PERSONAL BUSINESS
From Anya Hindmarch’s stickers to Boss’s Bespoke bags, customized accessories are the latest status symbol. SARAH CASSELMAN explores the made-to-measure mania.
WHEN A HOTEL HEIRESS GETS HITCHED,
her magical day is feted with fairy dust of the highfashion variety rather than banquet halls and ho-hum buffets. Take Nicky Hilton, the 32-yearold socialite/designer (and Paris’s younger sis), who exchanged vows with British banking heir James Rothschild in London this past July. From the regal setting (Kensington Palace) to the bridal gown (Valentino couture), it was an affair to remember—and Instagram. Hilton posted a shot of her Cinderellaworthy custom Louboutins featuring the couple’s first initials and wedding date embroidered on the back of each
FROM LEFT: CRAFTING A BESPOKE BAG AT THE BOSS ATELIER; JULIANNE MOORE
CARRIES A BOSS BESPOKE BAG AT THE LABEL’S FALL 2015 SHOW; STICKER
AND BAG BY ANYA HINDMARCH. heel, as well as her new moniker: Mrs. Rothschild. “It’s official!” she wrote in an Instagram—a statement that also rings true when it comes to the trend of customizing luxury accessories, in particular bags and footwear. It seems madeto-order is the new must-have.
From Dakota Fanning’s monogrammed Louis Vuitton Keepall bag to Gwyneth Paltrow’s custom Goyard tote, upscale brands are offering clientele (VIP or otherwise) a chance to play designer, thanks to the growing number of unique in-house customization services. Given that fall’s runways celebrate originality and personal style, it’s little wonder this new wave of have-it-your-way luxury is making a serious splash. “Fashion has grown into a real individual voice for each person,” says Dana Thomas, author of the New York Times Best Seller
“Consumers have more confidence about their choices; they rely less on logos. They don’t need the validation of wearing someone else’s initials instead of their own.” This customer-centred philosophy is well suited to our selfie-obsessed culture. From Facebook to Flipagram, personal branding has become the name of the game, and luxury brands are finding clever ways to cash in on the social media mania. Mulberry’s exclusive monogramming service for bags and small accessories (now available for the first time in Canada at Toronto’s Bloor Street location) includes emoji-like symbols to choose from, in addition to standard alphabet letters. Forget texting, now your iPad sleeves can be tricked-out in hearts, peace signs and even teapots—this is a British brand, dahling.
Pop culture and personalization are the secrets to Anya Hindmarch’s latest success. The Brit designer, known for her cheeky-meets-chic luxury accessories, launched a line of embossed leather stickers in collaboration with Charlotte Stockdale of Chaos Fashion for Spring 2015. A throwback »