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Once luxury was available only to the rarefied and aristocratic world of old money and royalty. It offered a history of tradition, superior quality, and a pampered buying experience. Today, however, luxury is simply a product packaged and sold by multibillion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and, above all, profits. Award-winning journalist Dana Thomas digs deep into the dark side of the luxury industry to uncover all the secrets that Prada, Gucci, and Burberry don’t want us to know. Deluxe is an uncompromising look behind the glossy façade that will enthrall anyone interested in fashion, finance, or culture.
Deluxe.Reviewed by Jordan Sims, 2010-03-02
I really like to research luxury items and tho I can't afford something like a Birkin, I am facinated as to how a simple handbag became such a style icon. Hence, "Deluxe." In this book, the author gives us historical refrence to how luxury originated and goes into modern day times, as well. It's a truly facinating read and I'd recommend it to everyone, even those not so intrested in luxury items.
Julie Bramley, New ZealandReviewed by Julie Bramley, 2010-02-11
This is a fascinating book and very well written. I loved it so much I've purchased two more for friends.
Fascinating book!Reviewed by Lynn Kelley, 2010-02-01
This book provides a thorough look in to the background of Luxury brands. I found the information fascinating and enjoyed the style of the book.
Get Your Shine On?Reviewed by A. Petronico, 2010-01-30
"Deluxe" is full of interesting anecdotes about different sectors
of the luxury industry. Even for someone who has no background or
previous interest in the fashion industry, this book will be a real
eye opener. It is a must-read for anyone who has considered
purchasing an LV branded sachel--either in the flagship store or on
Canal St.
Some of the different areas covered are: the growth of Louis
Vuitton as a luxury brand, the takeover and transformation into the
LVMH mega corp, the changing nature of "luxury", the branding game,
and the importance of the Japanese consumer. The big picture is the
comodification (and loss of "magic) of luxury, and this journey
takes place chapter by chapter. Depending on your level of exposure
to the subject, it is either like witnessing a train wreck in slow
motion or watching a Hitchcock film, being held in eager suspense.
There is also a good balance of haute couture froth and solid
business info; this is not like reading the latest issue of Vogue
(and that is a complement).
I only witheld the last star because I would like to see a second
edition of this fantastic book covering the latest issues in
regards to the luxury machine: the global recession, environmental
issues, emerging consumer markets in BRICs nations, and the
collapse of the Arnault/ LVMH strategy itself. In a few years
"Deluxe" might read as dated. Even so, it will serve as a portrait
of a certain time and frame of mind.
Truly, truly awfulReviewed by Jeff Boda, 2009-12-16
I am shocked that so many people have praise for this. Have they
read the same book I have? Haven't they been frustrated by sloppy
reporting to verify basic facts, by unsourced anecdotes that
undermine or contradict subsequent statements? Good gravy, I
haven't hated a book this much since The Da Vinci Code. The only
reason to continue reading it was to see if it could possibly get
any worse, and she didn't disappoint.
And forget any cover blurbs that say it's the "Fast Food Nation" of
luxury. The only way that would be true is if Eric Schlosser only
talked to fast food officials and PR flacks and accepted their
statements about how wonderful their food was verbatim.
Some of the highlights of this train wrecks of a book:
1) "One prominent stylist who dressed Pink, Mary J. Blige, and P.
Diddy, was reportedly convicted of defrauding eight New York
jewelers of more than $1.5 million and sentenced to eighteen months
to three years in prison. He allegedly sold the jewels to maintain
his flamboyant lifestyle." Anyone with any basic reporting skills
should be able to confirm if someone was sentenced in this case.
Either they are convicted, or they are not. They are not reportedly
convicted. And if they are guilty, then you can say whether they
did the act or not. Reporting 101: It's a class worth taking.
2) "The week after the attacks, fifteen hundred counterfeit vendor
stalls - some purportedly owned and operated by al-Qaeda - at the
Tri-Border Market in South America, where $70 million of business
is done in cash every day, closed shop." Wow. So this market does
nearly $26 billion in cash transactions a year? Methinks you got
the currency or amount wrong, Ms. Thomas, because I doubt one
market does about 40 percent of the annual revenue of Target Corp
and all of its stores, or more than Amazon.com.
3) "In 2006, China officially had three hundred thousand
millionaires, Russia eight-eight thousand, India seventy thousand."
But, two pages later, she quotes someone as saying, without
challenge, "There are 250,000 millionaires in Wenzhou alone." So I
can then assume that 5/6 of China's millionaires are in one
secondary city?
I could go on about botched revenue figures or squeamishly awful
attempts to link the US civil rights movement to "freeing" the
middle class to buy more luxury goods, but it would be flogging a
dead horse. Please, if you skip one book all year, make it this
one.
