“Luxe pauvre” (transl. impoverished luxury) has nothing to do with deprivation—on the contrary it refers to a most heightened form of an opulent aesthetic, one that, ironically, precedes minimalism by several decades. Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941), the French aristocrat who found in design an outlet for his introvert nature, is still considered the master of this […]

The 53rd Annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair is an elaborate affair of over a hundred exhibitors crammed under the roof of the Park Avenue Armory. The fair that opened on Thursday is closing on Sunday April 14—there is still time to visit. And while everyone is lamenting the demise of print and book cultures, […]

  Wilder Mann opened in New York on Thursday at the fourth floor gallery of La Maison Hermès on Madison Avenue. The show consists of a series of photographs that document folk costumes of traditions that have survived in several European countries (Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy to name just a few). It is […]

Contrary to other accessories, such as hats or bags, women’s shoes exhibit a great degree of mechanical malfunction. This stems from the shoes’ impossible structures, contorted shapes, and dizzying heights, all of which render them unfit for everyday use. That’s not necessarily bad. Certain models of luxury watches are known for unprecise time keeping. Luxury […]