The Notebook

A personal notebook on luxury, fashion, design and craftsmanship. Reflections on materials, heritage and the cultural meaning of objects.

My Notes1–8 of 13 notes

Black Friday and the Things We Could Do Without

Black ink drawing on ivory of a hand holding a shopping bag with three paper tags marked 30, 50 and 70 per cent off.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the purchases we start to consider when a price comes down.

Fashion

We Share Poems. Do We Read Them?

Black ink drawing of a dip pen resting on a handwritten page beside a flower and a few grasses, on a warm ivory background.

Amanda Gorman, Ryane Leão and Cécile Coulon: reading poems beyond the lines we share online.

Culture

How Much Growth Can a Luxury Brand Survive?

Black ink drawing of an artisan’s hands positioning a template on leather, with a ruler and cutting tools on a pale ivory background.

Luxury growth under uncertainty: product trust, creative experimentation and the ateliers needed for future collections.

Strategy

Thierry Mugler: The Anatomy of Power

Black ink illustration of a woman in a long black skirt and sheer bodice, with faint archival silhouettes of flame tailoring and a sculptural corset behind her on an ivory background.

Thierry Mugler’s tailoring, couture creatures and stage work, with a look at the house under Miguel Castro Freitas.

Fashion

Fashion in Search of Renewal

Black outline illustration of a woman seen from the side and behind, pinning muslin onto a dress form, with faint garment sketches on an ivory background.

From superstar designers to today’s fashion students: a personal reflection on creative authority, commercial pressure and the time needed to develop new ideas.

The Friday Column

What is castor oil?

Black outline illustration of a castor oil plant with palmate leaves and seed capsules beside a puzzled beaver, its head tilted and broad flat tail visible.

Castor oil comes from a plant. Castoreum is an animal-derived perfume material whose scent can also be reconstructed. A closer look at cosmetic labels and fragrance notes.

Beauty & Fragrance

What are the must-have wardrobe essentials? The women’s edition

Black outline drawing of a woman in a checked dress and hat, standing between rails of hanging clothes.

Choosing women’s wardrobe essentials through complete outfits, comfort, fit and the care needed to keep wearing them.

Fashion

Why the penny loafer feels right now

The penny loafer's current appeal seems closely tied to practical dressing and restrained elegance.

Fashion