Luxury - 1. The state of great comfort and extravagant living. 2. An inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain. 3. Great ease or comfort; something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary.
Luxurious, quite a lavish word in itself.
Is it just me, or has there been an influx of energy focused on the word Luxury here lately? Whether it’s luxury apartments, luxury cars, luxury furniture, nails, tax, resorts, fragrances,.. the list goes on and on. But with fashion in particular, the term “luxury” has been in heavy rotation.
When most people hear “luxury fashion”, their first thought is generally expensive. And rightfully so I would say, as Luxury can definitely be expensive. Luxury Goods, Services, fashion, etc all remain things we don’t need, most can’t afford, but yet we all desire. We all want what we can’t get, since kids honestly. So with such a strong consumer demand for luxury products, Luxury Fashion Houses literally have the luxury to do as they please since they hold all the leverage. Limit the quantity, make it exclusive, tell the consumer why they ‘need’ it, and of course you guessed it., drive the price all the way up. Limited quantity, exclusivity, higher production costs, expensive retail price, high profit margins.. Seems like a legit business model if you ask me, perfect example of controlling your market. But with such high regard, comes great responsibility..
When you buy anything expensive that you really didn’t need, most people are expecting a strong return on whatever it is they are buying. It means a little more to you, you cherish it a little different.. You are expecting it to be of the best quality. For most fashion nerds, this is where we justify in our head the expensive pieces we buy. I, like most people expect my luxury pieces to be made of high quality fabrics, attention to the details, amazing fit and proportions, authentic story telling, functionality, sustainability,… the whole 9 yards. Unfortunately this wishful hope is only reflected with some Luxury brands, but that’s a different story for a different day. All I’m saying is, Luxury no matter the industry, requires a certain high standard, at least in our minds.
That same high standard we hold our luxury pieces to, should be the standard for a better self. That constant energy of trying to better yourself, the discipline, the courage, the sacrifices, the “Man this aint for me”; overcoming all of that, is a luxury. Our everyday experiences, livelihood, peace, our “get away”, should be of a luxury standard. That perfect person you aspire to be, you know the very best of yourself, is a luxury we should all try to reach.. We should all just remember, that life itself is the true luxury.