Shows
POPULUXEFor All Time and Eternity: ROLEX with Pierre-Yves DonzéWhether you are a collector, hopeful first-time buyer, or simply curious wishing to crack the mystery of ROLEX's success open, you have an ally. Prolific author and business historian Pierre-Yves Donzé released his latest book titled, The Making of a Status Symbol: A Business History of Rolex, published in June 2025 by Manchester University Press.It is expertly researched, accessibly written, and, easily, the definitive historical account of how ROLEX came to be ROLEX. As the minds behind the iconic watch brand have maintained, "if you have already created perfection, why would you strive to innovate?"P...
2025-07-1043 minPOPULUXEMade of Dreams with James FerragamoEvery legacy brand has an ideology, James Ferragamo tells us. He is talking of course about his family business, the legendary luxury brand started by his grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, the shoemaker. Or was it dream maker?That ideology keeps the brand in place so that nothing ever changes--and yet, James makes sure that everything changes. As the Chief Transformation Officer, he oversees and executes on the evolution of the brand so that it continues to deliver dreams that are relevant, beautiful, and magical.James Ferragamo is the grandson of Salvatore Ferragamo and a key figure...
2025-03-0639 minPOPULUXERick's Romance with Urban Life and a Colombo V12 with Rick CookFounding partner of CookFox, Rick Cook visited Populuxe recently to share his "object of desire" with our listeners. As it happens, Rick's training, practice as well as his own curious and empathic constitution create the perfect backdrop against which a nuanced discussion about luxury unfolded. From a Ferrari V12 engine to a sunlit café in Florence to the new Armani tower in New York City, Rick has a lot to add to the discussion of luxury and desire. Rick Cook is a Founding Partner of COOKFOX Architects. He has built a reputation for innovative, award-winning architectural design. In...
2025-01-0240 minPOPULUXEA Little Bit From Here A Little Bit From There with Monte PackhamWriting in verses comes easily to Monte Packham, author of children's books, who started his career as an art critic. His work evolved into the deliciously playful rhymes that he puts together for young audiences after first having taken a detour into art historical writing. Whether documents of art or illustrated childrens' books, Monte's work is for the committed. His words fall into place as if the story they tell had always existed. Such is the timelessness of his wordsmithing that it inspired an animated conversation about reading and luxury.Monte Packham is the author of books...
2024-12-2653 minPOPULUXEFrom Vogue to Rogue with Negar MohammadiDates, almond oil, persimmon, pomegranate... These recipe ingredients that have given Persian women their legendary beauty from the inside out are also the core pillars of hair brand 14th Night, founded by Negar Mohammadi.Sun-kissed, athletic, and curious, Negar mastered the technical aspects of business as a young professional working for a major consulting firm in Paris--yes, like Emily in Paris but with real work involved. Armed with fluency in French and a sense of true luxury, Negar returned to New York and rose up the corporate ladder in the city's competitive fashion industry. Her l...
2024-02-1541 min
Money Talks from The EconomistMoney Talks: Europe’s luxury crownEuropean firms dominate the global luxury landscape, accounting for two-thirds of sales and nine of the ten most valuable luxury brands. A strong emphasis on heritage and control of the supply chain have helped ensure success. But can Europe hold on to its crown?Hosts: Tom Lee-Devlin, Alice Fulwood and Mike Bird. Guests: Thomai Serdari, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern; and Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO and chairman of Zegna Group, an Italian luxury company.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have...
2024-01-1839 minEconomist PodcastsMoney Talks: Europe’s luxury crownEuropean firms dominate the global luxury landscape, accounting for two-thirds of sales and nine of the ten most valuable luxury brands. A strong emphasis on heritage and control of the supply chain have helped ensure success. But can Europe hold on to its crown?Hosts: Tom Lee-Devlin, Alice Fulwood and Mike Bird. Guests: Thomai Serdari, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern; and Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO and chairman of Zegna Group, an Italian luxury company.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have...
2024-01-1839 min
Mohamed Guhaad's podcastMoney Talks: Europe’s luxury crownEuropean firms dominate the global luxury landscape, accounting for two-thirds of sales and nine of the ten most valuable luxury brands. A strong emphasis on heritage and control of the supply chain have helped ensure success. But can Europe hold on to its crown?Hosts: Tom Lee-Devlin, Alice Fulwood and Mike Bird. Guests: Thomai Serdari, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern; and Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO and chairman of Zegna Group, an Italian luxury company.Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our...
2024-01-1839 minPOPULUXEBonus episode with Thomaï SerdariGet ready for a new year filled with exciting conversations and inspiring guests. Season Four coming soon! ******************************Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time.You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to...
2024-01-1104 min
The Furious Curious95. 2023 RecapToday we’re recapping the that year that was 2023.
Episodes covered:
83. THE MILLENIAL PAUSE
84. EAT THE RICH
85. A24
86. TOXIC POSITIVITY
87. PARASOCIAL
88. BARBENHEIMER
89-90. ADULTING (feat. Author, Speaker + Coach, Mel Trumble)
91-92. QUIET LUXURY (feat. NYU MBA Prof. + Brand(x)Lux head, Thomaï Serdari, Ph.D)
93. BUILDING YOUR NICHE ONLINE (feat. Nate Smoyer of Tech Nest)
94. PICKLEBALL
MUSIC:
"As It Was" (Harry Styles), "Desire" (18 Carat Affair), "Modus Operandi (18 Carat...
2024-01-0456 minPOPULUXEThe Right to Roam with Håvard UtheimA passionate explorer of nature, a committed adventurer, a tech entrepreneur whose mission is to create a sustainable and equitable travel industry for all, Håvard Utheim moves from idea to idea and from start-up to start-up.He is the type who has vision, sets the mission, and culls the right people to populate the new business. In doing so, he is also working on ensuring that the beneficiaries are many as opposed to the usual select few.Listen to this episode to find out what his connection to Succession is.
2023-12-2830 minPOPULUXEMetallic, She Said with Diane D'AmatoHer impeccable foresight and vision of market trends, along with her passion for haute couture and luxury leather goods make Diane D’Amato a true force in the luxury market. She is as sharp in business as she is warm and empathetic in her relationships. In charge of the luxury accessories categories at Heritage Auctions, Diane brings unique pieces to auction and regularly buys and sells entire collections privately. She is the pulse of the luxury world. ******************************Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by o...
2023-12-1429 minPOPULUXETwixt the Physical and Otherworldly with Fallou WadjeHats, authentic jewelry from Africa, mainly Senegal and Ghana, as well as tie-dye shirts and other accessories are Fallou's Wadje's street hustle in Harlem. Her life's calling is creativity. Her purpose is the creation of objects that give luxury a new definition: 'twixt the physical and the spiritual. A vessel of energy herself, Fallou the artist finds daily inspiration in Central Park where she observes and absorbs all that nature has to offer. Listen to Fallou's radiant voice that resonates with the knowing that creation originates in belief and practice.F...
2023-11-3035 minPOPULUXEThe Luxury of Inconvenience with Robert FingerA century-old Cape Cod wooden house seems to be the point of departure for interiors architect Robert Finger's journeys into desire. At first I thought of it very similar to a juicy and delicious piece of candy that releases a range of magical sensations when you bite into it. But after we spent some time chatting, it became clear that that little house is a marvelous container of unique and intense experiences that have shaped the lives of all those who have spent time in it.It is the house that allows its t...
2023-11-1637 minPOPULUXECool Fish, Angel Fish and Life in a Reef Tank with Adam SimonThere is so much activity underwater. Reefing takes attention, concentration, and a small dose of obsession. The feat is rewarding and illustrates how our climate works and what preserves life in our oceans. Listen to this captivating episode, in which Adam Simon explains the ins and outs of reefing and how to start collecting live coral. Adam Simon is a Buy Side Analyst currently pursuing his MBA through NYU Stern's Langone Program. During the pandemic, he chose to take up reef aquaculture as a new hobby similar to his past of keeping saltwater fish only t...
2023-11-0252 minThe Furious Curious92. Quiet Luxury: PART 2 (feat. NYU MBA Prof. + Brand(x)Lux head, Thomaï Serdari, Ph.D)Understated excellence, subtle sophistication, and saying without saying… This is PART 2 of Brit unpacking Quiet Luxury with special guest, NYU MBA Professor and Brand(x)Lux head, Thomaï Serdari, Ph.D. If you have haven't heard PART 1, start there!
Thomaï is an international luxury authority with a unique background encompassing design, humanities, and business.
She specializes in luxury marketing and branding to help clients launch and manage luxury brands that focus on creative innovation.
As the Academic Director of the Fashion & Luxury MBA at NYU, she aligns product offerings with market demands by drawing on...
2023-10-0533 minThe Furious Curious91. Quiet Luxury: PART 1 (feat. NYU MBA Prof. + Brand(x)Lux head, Thomaï Serdari, Ph.D)Understated excellence, subtle sophistication, and saying without saying… Today Brit unpacks Quiet Luxury with special guest, NYU MBA Professor and Brand(x)Lux head, Thomaï Serdari, Ph.D.
She is an international luxury authority with a unique background encompassing design, humanities, and business.
She specializes in luxury marketing and branding to help clients launch and manage luxury brands that focus on creative innovation.
As the Academic Director of the Fashion & Luxury MBA at NYU, she aligns product offerings with market demands by drawing on her interdisciplinary training. She also heads Brand(x)Lux, a br...
2023-09-2844 min
The Raw CollectionThe True Form of Luxury with Thomaï SerdariThis episode takes a deep dive into the true meaning of luxury. It’s a bit more than a price tag. Angela Pennyfeather speaks with Thomaï Serdari, Professor of Luxury Marketing & Branding at NYU’s Stern School of Business to explore how luxury can connect to an individual on a physical, emotional, and even spiritual level. Thomaï even shares her thoughts on which brand truly owns the space of luxury.
2023-04-2034 minPOPULUXEEleven Steps and a Pond with Thomaï SerdariFind out why I decided to own a silk scarf by Hermès and why my collection keeps growing.What moved you to buy one of your prized possessions? Was it its qualities? Its aesthetic merit? Are your purchases based on emotional associations or simply fashion trends and peer pressure?I invite you to email me at populuxepod@gmail.com and let me know. ******************************Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings t...
2023-04-0606 minPOPULUXEAt the Edge of a Cliff in Dubrovnik with Mathias RosenzweigMathias Rosenzweig is one of the most talented creative persons I have met. You have probably read his work through the pages of V Magazine, an authority voice in fashion. Mathias started as a writer covering the music scene for Interview Magazine and quickly rose to an editor's role covering fashion shows all over the world. His portfolio includes directing and hosting the podcast V Wanna Know (backed by V Magazine), in which famous students are connected to world renowned experts to explore the student's topic of interest in depth.An avid traveler, people observer, and creative...
2023-03-2332 minPOPULUXEA Three-legged Beauty with Tami HausmanDeeply steeped in design, both by training and in practice, Tami Hausman could write a book about a seemingly humble object: A three-legged wooden chair with a molded seat and curved back of sticks.This is no ordinary chair. It is the Mira chair designed by American woodworker George Nakashima and has been in Tami’s life since she can remember.Listen to this episode of Populuxe to explore the connections between the essentialism of modern design, the economy of paired down aesthetics, and the passion for the integrity mid-century modern designers contributed to our cu...
2023-03-0930 minPOPULUXEThe Bag Hunter with Adam BrodowskiWhen it comes to identifying the best bag for any job, Adam Brodowski, industrial and UX designer, has a range of criteria to assess his options.Owning more than 25 bags, Adam is always thinking about how to perfect the utility of each item and how new materials may contribute to an elevated experience. Luxury for Adam goes beyond functionality. Luxury is joy.Listen to this episode and gain insights into how modern men think about their every day existence.Adam Brodowski is a design and research consultant who loves working through early stage...
2023-02-2323 minPOPULUXERolex Rulez with Carol AltieriCarol Altieri's passion is to bring big, shiny and well designed objects into your life. She does so through Bob's Watches, an online marketplace she co-owns with her husband Paul. Yes, Paul, no, not Bob.In addition to buying and selling for her customers, Carol has amassed an impressive collection of vintage watches part of which she is bringing to market through a private sale in collaboration with Goop.To tease us, she brought with her a Rolex Day-Date President with a Black Onyx Dial, a piece she acquired many years ago as she became...
2022-12-2229 minPOPULUXEShe Wore Blue with Jenn RugoloA sculptural extravagance in blue silk, a dress by fashion designer Mohamed Benchellal made Jenn's heart skip a beat. She, in turn, chose the words to describe it with nuance and precision on Populuxe today. Pay close attention to her voice as it carries us back to Jenn's early music education in a household of musicians, in a memory-making family, and a culturally rich career filled with the aroma of coffee. Jenn Rugolo is an editor and product manager focused on print and digital communications in specialty coffee, a comfortable role found after years of c...
2022-10-2728 minPOPULUXEDeath by Red Lipstick with Rachel FelderIntrigued by the scent of a Dior red lipstick? Attracted to the texture of red by Guerlain? What's at the root of this intergenerational obsession with red lipstick that resonates with people across cultures, ages, and genders?I had to turn to the expert. Correction! THE expert, Rachel Felder, author of Red Lipstick: An Ode to A Beauty Icon to dig a little deeper and find out what motivates our desire to apply red on our lips and why this private indulgence is as much about confidence as it is about mysticism. How delightful to...
2022-10-1336 minPOPULUXETelling Time with Ariel AdamsA digital media publication with close to two million users, ablogtowatch founded by Ariel Adams, educates, helps, and guides consumers in their decision to buy watches and to build their collections. In the 20 years that Ariel has been in the watch collecting space both as an enthusiast and a professional, things appear to have changed and social media have played a big role making watch buying more accessible. Not all is what it seems though. Ariel explains to us why the watch industry is filled with options that far exceed the few norms perpetuated by...
2022-08-1836 minPOPULUXE100 Letters with Thomaï SerdariAllow me to interrupt the regular format with an episode about one of my objects of desire... and yes, I do have many!This one is special: A small book with 100 Letters by Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti (1891-1979) gifted to me by my friend Christine Singer who knew Ponti well through her husband's company, M. Singer & Sons Furniture. Ponti produced some of the most exquisite mid-century modern pieces through M. Singer & Sons Furniture. Today, most of Ponti's furniture remains in private collections and in the collections of mostly European museums. In the US you...
2022-08-1108 minPOPULUXELuxury Foregone and Fantastical with Pat CookeWhat are your feelings about receiving luxury objects as gifts? Do you take pleasure in these possessions or new experiences? Do they define new rituals that organize your day differently than before? And when have you felt compelled to give an object of great value as a gift to someone else?These are some of the ideas I will tackle today with my guest, historian and curator Pat Cooke who is based in Dublin, Ireland as he opens a bottle of fine and very rare Irish Whiskey, a Midleton from 1996. Pat has been instrumental in shaping the...
2022-08-0440 minPOPULUXEAnd Then There Was Light with Lara KnutsonCuriosity and practice have allowed Lara Knutson to satisfy her dream of experiencing light. Her objects are either made of reflective materials that turn the material into immaterial or the other way around. Lara uses light as a material to create objects that both are and are not there and that still allow the viewer to interact with them.Her work has been included in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art while most of her production finds applications in a variety of fields, from architectural space design, to lighting design, and fine art...
2022-07-2827 minPOPULUXEA Bella and her Falabella Bag with Whitney JordanWhitney Jordan has an eye for the visual arts and a point of view about fashion, retail, and business. She is also someone with training and experience, not just opinions.Whitney's account of the merits of Stella McCartney's Falabella bag, an "It bag" that became iconic since it first launched in 2009, is filled with nostalgia. Her stories give out a distinct sense of appreciation of all the experiences that shape who we are as persons, even if we don't make much of them in the moment.Whitney Jordan is a Retail & Consumer Goods Strategy Consultant...
2022-07-2127 minPOPULUXEA Rabbit Catcher, A Ballad Singer, and A Photographer with Justin Partyka Part IIJustin Partyka's life story sounds like a web of coincidences that place him in front of people or circumstances that relate to him via another path as well. A practicing photographer, Justin was trained as a folklorist and has a deep passion for and understanding of music.A remarkable multi-volume book of William Eggleston's Democratic Forrest published by Steidl is Justin's object of desire. As we listen to him describing the ritual of immersing himself in Eggleston's photographs, we come to appreciate the singularity of photography as a medium of expression and its closeness to that of...
2022-07-1428 minPOPULUXEA Rabbit Catcher, A Ballad Singer, and A Photographer with Justin Partyka Part IJustin Partyka's life story sounds like a web of coincidences that place him in front of people or circumstances that relate to him via another path as well. A practicing photographer, Justin was trained as a folklorist and has a deep passion for and understanding of music. A remarkable multi-volume book of William Eggleston's Democratic Forrest published by Steidl is Justin's object of desire. As we listen to him describing the ritual of immersing himself in Eggleston's photographs, we come to appreciate the singularity of photography as a medium of expression and its closeness to poetry.
2022-07-0735 minPOPULUXENever Meant to Be with Tobias MeineckeTobias Meinecke is a story teller. Critically acclaimed filmmaker, sought after film director of creative projects for luxury brands, writer, actor, and, most recently, book publisher, Tobias Meinecke is the co-founder of Love Child, a company that develops stories.Tobias studied in Munich first and then in New York City, at Columbia University, under the tutelage of master teacher Milos Forman. Technically meticulous and creatively unruffled, Tobias has adopted Sebastian King's mantra "go create" and enjoys the unpredictability that his practice allows him.Tobias Meinecke is an award winning screenwriter - director - producer based in...
2022-06-3033 minPOPULUXEA Poisonous Love with Chris Santa MariaA pair of Nike running sneakers and a flat screen TV were two of the objects that Chris Santa Maria presented to me as possible conversation starters. Well, that's not how this episode went... and admittedly, it is longer than usual.Do listen till the end of the whole 45 minutes because you will learn about the mighty power of a Princeton brush and the extraordinary details of often harmful and unsustainable materials that artists are using to create their work.The desire of the next creation and the next and the next is what keeps...
2022-06-2349 minPOPULUXEThe Femininity of Things with Kathleen GuzmanFor the most part, women have been left out of history regardless of the weight of their contributions to science, the arts, design and any related field. These forgotten creative minds need champions. Kathleen Guzman, a most accomplished auctioneer, happens to be a supporter of other women's work both historical and contemporary. Having spent her professional career, in its many iterations, surrounded by beautiful and valuable objects, Kathleen is the perfect guest who can illuminate Populuxe listeners about luxury spending, conspicuous behavior, collecting and desire.Having recently left her post at Heritage Auctions, where she...
2022-06-1633 minPOPULUXEThe Wanderer Who Does Not Cling To Perceptions with Matt ChuNo matter what Matt Chu decides to do, he excels at it. Data analytics at Condé Nast? Check!Influencer account on Instagram ? Triple check! Corporate career at Bloomingdale's? Easy! A new path in technology? Why not?I have always admired Matt for his pragmatism and dedication to anything that catches his interest. But mostly, I am totally smitten with his kindness.Take a listen to his rather unconventional approach to luxury and do listen all the way to the end to get to the question of the week. ******************************Did you enjoy t...
2022-06-0923 minPOPULUXEFirst Came Love Then Came The Business with Charlie RobertsEcho New York (originally Echo Design) is a family-run company founded in New York City in 1923 by two ambitious, hard working, young entrepreneurs who also happened to be husband and wife. Today, their great-grandchildren are still in charge of and growing the company with great commitment to the values of quality and creativity. Making people's lives meaningful through its products is Echo's vision.In this episode, Charlie Roberts, one of the founders' great-grandchildren, discusses a painting by American folk artist Kathy Jacobsen. The picture belonged to his late grandmother, Dot, who was Echo's CEO for many years a...
2022-06-0224 minPOPULUXEThe Man Who Bought Too Much with Steve CardinoHow does one get from admiring a glass object by sculptor Joe Cariati to discussing the merits of an exquisite cashmere sweater? Well, that's easy when you spend a few minutes with Steve Cardino, a former Macy's Vice President Home and Fashion Director, who currently represents the Fifth Avenue Association Business Improvement District in its relations with merchants along the famed retail corridor.Steve is a gifted storyteller. Whether he uses words or objects selected with great emotion, Steve's stories provide a bridge between the good old days of traditional American retail and the future of consumers' t...
2022-05-1229 minPOPULUXEUntitled No. 5 with Rebecca GoodmanArtists develop a personal discipline that includes daily rituals. It is that type of commitment that allows them to absorb details of materiality, focus on ideas, and resolve the challenge of combining it all in expressive form.This is precisely how some of the most exquisite luxury products resemble works of art. This is also why creatives find a fitting home in the luxury sector where a variety of luxury brands require individuals with superb visual and manual skills able to carry out some of the most imaginative retail environments.Mixed media artist Rebecca Goodman...
2022-05-0530 minPOPULUXE12 Eggs and a Scarf with Marie ConstantinescoThe girl who fell in love with Fluffy, her sourdough starter, is actually the woman who kneads stories in her kitchen. She is a filmmaker and her name is Marie. Marie possesses the type of elegance that allows her to transform the most humble vintage outfit into glamorous fashion. Her vivid imagination pushes her work beyond the boundaries of filmmaking and storytelling. How does she do it and what drives her desire to create?A talented baker and cook, Marie approaches the practice of the meal with the openness of spirit that leads to breakthroughs i...
2022-04-2833 minPOPULUXEHe Who Runs for Pleasure Never Tires with Artur Pretto JunqueiraJoin me in this episode of Populuxe as I reconnect with my former student and now accomplished architectural photographer Artur Pretto Junqueira. Together, we explore French philosopher René Girard's work on human desire and some of the famous and emerging Brazilian architectural practitioners. And surprise, surprise! We end up talking about New York City. But how not? This is where our paths crossed and where our lives changed. Quem corre por gosto não cansa.Artur Pretto Junqueira is a Brazilian architect and architectural photographer. He graduated from the Brazilian Universidade do Vale do Taquari with...
2022-04-2124 minPOPULUXEA Scofflaw She Ain't but One She'll Have with Daphne HowlandLegend has it that the Scofflaw, a classic Rye cocktail, was invented by the famous bartender Harry Craddock during the height of Prohibition at Harry's New York Bar in Paris in 1924. Daphne Howland, Senior Reporter at Retail Dive, discovered it in Portland, Maine where she lives with her family.A talented writer and accomplished photographer, Daphne ruminated on whether it ever gets easier to talk about luxury even for someone like her, who tackles questions on the subject on a daily basis as she delivers news on fashion, beauty, retail and luxury.An existential exercise f...
2022-04-1427 minPOPULUXEThe Daughter of the Sun Will See You Now with Aida SykesGlobetrotting? Gratitude? Jaunts to the Global North?Aida Sykes has had the privilege to experience it all based on academic merit and opportunity. As an actively engaged young leader in her native Tanzania she doesn't take any of the aspects of luxury lightly.On the contrary, her own exposure to both the North and South, deep understanding of expressions of inequity, and clear vision of how these can be addressed, have made her one of the most promising voices on African Luxury today.During her visit with Populuxe, Aida shared her memories of...
2022-04-0726 minPOPULUXEDilemmas Are Not For the Dilettantes with Emily McDermottWhen Maxwell Gladwell wrote about the "ten-thousand-hour-rule" in his book Outliers, he incorporated earlier research by Herbert Simon and William Chase, who claimed that "there are no instant experts in chess—certainly no instant masters or grandmasters. [...] We would estimate, very roughly, that a master has spent perhaps 10,000 to 50,000 hours staring at chess positions..."Let that number sink in. Now, let's translate it in the number of gallery visits, works studied, and articles written to appreciate the job of an art critic, especially when that art critic happens to be Emily McDermott, the young American who left he...
2022-03-3132 minPOPULUXEMajestic Measures of Being with Sarah LaFleurA company visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art to view the novel paintings of Toyin Ojih Odutola, the celebrated Nigerian--American visual artist whose work challenges the traditions of storytelling through portraiture, led Sarah LaFleur to an inner journey of desire and the meaning of narratives in forming one’s character.Popular fascination with royalty, Sarah ruminates, is a manifestation not so much of our desire to share their wealth or material possessions but rather to be able to trace our legacy back to multiple generations.“Luxury is to know where you come from,” the ent...
2022-03-2421 min
Lux and Friends#42: Rethinking Luxury Fashion. With Thomaï SerdariThe title of today’s podcast is Rethinking Luxury Fashion.I had the pleasure of sitting with Thomaï Serdari, the director of the Fashion & Luxury Mba at the Leonard Stern School Of Business, at the New York university and the conversation that follows will open your eyes.You’ll learn that luxury is a universal certainty, that fashion is a cultural phenomenon before it is an industrial, or simply an aesthetical one.You will see through the strategies the most successful luxury brands in the world deploy to win their loyal fans...
2022-03-2433 minPOPULUXESneakermania, sneaker riots, and sneakerheads with Brahm WachterAsk any 20 year old who loves sneaker culture what their "dream" job would be and most answers will resemble Brahm's actual job at Sotheby's, where he is Vice President, Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectables.When Brahm was in my class, in the spring of 2019, I sensed he was cool. He knew a lot about brands, always wore interesting sneakers and baseball hats to class, and was very approachable.Even though I learned then that Brahm is a talented cook with legitimate culinary school training, I never knew how a pair of sneakers had defined...
2022-03-1725 minPOPULUXEA Whale of a Whiff with Barbara HermanAmbergris is a rare, precious, and quite expensive natural ingredient used in luxury perfume making. It was used much more frequently in the past by luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, and Guerlain, among others.The type of perfume produced with ambergris is considered to be an "animalic" fragrance. It is characterized by longevity, fullness, and balance.Ambergris is indeed one of the main ingredients of MXXX, a perfume created by Barbara Herman for ERIS PARFUMS, and a category disruptor.In Barbara's words, ambergris, her object of desire, sheds a golden light that brings...
2022-03-1028 minPOPULUXEA Teddy for Sophie with Sophie PanychWhat is it like to be backstage at fashion shows? And which elements of the pre-social media era remain memorable to Sophie Panych from her early years as a beauty editor?An international expert and well-known beauty influencer, Sophie identifies any one of the four iconic camel hair coats by Max Mara as her object of desire. She tells us all about it, where and when she saw it for the first time and what made it so magical for her. In the process, she lets us in for a peak at backstage madness and celebrity encounters...
2022-03-0330 minPOPULUXEThe Elephant in the Room with Eric DartonA Zojirushi thermos may be the connector that allows Eric Darton, prolific author of fiction and nonfiction, to download ideas, inspiration and that ineffable jolt of energy that he knows how to transform into words.Follow our discussion to find out what luxury means to him, how he gets in the flow, and why a great quality saw comes only second to his thermos.Eric Darton’s books include Free City, a novel, first published in 1996 by WW. Norton and recently re-released by Dalkey Archive Press, and the New York Times bestseller Divided We Stand: A...
2022-03-0332 minPOPULUXEAbout PopuluxeIf you love luxury, you will want to visit Populuxe once a week. Our guests are accomplished creatives from a variety of ages, cultures, and professions. Together, we discuss their object of desire, an object they cherish or one they aspire to acquire. Sometimes these are products by well known luxury brands but they can also be works of art or well-crafted objects that trigger emotions of desire. Whichever the case, our guests help us understand what the personal luxuries of the many are while they also help us enter better understand concepts that relate to luxury, culture, business, an...
2022-03-0303 min
Fat MascaraEp. 186: The Truth About MLMsMLMs, or multi-level marketing brands, have caught the attention of the beauty world—for better or worse. Some see the direct selling business model as entrepreneurial and perfect for the social media age; others see it as predatory, accusing the brands of giving consultants false expectations about what they can expect to earn (and potentially lose). We invited Dr. Thomai Serdari, a professor at NYU’s Stern Business school and a strategist in luxury marketing and branding, to help us wade through this hot button topic. Before that: We share a pro secret for making red hair dye look natur...
2019-12-1752 min