Luxury news wrap: Dior’s fab runway to Monaco’s superyacht playground for the rich

Ismat Tahseen

This week’s luxury news wrap is a delicious assemblage of everything opulent we love. From Dior’s #DiorSS24 that’s created a huge buzz for a reason you’ll resonate with to the starry attendance at YSL’s show at Paris Fashion Week, plus the much-awaited Monaco Boat Show with a bevy of superyachts and, closer home, Raghavendra Rathore’s new Festive Regalia Collection, it’s raining (and reigning) opulence all around.

Dior says Not Her, in style

The Spring 2024 Dior show garnered appreciation for its immersive vibes that also packed a message of body positivity. The ready-to-wear show in in the Tuileries Garden brought an art-installation elements to the runway with huge LED screens with a video installation named ‘Not Her’, by well-known visual artist Elena Bellantoni. Models in a black, beige and white palette sashayed down a pink and yellow striped runway with A-list guests like Blackpink singer Jisoo, Charlize Theron and Jenna Ortega in attendance.

During the event, people also saw images flash on screen inspired by sexist ads, with words like ‘“Save your marriage, iron properly’, ‘No-body is yours/No-body is perfect/Every-body is performative,’ ‘Your body is poetic/Your body is political’ and more. Women empowerment has been a favourite theme with the fashion house and Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri made sure seemed to have made that her mission this time as well.

Aviators outline YSL Summer 24

Paris Fashion Week is on and naturally, when the French fashion powerhouse Yves Saint Laurent brought out its showcase, the who’s who turned up for it. You had Demi Moore, Kate Moss, Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz making for first row-chic for the YSL Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 line at the landmark Eiffel Tower, no less, which was the venue! The modern line by current creative director Anthony Vaccarello paid homage to historical female aviators and pioneers like Amelia Earhart and Adrienne Bolland. It was a sort of return to the basics and the clothes reflected that with pocketed jumpsuits, oversized sunglasses, a lot of separates like pencil skirts and khaki and burgundy pants, tank tops, safari jackets and more.

Uber-rich parade at Monaco Yacht Show

If there’s a sheer showing of power and style on the seas it would be embodied in the Monaco Boat Show. The four-day annual extravaganza on the Mediterranean coast is a playground for the world’s snazziest yachts and boats and this year was no less. The idyllic Port Hercule has a fabulous line-up among which are Tecnomar’s 43-meter power catamaran and Tankoa Yachts’ new 50-meter Grey superyacht (making its debut at the show). Reports also state how all eyes are on the De Vries Feadship’s M/Y Drizzle a huge 225.6-foot vessel, said to be the largest at the show. Designers, innovators and yachting aficionados will watch enthralled until the show comes to a close on September 30. What a treat!

Sotheby’s first ‘For The Boys’

Who says diamonds are only a girl’s best friend? For the Boys by Sotheby’s Auction House, has carved a new niche in the world of men’s jewellery a variety of precious adornments. The beautiful curated exhibition – that takes one through time – has dazzling pieces for the neck, fingers and wrist. The 100-piece line-up includes the biggest names from the most prominent houses such as Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Verdura and David Webb. Curator Frank Everett, Sotheby’s Vice Chairman of Jewellery, was elated as he took to his Instagram account to share about more about this. He posted: ‘So excited about my next project ‘FOR THE BOYS: A Jewelry Exhibition’ which will showcase antique and vintage designs from the distinguished houses of Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Verdura, David Webb and more, all the way up to modern and contemporary pieces from Chrome Hearts, NN by Nghi, Johnny Nelson, David Yurman and Shaun Leane. The exhibition will commemorate the various styles, trends, and muses of men’s jewelry throughout the decades. This is jewelry I love. This is jewelry I want! @sothebys Sept 23 – Oct 5 in #NYC’
For the Boys: A Jewellery Exhibition opened doors at Sotheby’s New York galleries from September 23 and it will go on till October 5.

Festive splendour by Raghavendra Rathore

Raghavenra Rathore presents his new oeuvre to world of luxury Indian couture with Festive Regalia, a collection where he masterfully weaves India’s rich heritage with modern aesthetics. At the heart of this collection, you’ll find the refined Jodhpuri bandhgala jacket, which is the bespoke designer’s signature. In Festive Regalia, he reinterprets this, honouring the bandhgala’s historical roots while seamlessly aligning it with the modern day. The collection covers a curated range of handcrafted textiles with intricate embroidery and a beautiful colour palette, making it apt for an evening out, a party, a wedding and more.

Luxe luggage by TUMI

This season, it’s all about travel and TUMI, luxury manufacturer of suitcases and other travel products, has launched its ‘Essentially Beautiful’ Campaign for Fall 2023. It showcases TUMI’s new colorways within the brand’s iconic TUMI 19 Degree collection and introduce the women’s Georgica collection. The campaign videos feature TUMI Crew members: Formula 1 driver Lando Norris, pro-footballer Son Heung-min and acclaimed singer-songwriter and actress Reneé Rapp with wheeled briefs, carry-ons and extended trip packing cases, throwing the spotlight on the effortlessness nature with which TUMI’s designed luggage moves. The Georgica Collection, crafted in natural grain pebbled or smooth leather. With silhouettes including totes, backpacks, laptop sleeves and crossbodies in black and taupe colorways, it is a supple and lightweight collection for the modern woman. Shop the new Fall collections available at TUMI stores and TUMI.com worldwide.

Grand Mercure Agra presents hospitality with a view of the Taj Mahal

There’s a new luxe hospitality experience for those heading to the city of the Monument of Love, The Taj Mahal.  Accor, a world leading hospitality group, has announced the inauguration of Grand Mercure Agra located on the Fatehabad Road. The sophisticated property with 168 meticulously-designed rooms, presents guests with the rich tapestry of Agra’s cultural heritage and a view of the Taj Mahal.

The beautiful property boasts an array of banquet spaces, among which is the Grand Crystal Ballroom, that can accommodate up to 500 esteemed guests, complemented by two-fully equipped meeting rooms. Guests can rejuvenate in the rooftop swimming pool set against the Taj Mahal’s stunning backdrop, head to the state-of-the-art fitness center and partake in some rejuvenation at the Nirvana Spa.

The well-designed dining venues include Lattice, an all-day dining place, Bello-Italiano, a haven for aficionados of authentic Italian cuisine and Sky Grill, a Brew Café for coffee connoisseurs and a rooftop sanctuary that gives another beautiful perspective of the Taj Mahal.

Talking about the hotel and opening, Puneet Dhawan, Senior Vice President of Accor India and South Asia, said, “Agra stands as a city steeped in profound historical significance, and it is with great pride that we unveil the Grand Mercure establishment within its borders. This momentous occasion reaffirms Accor’s unwavering dedication to providing unparalleled hospitality experiences while fortifying our foothold in the vibrant landscape of India.”
Added Vivek Mahajan, General Manager of Grand Mercure Agra, “Every guest who walks through our doors will experience the essence of Agra’s rich history and vibrant culture, reimagined through the lens of unparalleled comfort and unmatched service. Grand Mercure Agra is a reflection of Accor’s dedication to providing contemporary travellers with premium comforts and cultural reconnections. It invites guests to experience the uniqueness of the local culture, from iconic dishes to cherished rituals.”