The Golden
Age of Hollywood was during the Great Depression. As you can see from Louis Vuitton, to Dior, and
other top designers’ runway shows, that elegance is back in a big way! When times are bad people seek beauty that is
missing in their own life. Media booms
as people look for affordable ways to escape the “ugly” of their reality. Most luxuries, out side the fashion & cosmetic
industries’ clientele, has the UHNW, and they are generally not hurt badly in economic
down turns, and this recession is no different.
Luxury brands faired the depression well.
As I have been stating all along in my articles, and now studies are proving
me correct, the wealthy are back at prerecession levels and it is their
spending that is leading us out of the rescission. I would see article written by poorly informed
journalist touting that “luxury was dead”.
This is just ignorant. There has
never been a time when there was not a luxury market. Historically, bad economic times bring luxury
on full throttle. Purchases of big ticket items like yachts and exotic cars are
up!
During the boom
of the financial bubble of the 80’s, snide names like “Snob” were considered
funny and even kitsch for magazines. Now, that irreverence is perceived as
distasteful. In the 80’s people drank $800 bottles of wine because they were
$800, not because of any understanding of the art form. “Life Styles Of The Riche and Famous” showing
gaudy gluttony and disrespectful waste of resources, ruled TV. Now, the wealthy are anxious to learn and to
be knowledgeable about its value, be elegant in their demeanor, and enlightened
and generous in their inclusiveness. The
new spiritual movement has lifted the shackles of religion and has created a
more receptive, less arrogant attitude.
The UHNW seek the more elegant aspects of luxuries.
As Society seeks poise over vulgarity, we are seeing names and photos of legendary ladies like Grace Kelly and Lauren Bacall return to our media. The nouveau riche antics of the Kardashians and Paris Hilton, and today’s pedestrian supers stars like Lindsay Lohan and Britney spears are pushed aside for the glorious memories of the elegance and sophisticated beauties of the past. A time when self control, intelligence, education, kindness and grace mattered as much as looks and talent. The Golden Age Of Hollywood was a time when society expected our stars to exhibit beauty in all aspects of their life. There is an old saying “something good always comes from something bad”. Perhaps the good that has come out of the recession, is a change in what we value. We are returning to the appreciation of quality both internally and externally. It is not the price tag, but the “culture” that today’s wealthy seek. This is why Lorre’s Luxury shows, that educate and entertain the UHNW on the distinction between the best of the luxury brands, have had so much organic growth.
www.LuxGuru.Typepad.com
Lorre quoted: We are returning to the appreciation of quality both internally and externally. It is not the price tag, but the “culture” that today’s wealthy seek.
I am so grateful for the return to quality. As a Couture Perfumer it is all about the quality and the "art" of creating botanical perfumes. We don't need any more cotton candy Hollywood fragrances. I think we have outgrown them.
Posted by: JoAnne Bassett | July 09, 2010 at 05:07 PM