The Week In Luxury: Georgio Armani’s Dramatic ‘Will’ To Record High-Gold Prices

The past week in luxury lifestyle has been nothing short of dramatic, and dynamic. The good news first; Spanish luxury brand Balenciaga makes a fragrant return after 75 years with a new perfume collection. However, the later part of the week saw a seismic shift in fashion legacy with Giorgio Armani’s ‘will’ instructing the sale of his iconic empire, setting the world of haute couture buzzing. Dior made headlines by welcoming Greta Lee as brand ambassador, while tech met luxury with the sleek launch of Apple’s iPhone 17 series. Ahead of the great Indian wedding season, gold prices hit a record high, echoing the ever-rising demand for this timeless asset. On the beauty front, Kama Ayurveda unveiled actor Rohit Saraf as the face of its cult-favourite Bringadi Oil. As brands continue to evolve, elevate, and embrace new narratives, this week proved that in the world of luxury, every move is a statement. We dive deeper into each of these developments.

Armani’s ‘will’ instructs to sell the fashion empire

In a surprising turn of events, late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani’s ‘will’ instructed to sell the eponymous fashion house that has a history of over 50 years. The designer, 91, died on September 4 with no children to inherit his over $10 billion fashion empire. His will instructs heirs to sell 15% stake within 18 months and then up to 54.9%, setting off a race to control one of the biggest fashion brands in the world. The ‘will’ mentions to give priority to luxury brands and conglomerates like LVMH, L’Oreal and EssilorLuxottica or another group of “equal standing.”

Greta Lee as Dior’s brand ambassador

Actor Greta Lee, known for films like Past Lives, Late Fame, and Sisters, has been named as a Dior ambassador. The new appointment, hints at Jonathan Anderson’s increasing focus on connecting the French luxury fashion house to cinema. Lee being a distinctive voice with her filmography fits the bill. The American actress joins a roster of Dior ambassadors, including Anna Sawai, Anya Taylor-Joy, Camille Cottin, Jisoo, and Beatrice Borromeo.

Balenciaga’s first fragrance launch

Luxury fashion label Balenciaga has launched its first fragrance collection in over 75 years.  The collection features 10 fragrances with offerings such as the woody No Comment, the our-oil infused Cristobal, a tribute to Balenciaga himself as well as smoky ones like Incense Perfumum. The last time Balenciaga introduced a fragrance was back in 1947 with the house’s Le Dix which was discontinued over time.

Gold prices reach an all-time high

One perhaps has to break the bank to buy gold! Gold prices reached an all-time high in India and around the world on September 12, where 24-karat gold now stands at ₹1.11 lakh for 10 gms. The reasons for its record high prices are geopolitical tensions, a soft US dollar making the yellow metal cheaper for buyers fuelling its demand there and central banks across the globe increasing their gold reserves.

iphone 17 launched

After a lot of buzz around its latest model, Apple has launched its iPhone 17 lineup, including the iPhone 17, Pro, Pro Max and a new iPhone air. It is priced at ₹82,900 for the base model in India and goes on till ₹1,19,900 for iPhone 17 Air. The new series comes with advanced features like upgraded cameras, performance boost, enhanced battery life, wide display, and lightweight appeal.

Rohit Saraf as the face of Kama Ayurveda’s Bringaras

Luxury Ayurvedic beauty brand, Kama Ayurveda known for its iconic creations like Bringadi Oil aka Bringaras has introduced actor Rohit Saraf as the face of the hair oil. Saraf’s natural charm, relatability to the new generation of conscious buyers, along with his rising influence amongst youth has made him a suitable match for the brand that promotes the hair oil for scalp health and hair growth.