Les mondes du luxe

Sotheby’s has announced the sale of Princess Diana’s legendary revenge dress, set for December 9 in New York, with an estimate between $150,000 and $300,000. The black Christina Stambolian gown had sat in her closet for three years, deemed too daring for a royal, before Diana wore it on June 29, 1994, the same evening Charles publicly admitted his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. At the time, black was reserved for royal mourning. Paired with a choker gifted by the Queen Mother and bold red nails, the look instantly became a symbol of reclaimed power, later immortalized in The Crown.

From October 16 to 18, LVMH will host the sixth edition of its Journées Particulières, a free event launched in 2011 that gives the general public the opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes world of its maisons, which are usually closed to visitors. This year, 46 maisons will open 71 locations across 13 countries. The 2026 edition is titled “At the Roots of the Dream”, with highlights including Louis Vuitton’s historic workshop in Asnières, the Fabrique du Temps in Switzerland dedicated to watchmaking, and the shoe manufacturing facility in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy. There will be no products for sale and no runways. Instead, the event aims to give visitors the opportunity to meet the artisans, master craftsmen and experts who bring these maisons’ creations to life. Reservations open this week, in waves depending on the maison: Berluti, Bvlgari, Celine, Guerlain and the Fondation Louis Vuitton will open bookings from Thursday, followed the following week by Chaumet, La Galerie Dior, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Moynat. The previous edition attracted 180,000 visitors.

Since June 4, Van Cleef & Arpels has unveiled its new flagship store at 23 Rue du Rhône, in Geneva. It is a 486 sqm space spread over two floors, bringing together the maison’s two former boutiques in the city under one roof. The space was designed like an apartment, with separate salons dedicated to jewelry, High Jewelry, and watchmaking, offering a view over Lake Geneva. To mark the opening, the maison is presenting, until October 10, the exhibition « Van Cleef & Arpels in Geneva: The Story Continues, » bringing together 80 heritage pieces from the 1930s to today. What’s more, 60 of the 80 pieces on display were loaned by Geneva-based collector clients themselves. It’s a way of turning a commercial opening into a moment of connection with its longtime clientele.

Venice is becoming the world capital of craftsmanship with the fourth edition of Homo Faber. From September 1 to 30, the Giorgio Cini Foundation will host An Island of Light, an exhibition celebrating artisanal expertise from around the world. British artist and designer Es Devlin, renowned for her monumental installations and whose work drew nearly 200,000 visitors to Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera during the latest Salone del Mobile, has been appointed artistic director.Drawing inspiration from the Venetian archipelago, Devlin has designed a route through 15 installations, turning each artisan into an island of knowledge and craftsmanship. Light, water and mirrors shape an immersive experience that unfolds across the foundation’s gardens and Palladian architecture. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be able to attend live demonstrations and workshops, supported by 90 young ambassadors from leading international design schools.

Forty years after its first exhibition in 1985, Fendi returns to Rome’s Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, from July 10 to October 25, 2026. Conceived by Maria Grazia Chiuri and curated by Maria Luisa Frisa, the exhibition’s title sets the tone: “After steps through work / Karl Lagerfeld 1985”  brings together the German designer’s archives, shining a light on one of the most memorable chapters in the history of the Italian fashion house. The day before the exhibition opens, on July 9, Fendi unveiled its Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection. More than a retrospective, the exhibition establishes a dialogue between past and present through the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, whose influence continues to shape the identity of the house.

Hublot announced on September 9 a collaboration with Jeff Koons, one of the most influential contemporary artists of his generation, named the Swiss watchmaker’s new ambassador. It’s a first for the artist, known for his monumental sculptures (Balloon Dog, Rabbit), who had never before worked with a watch brand. The first piece, inspired by his interest in metaphysics and the meaning of time, will be unveiled in in New York.

From September 10 to 14, Maison&Objet will bring together 1,700 brands at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center for its back-to-school edition, titled “Pulse in Motion.” This year, the Fine Craft – Métiers d’Art section spans over 1,000 square meters and brings together nearly 200 French and international artisans, presented by the Ateliers d’Art de France. Among them, metalworker Élie Hirsch, who works for Dior, Loewe, and Schiaparelli, will give a live demonstration of his artistry with iron. New to this edition is the “Manufactures d’Excellence” village, which brings together 20 companies certified as “Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant” (Living Heritage Companies). “Maison&Objet remains a place where emotion fuels meaning, and where meaning fuels business opportunities,” says Philippe Delhomme, chairman of the board of SAFI, the fair’s organizer.

Antwerp Jewellery Week returns for its fourth edition from October 1 to 4, 2026, with innovation at the forefront. The theme “Innovation Without Limits” challenges artisans and designers to redefine the conventions of contemporary jewelry. Artists, designers, and students will explore new materials and techniques through workshops, galleries, and iconic venues throughout Antwerp. Since 2025, the event has also welcomed international talent, enriching it with fresh artistic perspectives. In the diamond capital, tradition and experimentation go hand in hand.

Luxury hotel groups are no longer content with building grand hotels on land, they are taking to the sea. Following in the footsteps of Ritz-Carlton and Orient Express, Four Seasons has entered the world of cruising with Four Seasons I, a 207-metre yacht launched in March that sails between the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Aman is set to follow in 2027, confirming the rise of a new form of floating luxury hospitality.

To mark 160 years of chronographs, Tiffany & Co. unveils a new Tiffany Timer in titanium and platinum, limited to 100 pieces. The real hidden gem is located on the back, through its sapphire caseback and a tiny bird hand-carved in 18-karat gold. The work of art pays tribute to Jean Schlumberger’s « Bird on a Rock, » one of the house’s most iconic motifs. A reminder that Tiffany remains, first and foremost, a jewelry house.

The Belgian designer announced this Sunday the relaunch of his brand, which had been put on hold in May 2015. After training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, he first made a name for himself as artistic director at Dior Homme for 11 years (2007–2018), succeeding Hedi Slimane. He then took the helm at Berluti until 2021. Today, the real novelty is his desire to design for both men and women. It’s a creative choice he knows well, having studied it early in his career by focusing on womenswear, before building his career around menswear. « The desire to work on womenswear never went away. The moment seems right to bring the two together, » he said in a statement, describing this launch as both a « return and a beginning. »

Van Assche thus joins a generation of Belgian designers who now dominate the luxury houses, alongside Raf Simons (Prada), Pieter Mulier (Alaïa), and Matthieu Blazy (Chanel).

For its 170th anniversary, Burberry is offering a memorable experience at London’s V&A: a free exhibition set up in the Prince Consort Gallery, a space rarely open to the public. « The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon » opens on September 21, echoing the Burberry show taking place that same week during London Fashion Week, and runs through January 3, 2027. The exhibition traces the history of the iconic trench coat in three parts. It begins with Thomas Burberry’s invention of cotton gabardine in 1879, continues with the coat’s manufacturing details, and closes with a selection of 19 runway silhouettes from the past twenty-five years, designed by Christopher Bailey and Daniel Lee. This collaboration marks the first step in a long-term partnership between the two institutions, which is set to culminate in the opening of a permanent Burberry gallery within the V&A in autumn 2028.

Louis Vuitton and Singer Vehicle Design unveiled two exclusive Porsches during Monterey Car Week 2026 in California. Based on the Porsche 911 Type 964, they blend heritage and the House’s craftsmanship. A saffron and cobalt blue Singer Classic Coupé and an ivory white turbo convertible with wood accents, designed under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquière, both accompanied by custom-made LV luggage. At the outset of this collaboration, Singer had simply asked Louis Vuitton to create a dashboard clock inspired by the Tambour watch, but the project ultimately expanded to the creation of two one-of-a-kind 911s. Their price has not been disclosed, but each is estimated to be worth over 2.5 million pounds.

From 20 to 23 August 2026, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad will bring together the international polo elite against the spectacular backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Just a stone’s throw from Saanen Airfield, the tournament combines top-level competition, elegance and the art of living, featuring a Polo Village, luxury boutiques and a VIP programme that will culminate in the Polo Night on Saturday evening.