elegance, and beauty,” are embraced by promoted Tom Ford Creative Director Peter Hawkings as well, the designer told Vogue in advance of his September 2023 Milan Tom Ford runway debut.
In the just-released Spring 2024 Tom Ford ad campaign, the visual impact is Zegna with edge. Stars of the Tom Ford Spring 2024 campaign are Alaato Jazyper, Dara Gueye, Eva Komuves, Ilias Loopmans, and Jeanne Cadieu, lensed by Robin Galiegue [IG].
Tom Ford does not need fixing in the minds of Estee Lauder, the business tean at Zegna or Hawkings himself. In that case, who is better than Peter Hawkings to inherit the Tom Ford design mantle and not be obsessed with turning a design vision inside out to make it “his own.”
Read MoreBurberry's New Pop-Ups and Immersive Events Design Live Well in a Psilocybin World
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The field of Burberry winter 2023 purple roses popping into the first floor of Seoul’s Shinsegae Department Store's Gangnam branch is a feast for our psilocybin-loving eyes.
This new Burberry pop-up in Seoul is sophisticated, charming in a totally-modern way and also a reflection of ‘restrained psychedelic design’. There is nothing ‘flashy’ about the visual design. It beckons us, however to explore the shop — which is a key attribute of a successful pop-up.
‘Restrained Psychedelic Design’
Magic mushrooms inspired profound introspection and spiritual connections long before the rise of monotheism.
In a world where psilocybin use is coming at us in a profound and urgent way — after a Nixon-administration 50-year ban — my reaction to the Burberry purple roses display was instantaneous.
My memory was transported to my own use of psilocybin and a dark night walk I took, eventually sitting down next to a flower bed on my own lawn.
Read MoreKering Acquires 30% of Valentino with Option for 100% of Shares by 2028
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Kering will acquire a 30 per cent share in Valentino from parent company Qatar’s Mayhoola for an all-cash sum of €1.7 billion, the conglomerate announced on Thursday. The agreement, a significant acquisition for Kering’s fashion business, includes the option for Kering to acquire 100 per cent of the share capital of Valentino within five years. It will immediately acquire Valentino board representation upon necessary approvals of the deal.
The transaction is part of a broader strategic partnership between Kering and Mayhoola, which could lead to Mayhoola becoming a shareholder in Kering. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023, subject to approval.
Read MoreSporty & Rich X Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and the New French-American-AOC Alliance
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Embracing her faux French roots without behaving like an imposter, it’s perfectly natural — even logical — that Sporty & Rich finds itself in an exciting collaboration with one of the world’s most important destinations — Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Antibes.
Sporty & Rich is not just a fashion brand; it represents a lifestyle that seamlessly blends athleticism, wellness and luxury. At its core, the brand embraces the belief that being active and maintaining physical fitness should not compromise one's sense of style or desire for clothes with an attitude of luxury.
Canadian-born, New York-based founder Emily Oberg has a sixth-sense for brand DNA and pedigree, and she plays her hand expertly — choosing a name like Sporty & Rich for her brand, but not falling down the rabbit hole of vapid pretentiousness.
Read MoreCeline Fall 2023: Kaia Gerber Ads, Harrods London Parfumerie, Celine in Shenzhen, China
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Kaia Gerber returns to Celine’s new 2023 campaign in a collection named “Age of Indieness”, with its big reveal last December 2022 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.
The Chasseur jacket, the Newspaper Triomphe bag, and bold sunglasses worn 24/7 express the Celine vibe in the new campaign.
Slimane’s images of Gerber channel the rebellious spirit of the mid-2000s. Kaia wears all the sleek and structured silhouettes we’ve come to expect from Hedi Slimane, who has refashioned the LVMH brand in his own image.
As Phoebe Philo is ready to return with her own eponymous collection, with a beloved following, LVMH financing and her Celine old mailing list, it’s important to note the great success that Celine has enjoyed under Hedi Slimane’s tenure as creative director.
Reality is that LVMH has achieved staggering results with the expansions of Louis Vuitton and also Dior. I would never second guess their goals on what is achievable with Celine.
Read MoreLVMH Launches Bold Focus on Preserving and Teaching Craftsmanship Across France
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The Rencontres Economiques des Metiers d'Art Forum, organized by leading partner LVMH, is an exciting new platform celebrating the convergence of art, artisanship and commerce in the luxury sector.
The platform launched in the picturesque town of Tonnerre, Burgundy on June 30, 2023, designed to bring together renowned artisans, industry experts, art enthusiasts business leaders to explore the rich but intricate relationship between craftsmanship and economics.
With a focus on preserving traditional techniques while embracing innovation, the goal of the forum was and will be a catalyst for dialogue and collaboration among talented individuals from various artistic disciplines. It’s indisputable that the artisans themselves are at the center of this metaphorical wheel of French excellence.
Read MoreGigi Hadid Fronts New Miu Miu Matelassé Arcadie Bag Campaign
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Supermodel Gigi Hadid fronts a new campaign breaking Thursday for Miu Miu’s matelassé in two styles — the already-iconic Wander, and the newly-debuted Arcadie — lensed by Steven Meisel. [The photographer now has a very quiet Official IG page posting older images.]
For the first time — after taking a huge leap on Lyst’s hottest brands list in 2022, over their mini skirt — Miu Miu has the second place position. Mothership Prada has the top slot in first quarter 2023, after replacing Gucci in fourth quarter 2022.
The Wander [pouch] and the newly debuted Arcadie [rectangle] style in the signature matelassé series offer great promise to become new “pillars” of the Miu Miu bag category, following the iconic history of Miu Miu’s Pocket.
Read MoreAngelina Jolie Launches Atelier Jolie For Self-Expressive Humanists Clients and Global Creators
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"We will use only curated quality vintage material and deadstock," Jolie wrote under her Instagram post, which revealed a rustic brand logo [see collage] designed by Peter Miles, an art director who has collaborated with such fashion brands as Celine, Gabriela Hearst and Repossi. "You will be able to repair or upcycle a piece from your closet you wish to revive, perfecting fit, breathing new life into what could have been thrown away, and creating quality heirloom garments with personal meaning."
Speaking personally, Anne thinks Jolie will get help from women like Gabriela Hearst and Maria Grazia Chiuri. She has deep roots into the luxury brands community — brands with excellent deadstock. Jolie wears Gabriela Hearst frequently. And don’t forget Stella McCartney, who two years ago was in charge of deadstock across all the LVMH divisions. The only one not in the LVMH fold now is Hearst.
Oh please, I love this!!
LVMH Luxury Ventures, the fund created to assist young and promising brands, acquired in 2019 a minority percentage of Gabriela Hearst. The investment of the French conglomerate will allow the brand to develop all over the world. I just checked, and that investment remains on May 18, 2023.
Read MorePrada Reopens in East Hampton, NY As Summer Luxury Rentals Market Cools
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With the opening of Prada’s East Hampton newly-redesigned store at 2 Newtown Lane, the summer 2023 luxury brands offering is nearly set.
Prada opened the 1600 square foot store in July 2022 with green and white cabana stripes and not today’s blue and white. The Italian luxury brand will drop product exclusive to the Hamptons, where this is their only store.
In the world of post-COVID summer rentals, the overheated market appears to have cooled. The number of rentals has expanded as demand has fallen.
Read MorePasticceria Marchesi Inspires Prada Caffè Harrods London Until January 2024
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On the eve of its 200th anniversary, the spirit of Pasticceria Marchesi transformed as the Prada Caffè has popped into the main floor of Harrods in Knightsbridge, open until January 7, 2024.
Open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday, Prada Caffè is a full-fledged restaurant serving strong espresso accompanied by pistacchio fagottini and eggs Florentine with caviar for breakfast. Take heart — you can also enjoy yogurt and granola.
The Prada Group acquired control of Pasticceria Marchesi in 2014, nearly 200 years after its opening at Via Santa Maria alla Porta. Despite the change in ownership, the pastry shop continues to operate with the same passion for excellence at its original location, offering its fresh patisserie, signature chocolates, and classic Milanese Panettone.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton SS2023 Capucine Campaign Teaches Us Kintsugi with Lea Seydoux
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Louis Vuitton’s Capucine bag heads into its second decade, showcased for Spring/Summer 2023 by maison ambassador Lea Seydoux.
In this moment of so many challenges central to our lives, the Spring 2023 Capucine bag with a handle made using the ancient Japanese Kintsugi technique may be the most special.
Seriously, can the handle of a Louis Vuitton Capucine bag teach us a life lesson?
In an throwaway, one and done, age of mass production and reckless disposal, ‘kintsugi’ is not only focused on repairing our favorite chipped vessels.
Now we learn that ‘kintsugi’ is also a way of crafting — even mending — our lives. It’s very Zen and challenges humans to consider the contemplation of imperfection, as well as the constant flux and impermanence of all things.
Read MoreMyriem Boukadida in Prada Eternal Gold Collection for Vogue Arabia November 2022
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AOC returns to Prada’s Eternal Gold Collection in this fashion story ‘Now and Forever’ for Vogue Arabia’s November 2022 issue.
The new Vogue Arabia story features Tunisian model and actor Myriem Boukadida, styled by Eline Hoyois in images by Luka Booth [IG].
100 per cent of the gold used in Prada’s new Eternal Gold Collection is Certified Recycled Gold which meets the Chain of Custody’ standards set by the Responsible Jewelry Council.
Read MoreBalenciaga Recklessly Threw Children and Prominent Women to the Curb
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Balenciaga’s Betrayal Is 3-Fold
1) Few of us believe the campaign ever came to life without the approval of Demna or someone very high up at Balenciaga, Demna undercuts his own fashion industry credibility.
2) Balenciaga threw Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Bella Hadid and more to the curb. The brand didn’t give a twit how Demna’s artistry might impact their careers and reputations.
3) America has angry vigilantes toting AR-15s and other high-capacity guns killing people at random — and many victims are members of the LGBTQ community, called groomers.
Read MoreConfirmed: Gucci Creatve Director Alessandro Michele Has Departed
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Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele has left the Kering-owned luxury brand. Note:
The former accessories designer is credited with reviving Gucci's popularity with undeniably Gucci flamboyant and gender-fluid styles. That can be part of the problem in a fashion culture that is always on the move.
François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering, said of Michele: “His passion, his imagination, his ingenuity and his culture put Gucci centre stage, where its place is. I wish him a great next chapter in his creative journey.”
Read MoreEstée Lauder Acquires Tom Ford Luxury Fashion Brand in $2.8 Billion Deal
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In truly splendid news, Tom Ford has sold his brand to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. for $2.8 billion. The sale takes one of the world’s biggest beauty companies into the world of luxury fashion.
In this moment when American voters have beaten back — but claim no victory over — the winds of Republican-party authoritarianism and Christian nationalism, we are joyous to celebrate the business marriage of a working class daughter born Josephine Ester Mentzer to Hungarian Jewish immigrants in Queens, New York in 1908 and Thomas Carlyle Ford born August 27, 1961 in Austin, Texas to realtors Shirley Burton and Thomas David Ford.
Read MoreA World of Increasing Rarity: Green Fancy Diamonds With A Master Strategy to Sell Them
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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have done more to educate the world about fancy diamonds than any two people alive.
Neither of their engagement rings was purchased at Astteria, headquartered in London, but they could have been.
Perhaps it’s because I devoted 30 minutes listening to Mr. Hadary’s podcast with Paul Zimnisky [scroll to bottom of page] that I have a sense of his personality.
He is absolutely an ambitious, very intelligent, savvy businessman. But there is also a warmth to his personality that inspires engagement and trust. He’s a human you want to know — an asset to the planet.
Read MoreLoro Piana FW 2022 Campaign by Mario Sorrenti | AOC on Sustainability at Loro Piana
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Top models Edie Campbell, Mona Tougaard and Leon Dame pose against rocky but fecund terrain of Brittany, France. LVMH brand Loro Piana unveils its Fall-Winter 2022 campaign, lensed by Mario Sorrenti [IG], with art direction by Heiko Keinath.
As always — and especially on the subject of a mostly cashmere-driven collection— AOC turned our attention to Loro Piana’s sustainability efforts. Our usual sustainability pit-stop at Good on You was operating just now.
Read MoreWhich Luxury Bags Speak to You: Golden Goose or Celine?
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