Every once in a while — or maybe often — it’s worth a reality check to see if theory matches up to practice. Of course those of us inclined to note that being precedes consciousness (or practice precedes reason) are inclined to pay attention to what’s going on in the real world, but even still, it’s too easy to get disconnected.
So I was flipping through this month’s issue of domino , the home design magazine, and came upon the Editor’s Letter. And decided to quote it here, almost in full, almost without comment. It’s titled "the new luxury."
If the old notion of luxury relied on status symbols like of-the-moment handbags and private planes, our celebrates experiences — being more instead of having more, or caring less about what others think and more about just what makes us happy. Our features this month illustrate the breadth of this concept: A woman ditches London to follow her dream of living in the Spanish countryside; a madcap designer loads up his tiny apartment with exuberant wallpaper, layered patterns and even a decoupaged stove; and a young family redefines elegance and modernity to suit their own life.
Not to worry, we still adore objects! But today’s luxury goods aren’t just products — they’re cultural artifacts. We clamor for an iPhone not because it’s made by Apple or it’s the thing to have, but because it’s an ingenious device that’s thrilling to use (who doesn’t delight in zooming in and out with delicate finger arabesques?). More humble, everyday items can be luxurious too, from a water purifier so cleverly crafted it turns a chore into a pleasure to scents that subtly perfume a room. [Citations omitted.]
With this issue, we’re reclaiming the L word from its advertising-driven reputation. It’s about pursuing what you love and desire — trusting your instincts and convictions [!] and transforming your life into what you want it to be. In the end, luxury is personal [ . . . ].
