I have a couple of things to say today.
First – I have thus far amassed a collection of three Jo Malone scents.
#1 – Sweet Lime & Cedar – reminds me of Christmas time, working as an intern, and the sun setting early. It is woody and slightly spicy.
#2 – Pomegranate Noir – reminds me of living in Sarasota and of late nights doing thesis research. It is the sweetest of my scents, which is probably why I use it the least.
#3 – Wild Fig & Cassis – reminds me of Brooklyn, cold, dry weather, and the fall/holiday season. It is probably my favorite, and is very…woody. It smells like a forest.
Next I am looking at Amber & Lavender, Lime Basil Mandarin, or a larger, longer-lasting bottle of #3.
My next topic: Louis Vuitton vs. Hermes.
For those that are unfamiliar with this dynamic…Hermes is the privately-owned, highly-revered, and largely well-kept secret of the elite and tasteful. It has recently seen more and more media and mainstream attention, but it is still mainly appealing to those who value understated quality and design. Hermes prices are very high. Consider – $700 for a leather belt. Louis Vuitton, on the other hand, is virtually a household name in middle and middle-to-upper class households, is priced high but not so high as to crowd out potential buyers, and it is viewed as more of a ‘fashion house,’ even though its roots are in luggage-making.
Back to point – I found it interesting to see that Louis Vuitton is now producing a leathergoods line called ‘heritage,’ which uses primarily tanned goat skin instead of calfskin or coated canvas. The aesthetics simple and straightforward, as the emphasis is on ‘craftsmanship’ rather than flashy design. And, prices are noticeably higher than mainline LV products. I wonder if Louis Vuitton business leaders are finally realizing that they can’t reiterate the LV flowers motif printed canvas indefinitely. I have certainly read a number of articles lately floating the idea that luxury consumers are focusing on longevity and value, along with quality, rather than ‘of-the-moment’ design.
I have no doubt that these new (‘old’) Louis Vuitton items are beautifully crafted. My only point is to say that Hermes has been making exactly the same type of thing for years.
And my last point: Cities I’ve lived in, what they mean to me, in one sentence.
Tampa: A very easy city to live and play in, with just enough excitement, events, culture, and down time to provide a good balance.
Sarasota: A very pretty city, but one where racial inequality is very obvious and life moves at a much slower pace, creating periodic boredom.
Seattle: A sleepy place, where there are a million ways to explore the outdoors, eat delicious food, and revel in liberalism and intellectual pursuits.
Manhattan: A dreadfully exhausting, totally exhilarating experience that requires endless patience but which pays off daily by being so damn stimulating and full of cool people.
Bordeaux: A sophisticated, sometimes indifferent city that necessitates slowing your pace and indulging in cuisine and leisure more often than you might in America.
