Inconspicuous Consumption

For all the uncertainty about the current state of the economy, everyone is sure of one thing: this recession has permanently remade American consumers, turning them from spendthrifts into tightwads. (The New Yorker)

‘I’ll Trade You a Dior for the D&G’

It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon in late summer, but about 30 hip young women are milling around inside a nail salon in East London. (New York Times)

Exclusivity for All

It’s hard to overstate the degree to which habits of thrift and frugality have taken on the cast of virtue in the past year. (New York Times)

LuxuryLab Daily Digest

Michael Kors Chanels Prada – In a Wearable Way (Wall Street Journal)
Michael Kors was channeling some minimalist and architectural looks from Prada and Francisco Costa’s Calvin Klein line. But he did it with typical Kors aplomb — the collection was eminently wearable.

New Chinese Buyers Redefine the Market (New York Times)
If you wonder how good the mood really is in China, forget the annual growth rate, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the rest. Instead, look at what is happening in the auction market. Here, the news is stunning.

Designers Turn to the Practical (Courier Post Online)
The world of high fashion is coming down to earth a bit.

Luxury-car brands Shift Marketing Strategy (Miami Herald)
To boost sales, luxury-vehicle brands are now offering incentives and using marketing approaches that focus on fuel efficiency.

LuxuryLab Daily Digest

UK Designers Say Mass Retail Complements Business (Reuters)
London fashion designers say mass retailers do not necessarily undermine their business and can actually be of help, but acknowledge that they have awakened a desire among shoppers for frequent refreshing of stock.

Once Slave to Luxury, Japan Catches Thrift Bug (New York Times)
Not long ago, many Japanese bought so many $100 melons and $1,000 handbags that this was the only country in the world where luxury products were considered mass market.

New Wine Brand Targets The Social Sipper (Halogen Network)
Kobrand Imports, a premium wine company and Halogen Network client, has created an innovative wine brand that embraces the age of consumer engagement.

Hottest Luxury Stock: Coach Tops Poll (TheStreet.com)
A luxury recovery may be lagging the rest of the retail sector, but investors still think Coach(COH Quote) is a winner.

Over 20 Years, Lexus Has Steered Perception of Luxury in New Direction (The Dallas Morning News)
Lexus redefined what luxury is, said James Bell, executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book.

Once Slave to Luxury, Japan Catches Thrift Bug

Not long ago, many Japanese bought so many $100 melons and $1,000 handbags that this was the only country in the world where luxury products were considered mass market. (New York Times)

When Cheap Is Exclusive

Hard times for luxury retailers are good times for discount fashion websites.  The racks of expensive gowns and shoes sit, serene and mostly untouched, on the floors of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s and almost every fancy department store. (The Economist)