Modern Luxe

Is the idea of luxury in its traditional sense even a concern after The Longest Time In A Pandemic? There’s such an obvious focus on well-being, health, mindfulness and food in 2021. And then there’s the global (and seemingly permanent) shift that has taken place around working traditions, travel and socialising. But how has this impacted these industries – and others, like fashion? The good news is that there’s a renewed and more urgent focus on sustainability – one born out of a need to shop in a slower, more local, more environmentally friendly way. We simply don’t want to consume at the rate that we have been and we want, rather, to invest in something that we love, something that will last for years – or has lasted for…

1 EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GUCCI “Father, Son and House Of Gucci.” Those are the words intoned by a raven-haired, heavily kohled Lady Gaga, clad in puffy polka-dotted, figure-hugging Gucci, starring as the peerless Patrizia Gucci in Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated new Gucci biopic. Yes, we knowwwww.Simply called House Of Gucci and based on the book of the same name, it’s the fashion film we needed to see out this sweatpants-n-socks kind of a year. Since the first images from the set appeared in March – those creamy ski knits, those bedazzled necklines, those smouldering eyes – fashion fans have been eagerly waiting for more titbits – a follow-up shoot, a release date, a trailer. And now we have all of it, complete with a cast list that makes…

Has the last year-and-then-some of a global pandemic impacted the way in which we dress and the way in which we all consume fashion? You bet it has! Demand for pre-worn (you can call it vintage) clothes has jumped as we have all become increasingly conscious about our carbon footprint. Thanks to e-commerce options and rental services, the secondhand market has never been as accessible, nor as lucrative. Then there’s the concept of workwear – what does that even look like after 18 months of working from home in sweats? We’re more dressed-down and waaaaay more into sneakers than ever. And we’re not planning to change this casual approach. Welcome to your new look.…

Kriska-Leila Nepaul Attorney It’s clear that Kriska-Leila has a good relationship with vintage fashion. “I love the feeling of experiencing an escape to a different era,” she explains, “the historical charm of fashion, and the attention to detail and quality… But most of all, that moment of ‘meant to be’ when the vintage piece finds you!” And seriously, this vintage Matthew Williamson sequined number (once worn by Miley Cyrus, FYI) was destined to find Kriska-Leila.”It was a magical moment as I was zipped up and the dress fit like a glove,” she exclaims. Trust us, we were there: it was. But Kriska-Leila uses fashion to find magic in everyday life too. In fact, she claims, “it’s a manifestation of who I am”. Whether she’s going into the office, or working…

Whether it’s an Off-White-T-shirt, a Balenciaga bomber jacket or Burberry track pants, luxury streetwear is all the rage. It also means big money to highend fashion houses. In the past, these brands would have looked down on fashion direct from the streets, but now it’s an important way of reaching new and younger audiences. It may seem counterintuitive, but streetwear and designer clothing are a match made in heaven. Both realms have a penchant for the flash and exclusivity. They’re also equally status-driven and attract fans, whether they are devotees of the Nike Air Jordan 1 or the Hermès Birkin bag. But when did this philosophical shift happen and why? There is no doubt that Covid has impacted on the way we think about clothing. Forced to stay at home,…

If you really want to understand luxury street style, then sneakers are the place to begin. Statement sneakers are seriously en vogue, and who doesn’t love a fun pair of kicks hanging around their ankles – dressed up or down? For some, they’re even a lifestyle, an art form and a way of defining identity. Named for their ability to step quietly, sneakers date to the late 1800s when rubber-soled shoes were first used on both the croquet lawn and basketball court. Over the next century their popularity was cemented, first as an athletic shoe and later as a fashion staple. “Sneakerheads”, as the fanatic fans are called, have been buying and collecting pricy sneakers for decades. Some may balk at this idea, but research says that they might actually…