NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "The consumer is king" and will benefit from the global economic recession as luxury houses rethink their business strategy, writes Tina Gaudoin, editor-in-chief of WSJ., The Wall Street Journal's glossy magazine, which is set to hit newsstands in the U.S. on Sept. 12 and Sept. 11 in Europe and Asia.
"Luxury goods houses will have to rethink the way they appeal to us, the consumers, in order to survive...which ultimately means greater value, superior products and a better deal," writes Ms. Gaudoin in her cover story, "Changed State of Luxury." The magazine explores the recalibration of luxury focusing on diamonds, luxury cars, top-end real estate, accessories and travel. "Luxury is still a big business -- $175 billion big -- and all of us have contemplated abstinence in the past year, at least where purchasing is concerned," she added.
WSJ. explores a new movement in design and fashion also born, at least in part, out of the economic downturn. Rough Luxe, the idea of juxtaposing the functional everyday against the brilliance of the new and modern, made itself known on the runways this year. "Interior designers have been working Rough Luxe in its various forms for at least the last five years," said Ms. Gaudoin, "but the fact that it crossed over into fashion means it's more than a passing trend."
Additional key features in the September issue of WSJ. include:
* A Man Obsessed: Amanresorts is one of the most exclusive -- if not
the most exclusive -- hotel chains in the world with lush properties
in exotic spots like Phuket, Thailand, and Marrakesh, Morocco.
Its influence can be found in leading upscale hotels like the
Ritz Carlton, but yet it's not widely known about in the U.S. WSJ.
delves into the secret behind founder Adrian Zecha's success.
* The Partnership: Beatles producer Sir George Martin and his son
Giles have turned the Fab Four's legacy into a 21st-Century
invasion with a massive CD issue this month, a blockbuster video
game and the Grammy-award-winning soundtrack for the Las Vegas
show "Love." WSJ. explores the pair's special relationship.
* Gun Hobby: The price of a custom-fitted Fabbri shotgun starts at
$125,000 but the Italian makers have a five-year waitlist. WSJ.
offers a behind-the-scenes look at the private gun collection of
Mexican-born pop singer Thalia (and wife of Tommy Mottola),
including her $175,000 intricately engraved Fabbri, and explains
what all the fuss is about.
* An Uncommon Thread: The cost of the world's priciest spice is
closing in on $3,000 a pound. WSJ. checks in with a few renegade
chefs and the self-proclaimed Saffron King, Behroush Sharifi, who
tend to their business with the intensity of drug runners.
With a global circulation of 960,000, WSJ. will appear on Saturday, Sept. 12, in the U.S. Weekend Edition of the Journal and on Friday, Sept. 11, in The Wall Street Journal Asia and The Wall Street Journal Europe. All content from WSJ. magazine, including additional video and interactive elements, is available for free online at http://wsj.com/magazine.
About WSJ.
WSJ., a lifestyle magazine published by The Wall Street Journal, provides the inside track on how to live life to the fullest -- from cars to fashion, property to philanthropy, personalities to travel, and collecting to investing. Launched in Sept. 2008, WSJ. explores the smartest, most sophisticated choices worldwide. WSJ. is distributed to a global circulation of approximately 960,000 Wall Street Journal subscribers in the United States, Europe and Asia. Content from WSJ. is available for free at The Wall Street Journal Online (www.wsj.com).
The WSJ. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5100