There’s a lady on my island who spent the early 70s at the Esalen institute studying esoteric psychology and she said it was the best time and place to be alive EVER
First up, my Schadenfreude always gets a little giggly when LVMH underperforms.
But secondly, I remember a documentary on New Jersey diners recently that are essentially institutions and honorary community members themselves. The owner of one of them was genuinely saying that once he’s gone, it’s very likely that so will the diner and it’s so heartbreaking to see a staple of a culture get torn down
Luxury has turned to merch these days, and it's because smaller brands who kind of drove the cachet of culture kind of Trojan-horsed their way into luxury, and luxury let its doors down. And now, luxury wants to shut the doors back up, and I feel like it will be a little hard for luxury to kind of shut the tap off and kind of be whimsical about not adhering to a sense of how culture operates and the ever-arching need to constantly operate in a sense of strategy. And that's just really harsh and hard to kind of do with a K-leg shaped economy
Okay, I’ve always wanted to have a chic cigar lounge that wasn’t designed by/for old men, while keeping true to some of the more classic aesthetic elements to where you could picture a Robert De Niro and Stanley Tucci type becoming a regular there. (I’m not even a smoker, but I love the smell to a concerning degree lol)
And American diners have such a special place in my heart ♥️
But also feels impossible lately to connect the great ideas/taste with the money *without* involving private equity which just ends up ruining everything
another great debrief. re: white lotus — just spent a birthday at esalen institute and it’s like a spiritual white lotus. highly recommend.
There’s a lady on my island who spent the early 70s at the Esalen institute studying esoteric psychology and she said it was the best time and place to be alive EVER
wooow, that is special. back then it really was countercultural af. now it’s a bit watered down / more bougie but, hey it’s a great vacation.
Esalen institute is the dream!!!!!!!!!!
First up, my Schadenfreude always gets a little giggly when LVMH underperforms.
But secondly, I remember a documentary on New Jersey diners recently that are essentially institutions and honorary community members themselves. The owner of one of them was genuinely saying that once he’s gone, it’s very likely that so will the diner and it’s so heartbreaking to see a staple of a culture get torn down
I hope their resurgence will have people willing to take the torch and keep these gems going 🤍
Yes! I’m loving the rise of the maximalist aesthetic in hotels! Interesting to see Nobu getting into the branded residences game
Me too <3 and so interesting with all of these non-hotel brands…
happy we share our love for martha!! also so interesting to read how cultural capital is changing, thank you for keeping me up to date!! <3
Always always!!! <3
Did you see the Summer Friday branded diner mugs?
I didn’t!!! You have to hook me up
Also on branded residences: Miami's Mercedes-Benz Places condo project in Brickell faces an $80.4M foreclosure lawsuit amid construction.
Stop it!!!! I have a branded resi article coming up, this is now filed under it
Luxury has turned to merch these days, and it's because smaller brands who kind of drove the cachet of culture kind of Trojan-horsed their way into luxury, and luxury let its doors down. And now, luxury wants to shut the doors back up, and I feel like it will be a little hard for luxury to kind of shut the tap off and kind of be whimsical about not adhering to a sense of how culture operates and the ever-arching need to constantly operate in a sense of strategy. And that's just really harsh and hard to kind of do with a K-leg shaped economy
There is imminent change in the air and I’m curious to see if the industry can pull it off
Carsten Holler’s Swing-set selfie
Bullseye
https://andjelicaaa.substack.com/p/what-is-next-for-merch?r=usxin&utm_medium=ios
Okay, I’ve always wanted to have a chic cigar lounge that wasn’t designed by/for old men, while keeping true to some of the more classic aesthetic elements to where you could picture a Robert De Niro and Stanley Tucci type becoming a regular there. (I’m not even a smoker, but I love the smell to a concerning degree lol)
And American diners have such a special place in my heart ♥️
This is exactly it Natalie!!!! And samesies, I’m not a smoker but absolutely there for the vibes. And diners 4ever <3
But also feels impossible lately to connect the great ideas/taste with the money *without* involving private equity which just ends up ruining everything