“Luxury … is to go to SoulCycle and treat yourself to an avocado toast, instead of going to buy those new Gucci loafers,” Owens said. A pair of shoes that you can share on social media once or twice doesn’t have the legs that it once did. The new luxury is convenience, culture, wellness, and sustainability.” – Philly.com
I’m home in front of my laptop still feeling high from my hour and a half walk/run along Penn’s Landing. It feels so good to move my body and put in my steps first thing in the morning. My watch tells me that I’ve managed to put in more than 10K steps and it’s only 10:00 am. That, to me, is already a win!
So I am scanning philly.com and came across an article by Elizabeth Wellington on the comings and goings of high-end retail shops on Walnut Street in Center City. She attributes the closing of stores like Michael Kors, Guess, and others to a shift in how we define luxury. These days, we want more high-end experiences rather than material acquisitions. Philadelphians apparently are demanding more healthy restaurant fare, challenging workout experiences, and shopping in showroom-like stores.
I personally see some truth in this. I know that I get excited when I come across a juice bar, a salad bar offering incentive to bring a reusable container, or a pop-up market selling fresh organic produce. I enjoy spinning and have gone to Flywheel and would like to try SoulCycle at some point. Most of all, I am absolutely enjoying the convenience of the open space along the river to be lost in one’s thoughts, listen to music, and workout in solidarity with strangers and kindred spirits all at once.
