What Is Luxury Now? Industry Insiders Give Their Take
Some friends of FEMALE and Bagaholicboy weigh in the definition of luxury today.
For all our consumerist nature, we know that there's much more to living well than pursuing the fine and fashionable – the pandemic has only served to stress that.
READ MORE: Bagaholicboy Shares What Life’s Little Luxuries Are All About Today
Hear it from Bagaholicboy: “There is no set definition of luxury. It means different things to different people and it also depends on where they are in life at that point in time."
One item of luxury we all can say yes to: a sculptural floral arrangement by one of Bagaholicboy's favourite florists, Floral Magic.
"It could mean a $16K watch – and the ability to afford it – or an item that appreciates and in turn, help take care of your future. It could also mean being able to sleep in for as long as you want; a good bath after a long day; or what you think is the best satay and mee rebus ever," he says.
READ MORE: Item Of Interest: A Luxury Quencher
He adds: "My personal favourite quote about luxury is that it's being able to do what you want when you feel like it. And more and more – as the conversation about self-care grows – I can't help but think that it's a term that's interchangeable with the word 'luxury' because it's about taking care of your own needs, be it materially, physically, emotionally or mentally.”
“Luxury now is making a living for myself. I could have had a career in any other field, but I have the luxury of working with beautiful perishables that can go on to have an emotional effect on the viewer.”
“To me, luxury now is being healthy, happy and able to have a good meal with my loved ones.”
“Luxury now is the possibility of extremes coming together: a mix of high and very, very low – so I can wear something others perceive as cheap without judgement.”
“Luxury is anything that can be considered an artwork – something that involves craft and human effort and that reflects not only one’s passions and process but also a place in time. Its value might increase over time, but most importantly, one never gets tired looking at it.”
“Luxury is the freedom to choose what to do with the time that is mine. My day is mine to craft and to have time in my pocket is the ultimate luxury – worth more than any dollar.”
“Luxury now is being healthy and able to do all the things I love.”
“Luxury today incorporates the essence of haute couture into daily wear, allowing for greater creativity and expression.”
“Luxury now to me is freedom: the freedom to be with our loved ones and friends and to visit places that we could once go to without any restrictions, but also freedom needed for our physical and psychological well-being in these times.”
“Luxury now is feeling free and being free to go anywhere you want, to travel, to visit friends and family without any restrictions. Physical freedom is rare these days.”
“Luxury now is connectivity; a first-hand experience that cannot be replicated; time spent with my cats – or maybe just a hot pair of boots.”
“Luxury now is having the freedom to do what you want and having the option to not do what you don’t want.”
“Luxury is time: time to do whatever you want, whenever you want! Even finding the time to exercise is a luxury. We can’t extend time so make the best use of it as it’s a luxury to be able to do so!”
“The thing that keeps coming to mind is Walk Walk Don’t Run, an open studio event organised by the independent art platform Grey Projects that wrapped last month. For four consecutive weekends, artists, creatives and designers all over the island welcomed the public into their studios to discover these usually private spaces to spark off informal, spontaneous conversations. It was such a fun, personal and communal experience that I don’t think can be created inside a traditional art setting like a museum or gallery. In a period of so much malaise, people taking the effort to come together to support this unique initiative and the art community was a real highlight. No amount of shopping can replicate that warmth that you get from an authentic community.”
“Luxury now is finding moments of solitude each day. Being secluded in nature, in my own little bubble through my morning treks, has been the greatest gift I’ve given myself this year.”
“Luxury now means having the freedom of choice.”
“Luxury now is the true human experience that I believe so many of us long for: finding healing, liberation, release, escape, and is that state of just being.”
“Luxury now is having the time to spend with the people I love.”
“Luxury now is having peace of mind, health and endless smiling moments.”
“Luxury now is seeing personal interests (like anime) represented by fashion designers – like Undercover’s collaboration with Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
“Luxury now is owning my own time – being able to sip from that cup of hot tea and watch the world go by. There is luxury in simplicity.”
This article first appeared in the December 2021 New Luxury Edition of FEMALE