Our January Luxury List
A refined edit for the start of the year.
January has a way of sharpening perspective. With the noise of the festive season behind us, attention shifts toward pieces and experiences that feel fresh, yet deliberate, lasting, and here to stay for some time. This month’s Luxury List is guided by that sentiment – a curated selection of investment icons, winter escapes, and sensorial details that resonate now and continue to do so well beyond just a certain season.
1. The Ultimate Investment Piece – Hermès Birkin 25 in Gold Togo
Few pieces carry the same quiet authority as the Hermès Birkin 25. Presented in the house’s signature Gold shade, this iteration strikes the perfect balance between warmth and versatility – a color that works effortlessly across seasons and wardrobes. Crafted from highly sought-after Togo leather, prized for its fine grain and supple yet resilient finish, it retains its structure while softening beautifully with time.
It is positioned as a contemporary classic grounded in Hermès’ enduring craftsmanship. Available on a pre-order basis, it speaks to a more considered approach to luxury – one rooted in longevity rather than immediacy. As with all investment pieces of this calibre, market value is fluid and may evolve in response to demand and rarity.
Rich tones and tactile leather pair seamlessly with wool coats, cashmere layers, and a pared-back seasonal palette, adding polish without excess – perfect winter wear.
Available to shop at therealluxury.com
2. The Destination – St. Moritz, Switzerland
A perennial favourite, St. Moritz continues to define alpine luxury with ease.
St. Moritz is widely recognised as the birthplace of alpine winter tourism and today, it remains one of Europe’s most enduring symbols of winter glamour. The atmosphere is unmistakably refined: impeccable people-watching, a dining scene defined by world-class restaurants, and a compact town centre that blends alpine charm with international luxury, including two Prada boutiques within walking distance.
Among its most discreet and well-known curated stays sits Carlton Hotel St. Moritz – an elegant five-star retreat originally built in 1913 and meticulously refurbished to contemporary standards. With just 60 south-facing suites, the hotel offers an intimate sense of privacy, each room opening onto sweeping views of Lake St. Moritz and the Engadine Valley. Guests can dine at the two-Michelin-starred Da Vittorio, unwind across the hotel’s expansive three-level spa – complete with indoor and outdoor pools – or retreat to the penthouse suite, where space, light, and stillness define the experience. Beyond the slopes, St. Moritz reveals its versatility: ice skating on the frozen lake, horse-drawn carriage rides through town, exhilarating toboggan runs, and refined shopping all contribute to a winter rhythm that feels both elevated and effortlessly restorative.
3. The Coffee Table Book – Versace by Donatella Versace
A must-have for every fashion enthusiast – deeply personal, visual chronicle of one of fashion’s most iconic houses, Versace by Donatella Versace offers an intimate look into the legacy of a brand synonymous with Italian opulence, confidence, and unapologetic glamour. Richly illustrated, the volume traces Donatella’s vision of Versace in the twenty-first century, positioning her not only as creative director but as curator and guardian of Versace. It brings together exclusive contemporary and archival imagery – from runway moments and backstage scenes to intimate glimpses inside the Versace atelier – accompanied by original essays from some of fashion’s most authoritative voices.
Featuring striking photography by legends such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Steven Meisel, alongside images of Versace designs worn by the original supermodels – including Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista – as well as Hollywood’s elite in couture creations, the book captures the magnetic glamour and cultural weight that define the house of Versace. More than a coffee table book, it is a visual testament to a fashion maison that still continues to shape fashion through confidence, craft, and unmistakable allure.
Available to shop therealluxury.com
4. The Scent – Le Labo Thé Noir 29
Le Labo Thé Noir 29 is an ideal fragrance for the winter season. Centered around black tea leaves, it is softened by fig and grounded with tobacco and woody notes, evolving gradually on the skin to impart a sense of sensual refinement. This fragrance is an homage to the noble tea leaf and the craftsmanship involved, skillfully balancing contrast: freshness and depth, softness and strength, light and shadow.
Bright notes of bergamot and bay leaf softly settle into a warmer, more enveloping base of cedarwood, vetiver, and musk. A distinctive black tea extraction lends a dry, leafy nuance with subtle hints of hay and tobacco, lingering softly on the skin – leaving a lasting impression without being overpowering. This scent does not proclaim itself but reveals its character through proximity, perfectly aligning with winter’s slower pace, understated elegance, and quiet luxury fashion choices.
5. The Winter Fashion Campaign – Bottega Veneta Latest Campaign by Louise Trotter (Spring/Summer 2026)
Although winter still lingers, fashion’s gaze has already begun to shift toward spring and summer – and Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2026 campaign offers a composed, refined preview of what’s ahead. Free from overt branding, this season’s imagery is a study in understatement and refinement, favouring form, materiality, and quiet expressiveness over logos or spectacle, yet in a playful, fresh way. Captured through an intimate lens, the campaign highlights Louise Trotter’s innovative dialogue with the maison’s artisanal heritage, from the proportions of original Intrecciato weaving to the evolution of the house’s iconic accessories and signature silhouettes, with a touch of playfulness and boldness added. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection was Trotter’s debut for the Italian fashion house, and it did not disappoint – the impression of high-quality designs and luxury was instantly felt through all the chic tailoring, playful textures, and colors that are wearable, simple, and beautiful.
