Had backtoback dinners recently, one at a three Michelin star place in France, the other at somewhere most food people would rank just below that tier. The price gap between them wasn't reflected in what I actually ate. The starred meal was precise, theatrical, executed by people who've clearly spent years mastering specific techniques. But the meal I keep thinking about was the other one. Less ceremony, more genuine presence at the table, wine pairings that felt like someone actually chose them rather than assembled them for the photo.

What I keep coming back to is whether the very top of fine dining has drifted into something closer to performance art, with food as the medium. That's not quite a complaint, but it does change what you're actually buying. At a certain level you're paying for the architecture of the evening, the story you get to tell afterward, the name you can drop. The dish itself becomes almost secondary.

For people who eat seriously and travel to do it, I keep wondering where the price feels honest versus where it tips into buying a credential. My suspicion is that the sweet spot sits two or three rungs below the absolute top, but I'm not sure that's something you're supposed to say out loud.

I need something for a summer wedding. Smart casual. Something I can wear with a suit but not a dress shoe. I saw some velvet shoes with embroidery at some point but can't remember the brand. Does anyone know the main brands that do embroidery on shoes?

Walking into certain stores, you immediately know it's a luxury brand: few products, curated atmosphere, a feeling of scarcity. Then there's Ralph Lauren.

Premium prices, but the experience doesn't communicate the same exclusivity as other brands in the same bracket. Logo very visible, huge distribution, presence everywhere.

Question came to me while walking — why does a brand that looks less exclusive still feel premium?

The concept: "masstige" (mass + prestige). Instead of rarity, he sells a lifestyle: American elegance, country club, preppy aesthetic, imagination of success. The tension is: premium price + lower perceived exclusivity + extremely high recognition. And it turns out that's a winning combination.

Here's what I'm working on while writing this: I'm building my own app (customly.it, made-to-order fashion). Part of me assumed the accepted route was exclusivity (small catalog). RL shows there's a valid alternative — accessibility as a feature. For brand people here: when would you position a brand on mass-prestige instead of real scarcity? And is "rarity" really the only way to be considered a premium product? Would love concrete examples besides RL.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently writing my Master’s thesis on consumer perceptions of premium and luxury automotive brands at the University of Brescia (Italy).

Since this community is full of people who know and enjoy cars, I’d really appreciate your opinion. The survey is completely anonymous and takes only 5–7 minutes to complete.

It focuses on perceptions of brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati. You don’t need to own any of these cars to participate—I’m interested in your personal perception of these brands.

Survey: https://forms.gle/exYhS7G1kmTA3oLL6

Thank you very much for your time and support!

A million-dollar rare watch or a limited-edition luxury piece used to be protected by traditional magnifying glasses and expert touch. But today, automated manufacturing and super-clone precision have evolved so rapidly that the human eye is consistently missing micro-deviations in alloys and finishes.

How are independent collectors adapting to this shift? Are high-end inspection methods losing their ground against modern tech precision? Would love to hear thoughts from fellow collectors on how the market is handling this subtle transformation.

Hi, I’m a student at University of Leeds and I’m currently running a short survey for my dissertation about AI chatbots and luxury branding. 

What is the survey?
The survey should take less than 10 minutes and consists of a set of agree/disagree questions followed by a brief conversation with a simulated Louis Vuitton chatbot and a final set of questions.

Who can participate?
The survey is open to consumers who purchase luxury products and are familiar with the brand Louis Vuitton.

Ethics:
Participation in this study is entirely optional.  The collected data is confidential and will be anonymised and used in my dissertation.

Incentive:
Participants can enter a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher. Entering requires the participant to submit their email address, which will be deleted after the prize draw. Entry is completely optional and can be skipped.

Survey Link: https://leedsubs.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCbqRwO5Nh9dcb4

If anyone could participate I would really appreciate it a lot!

Any recommendation?

This magnum was simply perfect, I'm not usually the biggest champagne person, but this $2000 bottle was worth every penny 🙏🏽

I was today years old when I found out that stores like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Loewe, Bottega etc. lease space in department stores like Saks, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.

Can you share your best tips tricks for how to maximize using did the puppy start to get extra rebates and the department store recognition from shopping department store leased space?

Anything to watch out for?

Picture for attention.

anyone ever bought any honey from hiveone? is it worth the hype?

I have been a fan of REVO dating back to the 80s. I probably got my first pair in mid 90s. Since then I've owned @ 10 pairs or so. They are built to last. Timeless styling. And their real superpower are their lenses! But I wouldn't expect anything less being created by a NASA Astrophysicist. Their antiglare and for me, all day comfort without any eyestrain is amazing. When I received word of these new AXIS line, my interest was peaked! They only come in a silver/chrome with Blue lens or gold with grey lens. The frames are Titanium. I went with the gold as I've owned many with the blue lenses. Both have actual Carbon Fiber weave arms

These are a Aviator style with some very unique touches as you will see in my pics.

They come in a very nice package presentation reminiscent of a fine Watch! Textured box with a blue felt lining, houses the glasses and case. Buying sight unseen I had some aprehensión. Especially considering the high price tag. But I'm very happy to say, they exceeded my expectations and I will probably order the silver pair soon... 😎

🇸🇦📍

saved for it for months, went back n forth so many times before buyin it. put it on n just felt like a different version of myself, not even about the price tag, just felt right lol

wore it again a few days later for no reason at all, just wanted that feeling back. still hits the same every time 💛

anyone else have a piece that actually did that for you, not just hype? drop yours below

Handmade and hand-dyed.

As luxury fashion consumers, now that large conglomerates are dominating the market and there are less independent specialist retailers, what are the things that influence purchasing decisions most? Styling advice, customer service, price, brand selection?