An interesting article concisely pointing out some sharp differences about luxury spending in the two countries: https://jingdaily.com/chinese-and-indian-consumers-want-different-things-from-luxury/
V&R likes classic cars and I learnt today that Francis drives a modest Renault 4, nearly forty years old. The article looks at the cars of heads of states. It begins with the utterly beautiful Citroens favoured by the Presidents of France but ends with Francis’s modest number (https://petrolicious.com/articles/govern-tastefully-these-are-the-most-stylish-rides-for-heads-of-states).
We live in an “aesthetically voluptuous age.” Yes. His 1843 Fear and Trembling is a tough nut but that is spot on.
Wishing all readers a super New Year. For some good New Year’s reading look up an excellent article on one of the high points of fashion which I discuss in V&R Chapters 4 and 5. The link itself won’t transfer but pop over to the lovely website Quill & Pad and look up their…
I’ve nothing to add but it’s nice to know the Scots have named so obscure a place. On the map, Graham Land is the bit of Antartica closest to South America.
An impressive list of books to take on a business trip: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/designer-brunello-cucinelli-on-finding-cashmere-and-inspiration-in-mongolia
Over the last few months in a number of posts I have questioned the assumption of so many fashion pages that there is something pernicious about nationalism. There is, of course, such a thing as venomous nationalism but there is no fundamental law that nation and malice are twins. I simply have no idea…
Well, well. How nice is this? The Met is going to take up the themes of V&R this year in its annual meditation on fashion. The topic is the place of Catholicism in the lives of so many fashion designers (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/08/style/met-museum-costume-institute-catholicism.html). I shall certainly go and give you some of my thoughts here.
Readers know that the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury is a firm favourite of mine. He’d be delighted to see the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury deferring to, and feeling obligated by, the family home and its beauty: http://www.stgileshouse.com/blog/short-film-featuring-the-earl-of-shaftesbury
Going up for auction but a very fun thought: Might a day come when a pope would keep such a car and zip around Rome putting a smile of people’s faces? More here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/15/pope-francis-given-lamborghini-sports-car-plans-auction-charity/