Luxury Lifestyle Show Introduction

Kieran 0:03

Welcome to the lifestyles of the Richesin and Famous. From design, fashion, and travel to pop culture and all the fabulous details in between. This is where luxury isn't just a look, it's a lifestyle.

Melissa 0:24

So thanks for having me in.

Todd 0:25

Well, thanks for coming today.

Melissa 0:26

I'm so excited. I think um every time we talk, I like learn more not only about you, but just about like myself, even like what I like what I do and and things like my icks. And I think it's always interesting to have like the duality of like different things, different people, different places, different experiences, different, you know, likes. Um and so when we chat often, I think it's a lot of times like stuff that we see on like Instagram or in the news or things that are trending.

Todd 1:02

And I'm forever sending you that stuff that I see that I think is kind of interesting.

The Ralph Lauren Effect Returns

Melissa 1:05

Yes, and I appreciate that because sometimes my algorithm isn't your algorithm, right? But then it allows us to like chat about, you know, whatever. But one of the biggest like talking points right now is what people are calling the Roth Lauren effect.

Todd 1:21

Right.

Melissa 1:21

Right?

Todd 1:22

And that's which is so interesting because it was just um like Fashion Week and he just launched the He just showed for the first time in 10 years in Milan, and it was the first time that he had shown uh purple label label, which like this is a purple label sweater, was how fitting mixed with uh just regular polo. Um, and honestly, that's the way that people wear it. I mean, they mix the higher with the lower, or you know, you might wear this shirt, this sweater with this uh J. Crew uh denim shirt. So I think the mix of fashion is where the magic is to me.

Melissa 2:01

And I think that's interesting because also like I think people talk about like um having designer head to toe and that being like tacky and like old money, that's another like thing, right? Old money is you know, you're not wearing labels all over the place. Right. You've got like a hint of this, or you've even said like I'll wear a Zara shirt with like exactly Gucci loafers, exactly. So it's like just knowing that style. I think that's like you know, but it's not fashion, it's style. It's style, yeah. And there's a difference, and just because you have money or wealth doesn't necessarily mean you have style. Right. Right? Like to know how to like pair things or whatever. Um, but so okay, I think it's interesting because I feel like there's kind of like a resurgence of this, like it went away and there was more like minimalism, and now like the old money aesthetic or the like the Ralph Lauren thing. Um, and it's like this layered, this all of this deep saturated tones, it's all coming back.

Buy Once Buy Better

Todd 3:02

Right. I totally agree. Almost all of the work we're doing right now is very traditional, and it's colorful, rich tones. I think it feels fresh, but I mean we're using antiques, we're using you know, classical upholstered uh pieces, traditional dining chairs, and so I love that because that for me is where my personal taste lies, and uh I'm glad to see it's making a resurgence. I I hope that social media doesn't fuck it up because you know making it too trendy and classical stuff is never trendy, right? Like this sweater I think is a perfect example. I love it, it's one of my favorite sweaters, but I have probably owned it for 15 years, and um I think if you buy nice pieces, they last. Furniture and clothing, yes, exactly, and and timeless, they're timeless designs. A lot of what I see at Ralph Lauren new every year is something that's already hanging in my wardrobe. Yeah, you know, because I bought it six years ago, eight years ago, ten years ago, and it's still pretty. And I mean, everybody knows I have a lot of clothes, that's no secret. So I don't wear anything a lot because I try to really rotate through stuff. Uh, and I think that's another reason why my stuff maybe lasts longer than others because I don't wear a lot of the over and over again over and over again, but it's still here and I still love it and I still wear it. So um I try to buy classic things.

Melissa 4:43

I mean you talk about this a lot, like in design also, and like investing in the piece. So, yes, it might be, I'll even say, like a little out of your budget at first, but in the long run, it's gonna make more sense because you're not gonna replace it. Exactly. Versus, you know, I think early on we talked about like the target piece that you're gonna you know need to replace more frequently than like investing in a nice leather.

Todd 5:07

So this sofa was done for my very first condo 30 years ago. So um I still love it today, and fabulous. It has moved around, you know, with us. It lived with us in the old city uh from my from my condo where it was done for, and then it it's lived with us here. And actually, almost all of the pieces in this room, upholstered pieces, were from that era. This chair's been recovered, that one wears its original fabric that I I did that chair for, you know, 30 years ago, but I still love it. So um I think you do things right and you do them once, and then you can focus on the next thing, you know, and you're not redoing.

Melissa 5:52

I think that's true in fashion also because I feel like a lot of that like I'm a shoe person, like the I that's where all splurged on a really lovely pair of like Manolos or Gucci or whatever.

Todd 6:06

Right.

Melissa 6:06

But then I have very few shoes that like you know, maybe some I bought 10, 20 years ago that I couldn't still wear now. Right. Versus like going to like Aldo. Is Aldo still a thing?

Todd 6:18

I don't know.

Melissa 6:19

I don't know, but like you know what I'm saying, or nine west, that was like another maybe that's not even a thing anymore either. But those types of you know, shoes that are more trendy.

Todd 6:28

Right.

Melissa 6:29

So I think the takeaway is the trends are what come and go, and then you're kind of just the classic things always look good. Always stay. Yes.

Todd 6:38

They always look good.

Melissa 6:39

Furniture, fashion, everything.

Todd 6:40

And I think that's like the room that we're sitting in. I don't think that you can tell exactly when this was decorated.

Melissa 6:47

Well, you I think you're it in a perfect situation where you can just design to to your style, right? You always want that um collected feel and like the layers.

Todd 7:01

Yes.

Melissa 7:01

Instead of it's just, you know, everything is brand new, because then that lacks character.

Todd 7:07

It does lack character. And I think that the uh the layered look is something that we as a firm do really, really well because that's where my real interest lies, that's where Bobby's real interest lies, um, in these richly layered rooms where it's um a complex color palette, um, where it's uh leather, suede, plaid, print, velvet, straight, animal.

Melissa 7:38

Exactly. Yeah.

Todd 7:39

And it's somehow it all melds together. You know, there's always some glue. Like in this room, I think the rug's incredibly important um because it sort of grounds everything, and then all of the colors in the room are sort of found in the rug. Um, but you know, you want to start out and kind of I talk with clients about this a lot. You want, I want to determine what their feeling is, what they're trying to evoke with their interiors so that we can create that.

Melissa 8:10

Yeah, you know, I think it's so interesting because I I I feel like, you know, we've talked about this too, like you're either born with having kind of this eye and understanding like what looks good and what works or whatever, or you don't. And I think you know, it's something that as people mature and then they have like their first apartment, and then they have their first, you know, townhouse, and then they have their first home. A lot of people lack the ability, like they know what they want perhaps, or they know what they like, but they don't have the ability to like create it, right? So then I think what ends up happening, and this is just my opinion, so I'm curious what you say, but then what ends up happening is they look on like Pinterest or they look on Instagram, and then they'll buy like this one piece that they like, and then they'll buy like this other thing, and then it ends up But it's not a it's not a a complete thought, right?

Todd 9:02

Yeah, and then it's disjointed and then they don't like it, and then right one of the things that I always request of new clients, and if if they can't put the effort in to give this to me, then I generally don't take the job. If if they first of all, a lot of people some people are able to articulate their their vision very well, some people are not. So what I always ask for are 10 to 20 photographs of spaces that they like. And if I can't get on your same page from that, then I'm not doing my job very good. And the uh I always tell them, don't say that this is the the sofa that I like, or I want this pillow, or I like this lamp. Just the feeling of the space. If you can sit down with magazines and pull out 10 to 20 pictures of things that you really like, of like spaces that make you feel good, there will be a clear style, color palette, that they're drawn to taste level that they're drawn to. I had I asked one lady to do this. This was very interesting for me because I it was the first and only time this has happened. I asked her to do that. She gave me pictures of landscapes, like exterior things. They always had blue water in them and they always had very bright green. And what she was saying is, I am really drawn to these tones. And so that's what we did and for her. So she knew she wanted something that was traditional. It was a it was a a Victorian house, actually, here in Knoxville, and uh she wanted an updated sort of traditional, but we used those watery blues, uh verdant greens, and it was really, really pretty. And we delivered what she wanted, but it was in the the birth of the idea came in an unusual way.

Melissa 10:58

Yeah, we do the same thing for like branding logos, websites. You know, we want to see like what are you drawn to, what aesthetic do you like? Right. But it's interesting, a lot of times, especially with logos, people will send us stuff that's all over the place. Yeah, that doesn't happen. Like you feel like there's normally like a thread.

Todd 11:14

I think there's usually uh when I get the pictures, I think there's usually a thread of continuity. And and I'm working with somebody right now who did this amazing, she had done it on her own before she even called me. Uh, these are the rooms and these are my inspiration photos. It was so helpful because I'm like already there on board with her, and she had great ideas, she just didn't understand or know how to bring it to life.

Melissa 11:40

So, do you ever have because again, we have this a lot, so I'm just curious. Like, people will say, I want super modern, I want, you know, whatever terms they want to use. And they really don't, and they really don't, and that happens so often.

Todd 11:55

I had a lady tell me one time that she wanted bright, bold colors. She loved bright colors, and I did three beautiful uh fabric groupings for her. She hated it.

Melissa 12:09

Because they were bold, bright colors.

Todd 12:12

I said, she so this time she's the next time she said a little bit softer, like a little more pink tones, um a little, you know, she gave me some direction a little bit more this way. I did it again. They were all three beautiful. She hated them. And finally I said, Okay, I want to come and see your closet because I want to see what you wear.

Melissa 12:37

Oh, that is such yes, okay. So I went.

Todd 12:41

And I had said the reason I said that is because I had only seen her in a business suit. She was a professional, lovely lady, and um, so everything in her closet was muted black or beige or white. But her accessory wall was all these beautiful bright colors, like she would have a hot pink blouse, uh a multicolored scarf, bright jewelry. So she wore that as an accent with these neutrals.

Melissa 13:15

Neutrals, yeah.

Todd 13:15

So the next thing that I presented to her was an all-neutral palette, and we did a chair that was in a brighter fabric, some sofa pillows that were in a brighter fabric. She absolutely loved it, but it was very quiet, it was a very quiet palette. So she really did like color and she wanted color, but she led with it incorrectly to convey the way that she wanted it to use. And I don't think that she did that intentionally. I think she actually thought that's what she wanted, but she didn't realize the version of that that she wanted until she saw it presented to her.

Melissa 13:55

Yes. Well, and I think even again, over the years of doing my own home not well, but you know, I again like I'll be I'll gravitate towards a piece, right? And well, now I I know enough to not do this, but I will be like, oh, okay, I really like this piece. Well, you like that piece because of wherever you saw it in the whole thing. Exactly, not and then you put it into a completely different space, and you're like the same effect, it doesn't have the same effect. So, I mean, to me, I'm like, you know, just like with what I do, this is why you hire a professional because they are going to be thinking about all of these things and how it works together, and you know, right, versus most people don't do that, no, or aren't even considering like the the wall color, maybe, or they're you know, they're picking the wall color separate of whatever else.

Start With Textiles Not Paint

Todd 14:45

And and wall cut paint is infinitely malleable, right? I mean, there's as many shades of paint as you need, and if the shade doesn't exist, then you add a little more white to it or add a little more blue to it and you create it, right? But I like to start with fabrics, rugs, textiles because those are much more limited. So uh a lot of people mess up real early on because they start with paint, and um so they pick this color that they love, but then they can't find anything to go with it. Well, they could have picked a two shades darker or you know, three shades lighter, so it'd been the same effect, but it would have made their life so much simpler and co coordinating stuff with it.

Melissa 15:34

So, do you think like talking about the Ralph Lauren, you know, um return and style or whatever, and then it's also in my mind it's kind of related to like the 2016 trend that just happened where people are like going back and pulling out these things. Do you think it's all related in we're kind of seeking, like we kind of lost a little bit of design or a little bit of um, you know, like it's almost too like fast fashion type, like that's where we were headed, and now people are kind of craving like a pullback. Correcting that. Yeah, yeah. So you think that's gonna be like a trend?

Making A Home Feel Like You

Todd 16:15

I do think that people are correcting uh where they uh went too far one direction. Um and I've been asked to do that recently on a couple of projects where um you know the the project started off very clean and simple and now they want more detail or they want a little bit more color or they want to rich in it. Um so I think that's interesting, you know, and it it's very telling of how you feel about the spaces where you live. I I think the idea of this hotel room aesthetic that's got nothing in it feels very restful, but at some point you're kind of like You want it to feel homey. It doesn't feel like home. I don't feel like home here. And and I think that the collected interior makes you feel more like home because the things that you surround yourself with are direct extensions of you and your personality and your life and where you've been. So um and things that evoke uh feelings within you, you know, art is so strong about evoking a feeling, or it reminds you of a place, or it's spirited and you feel happy about it. So I I like a room that has a story to tell.

Melissa 17:41

Yeah, no, I think that's good. I think being able to pull that out of someone so that what you know, whatever you're doing, if you're designing their wardrobe or if you're designing your home or their website, then it's like you know, being able to help them tell that story is like the most important thing. And then that's when if you can successfully do that, then that's when everything kind of comes together and sings.

Todd 18:09

Right. I agree. Yeah, but the Ralph Lauren thing, I mean, the man is a genius.

Melissa 18:17

You I mean, clearly because he's been Yes. I mean, it's just been steady, right?

Todd 18:22

I mean, did you know that he used to sell neckties out of the back of his car to McClellan's here in town?

Melissa 18:28

No.

Todd 18:28

Yes. Where is he from? Um, I'm not sure exactly where he's from. Uh I think somewhere in Europe. Because his his last name is like not Lauren. It's well, okay.

Melissa 18:40

My mom used to say Ralph Loren.

Todd 18:42

Yeah.

Melissa 18:42

And then, but then I remember I said that at some point early on, and people were like, it's Ralph Lauren. I was like, Loren, like it's, you know, sounds like Sophia. It sounds yeah, exactly. It sounds more like bougie. I don't know, but is he? I thought he was just like, you know, New England.

Todd 18:58

Yeah, I mean, he lives in in New York and New England, and but I do think um, I'm I'm not sure exactly where he's from. I haven't studies on that on that.

Melissa 19:08

But um put it in the comments if you know.

Todd 19:11

Yeah, exactly. Um, but his style is just timeless, and I love the way I think his life with Ricky has shaped his fashion and he designs for him and for her, and he has created these homes that are so richly layered, we can only aspire to live like Ralph Lauren lives, you know. Yeah, I I just think it's it it's a beautiful way of life that that he's created and the the classicness of all that, you know.

Melissa 19:49

Yeah, well, and it I mean it truly is timeless. I've got like sweaters and stuff from college that like I could a thousand percent still wear today.

Todd 19:57

Yeah.

Melissa 19:58

And then, you know, that kind of goes back to what we were saying about like invest in the nice pieces because I'm sure at the time it was like, you know, a $300 sweater and I've justified it. You know, but I think it I really like that it's coming back because um, I mean it again, I read this whole thing that was like the people who grew up in the like monochromatic, like white sterile house, like it affects you later. Right. I don't know if that's true or not, but I don't know.

Todd 20:27

But um, I just think it the that cozy rooms, you know, interesting rooms feel better to be in. And and that's one of the things that I love about this house is I think a lot of people would find it uh maybe a little fancy. Um I I find it very comfortable. And and most people who come here, I think all find it very comfortable. Like Jake is lounging on a silk tiger velvet chair, and I love that. I mean, that's what it's all about. It's like, you know, sitting down, enjoying yourself, being comfortable in a in a space that just happens to be pretty.

Melissa 21:08

Yeah, inexpensive.

Todd 21:10

Well, there's that.

Melissa 21:12

Most of the time it does take a little bit of money.

Todd 21:15

But I mean, a lot of what we have, we've done as we had money to do it.

Melissa 21:20

Right, as you like the fabric that we talked about in the other room. Yeah. Like that was, you know, you could afford a small piece and then you were saving. Yeah.

Todd 21:29

Yeah. And art is another thing that I think uh people don't ever have enough of it, right?

Melissa 21:36

I definitely do not.

Todd 21:38

They don't ever have enough of it. And they're intimidated by it, they're afraid to buy it, and you know, they'll look at like this portrait that's behind you. I don't know who that is. So I think it's weird to have to have a a face in my yeah. But I look at it as oh my gosh, that's so cleverly done. And so Bobby and I buy art. Without knowing where it's gonna go.

Melissa 22:02

Just because you're drawn to it.

Todd 22:03

Just because we're drawn to it. And like if it's a big piece, like the one behind me, we would think, okay, there's probably we could do this and move this here and move that. We'll think a little bit more about a bigger piece. Right. But a lot of things we just think, oh my gosh, that's really cool. I think we could use it. And we'll get it and we'll maybe move five or six things to make it work. But I love that collected nature that that art gives you. And oh some of our art's very expensive, some of it is not. And I just think it has to be images that you're drawn to that you really like.

Melissa 22:44

Yeah.

Todd 22:44

And light is another thing that's really important with art. So if you've got if you can combine that with something that is really well lit, I think it it's super successful.

Melissa 22:56

When you're working with someone and they don't have any art, is it?

Todd 22:59

It's the hardest thing I do.

Melissa 23:00

Really?

Todd 23:00

Yes.

Melissa 23:01

So do you help them either like commission a piece or like find a piece?

Todd 23:07

People are afraid to do it. I I mean, generally.

Melissa 23:10

I mean, I can understand that because I feel my you know, my mom's an artist, my aunt's an artist, like they paint, they you know, draw. But I it does, it's intimidating in some way to like actually invest in a really nice piece. I feel like maybe we should go and look at art and you can explain like this would be really cool. Well, this room. Yeah.

Todd 23:31

Yeah. And my idea of expensive may not be somebody else's either. And um I I just think that people don't know what to buy and they don't know where to put it when they get it. And most people can't imagine spending money on a painting to go over your fireplace and then finding another painting you like better for over the fireplace. Not that you like the painting better, you just think it's better in that spot. Right. And then moving that to the bedroom. Okay. They don't get it.

Melissa 24:01

I have a question for you.

Todd 24:02

Yeah.

TVs Over Fireplaces And Better Options

Melissa 24:02

So over almost everyone's fireplace right now, they have a TV.

Todd 24:07

Yeah.

Melissa 24:07

Right? And then now they're doing that frame TV thing. What do you think about that?

Todd 24:13

You know, I don't mind it, honestly. And I I think most people don't have a lot of artwork. So if they can get a museum quality image that's not, you know, like Starry Night from Van Gogh, you know, you do something that's really good but not instantly recognizable, and you get this wonderful character in a room as a result of it, then I'm all in. And there are, you know, we'll make frames to go around them and um, you know, frame them up like a piece of art. So I I do not hate that idea. Um because TVs are, you know, it's just it is what it is. It is what it is. People got them. And rooms generally have one the best rooms like for TV watching have one focal point, which happens to be a fireplace, usually. So it's kind of that it just that's where the TV ends up, right? Because you want it at the focal point, which happens to be the fireplace, and you s you're centering things around that. Um, so it's kind of weird, I think, if you know, of course, in this room, in this room, it's not the TV is over there, the fireplace is over there, but you can see the TV and the fireplace both from the same setting.

Melissa 25:36

See, I think I love that because honestly, you don't even realize the TV here, and then and then you're like, oh, it's different. Whereas like I one thing I hate about my living room is it's I feel like I have this beautiful fireplace and then I have this ugly TV, but yeah.

Todd 25:52

Well, maybe there's a way that the furniture could be rearranged so that it didn't have to be that be there. Yeah. Or you could do the frame.

Melissa 26:00

I think the frame is ugly, and then it's weird, like I have ADD, so that I think it's weird that then the TV is only in the lower section and then there's still the mirror. Have you seen that?

Todd 26:10

Well, I have used those before. Like if we in a I did this in a historic house, uh, we did a big, beautiful mirror that's over the fireplace, but it has a TV in a portion of it.

Melissa 26:23

Well, that's yeah, the one that I saw.

Todd 26:25

It's like it They work great. It works great. That doesn't bother me.

Melissa 26:29

Like that would bother me that the TV was on the room.

Todd 26:32

I think you would really. And you've seen it in hotel rooms too, where the TV is behind the mirror, you know, at the vanity.

Melissa 26:38

Yeah, I guess that's true.

Todd 26:40

You sort of watch that, you know.

Melissa 26:41

Yeah. I I would just like like I honestly I would love it if my husband could build like a thing.

Todd 26:48

Well, you can, and we've done that before. It's you kind of like do like bifold doors, and it could be done with a series of prints or paintings or whatever. You know, you hang frame them all up together and make it so that you can open it. We've done that before. Um, but if people like convenience, I know, you know, so opening it every day, and then you can't set something on your mantle because the doors have to open. And so there's trade-offs, you know.

Melissa 27:15

I guess I have to stick with the TV. We are like a football family too, so it's like you have to have this TV. Yeah, but like from a design, like I it's ugly.

Todd 27:24

Yeah, right.

Melissa 27:25

But this is great how it is like you don't even notice the TV.

Todd 27:28

And I think because we have so much art, I I think people miss the TV in every room. I mean, people miss it in the sunroom, and it's very prominent in there.

Melissa 27:36

Yeah, but it's not like that's what's great about it.

Todd 27:39

Yeah, because it's hidden, yeah, in plain sight.

Logos Loud Luxury And Real Style

Melissa 27:42

In plain sight, right? But I mean, see, it's clever. That's why you get paid what you do, because you can, you know, manipulate the room so that it looks like that. So I think there can be, because we talk a lot about like luxury and like designer, right? A fine line between like, you know, it's luxury or it's cliche or it's like tack, like too much, it's like tacky, like wearing head-to-toe designer.

Todd 28:12

I think the head-to-toe designer thing can be incredibly beautiful chic. And I have a friend, very good friend of mine, and she does that beautifully. I mean, hat, blouse, skirt, shoes, bag, all one look. And it's you can see the designer's real intention, right? When when that is able to happen. And she can afford to do it. And she doesn't do it with every outfit she wears, and she mixes things, but when she does do it, I think it's brilliant and beautiful. You know, the the the Fendi sweater with the Fendi skirt, with the Fendi stockings, with the bag that's coordinated and the boot that's coordinated.

Melissa 29:02

So I can get behind that. But what if it's like a Chanel hat and it says Chanel on it, and then it's like a Gucci sweater, and then it's like a you know, that's a little that's a little bit much to me generally.

Todd 29:17

But I'm accused of that, you know. Like I'll have on a a Ralph Lawrence sweater and an Air MS belt, but you know, I did it not because of the designer of the designer, but the belt happened to be orange, and and I had a little orange in the sweater and I wanted to pull that out, or the belt matched my shoe. And so you'll mix designers. Oh, absolutely. And I get a lot layered. Yeah, layered. I get a lot of shit about my clothes on on in comments on the on social media. And I'm like if I like it, if I like it, you know, I really don't care what you think about it. And and somebody uh the other day I was reading, you know, that uh designer labels were dead. And I started thinking about that, and everything has a label on it.

Melissa 30:12

Yeah.

Todd 30:13

You know, and everything, even the if you know you know, you know, you can tell by the cut of a jacket if it's or mes, if you know anything about fashion, or the way that the stitching's done on the edge, or Tom Brown, it's got the little red, white, and blue uh ribbon ribbon on it as a very subtle detail. So even the if you know you know are you into like loud luxury then? I mean, I like some designer things. I mean, I I don't have a problem with that. Yeah, but I don't think that what I wear is necessarily what I would call loud luxury.

Melissa 30:51

Um well I think your style is great because you float between, in my opinion, you'll wear like you know, something Gucci, and then the next day you'll wear like you know, and it's a completely different look.

Todd 31:04

Completely different look and completely different vibe every day.

Melissa 31:07

Every day, yeah.

Todd 31:08

Right. And I I like that. I like that I've had the ability to create a wardrobe where I can match the way that I feel. And I tend to wear stuff in blocks. I think um loud luxury though is funny because I mean I do think that that's and I've seen that this I I I uh follow somebody like Style of Palm Beach or something like that on uh Instagram. And the other day she had this lady who was, you know, the big Chanel thing in her hair and a different designer here, and a giant belt that was Dolce and Gabbana, and you know, it was it was everything had a big label on it. Uh, and I do not like that.

Melissa 31:52

I agree.

Todd 31:52

But if I'm wearing a burgundy hat that has a Gucci logo on it and doesn't say Gucci in big letters, to me, that is like a burgundy hat. It just happens to have it just happens to be Gucci. Right. So if I want to wear that with a Ralph Lauren sweater, I would wear that with a Ralph Lauren sweater if I thought it was pretty, the colors were pretty together. It's not about I don't see it as trying to wear a designer hat. I see it as wearing a burgundy hat with this sweater that has the color in it.

Melissa 32:24

Well, I think that's kind of like once you can afford this, it does change your opinion on it, right? I think a lot of times, again, like I'll use like, you know, your younger like college students or whatever, they want that because it's designer. Doesn't even matter what it looks like.

Todd 32:38

I don't buy it because it's designer, I buy it because I like the design.

Melissa 32:42

The design or the color on the design.

Todd 32:44

And if it happens to have their logo on it, I I'm fine with that. We we bought a beautiful sweater from Louis Vuitton in Paris. Um, you've probably not seen it, but it does have the LV logo on it, kind of big in the front, but it's got this beautiful fox that's woven into the sweater that's running through the logo. I'd never seen anything like it. And I thought it was just so clever. Yeah. And you like the style. I liked the style of it. And as as much of a logo as it had on it, it's just a beautiful design. So, I mean, if somebody calls that loud luxury, then so be it. But I like it.

Melissa 33:26

Deal with it.

Todd 33:27

Deal with it.

Melissa 33:27

Well, it's like the belts. I mean, you say like one of the reasons you really love the belt collection that you have is because you can change them out and they're practical.

Todd 33:37

Yes.

Melissa 33:37

Versus, you know, right, something like that. So I am very guilty of in the beginning like wanting something because like I wanted like a Gucci bag.

Todd 33:47

Yeah, I mean, we've all done that. Yeah, you know.

Melissa 33:49

Now I I'm not right.

Todd 33:51

But I remember the first pair of designer shoes that I ever got. I remember the first pair of designer shoes that Bobby ever got, and remember where we were, and I mean that was a fun purchase, but we really didn't buy them because they were that. We bought them because they were really pretty.

Melissa 34:08

Yeah.

The Slow Death Of Department Stores

Todd 34:09

And uh anyway. And our first experience with like really purchasing that type of thing came from a department store. Uh Barney's specifically. Uh, because that's a great department stores were a great way to experience lots of designers together, right? Right. So you could learn a lot about Gucci before you went to a Gucci boutique because you could kind of understand the brand in the store in the department store. It's harder to do that today.

Melissa 34:44

Did you see is it um Sachs?

Todd 34:47

Yes, I mean it's the person that bought that that's caused this. Do you know his modus operandi? No. He wants the real estate. He did the same thing to Lauren Taylor. And instead of reinvesting in the company, he just turns his back on the company and then he sold that building for he he made eight hundred million dollars on the piece of real estate in New York. So the business was just collateral. You know.

Melissa 35:19

What a shame.

Todd 35:20

I know, and now he's doing it with Sachs that he wants the the real estate.

Melissa 35:25

Interesting.

Todd 35:26

Which I mean, the only one left then is Nordstrom, right? And Bloomingdale's kinda.

Melissa 35:32

That's there was a fabulous Nordstrom in where I'm from, and it after COVID, it never reopened.

Todd 35:39

Right.

Melissa 35:40

And I mean, there's no shopping here. Right. Another reason we have to go to New York.

Todd 35:44

Right.

Melissa 35:44

It just leaves to go. But there, even that, now it's like you go to one place instead of being able to go.

Todd 35:52

Right. Right?

Melissa 35:53

Like, right. You might go to this store and then, I don't know.

Todd 35:57

Right.

Melissa 35:57

Like in Beverly Hills, um, like the famous Rodeo Drive, right?

Todd 36:03

Yes.

Melissa 36:03

Like even that, you've got to like, I mean, there's no like one Mecca.

Todd 36:07

Right.

Melissa 36:08

Does it exist anymore?

Todd 36:10

I mean, right now it still exists in New York, you know, London. Yeah. Paris has gallery Lafayette, Samaritan. Those are beautiful stores that really have that department store experience. Um, and one of the things that we found interesting in Paris, and with to a degree in New York, is like the department store designer section will carry different merchandise than what would be in the store.

Melissa 36:37

Yes, agreed.

Todd 36:39

So I bought in New York the last time we were there, uh the uh like a Tom Brown sweatsuit, but I had to get the pants at Bergdorf's and the jacket at uh Nordstrom. Like different boutiques had different parts of the collection. So anyway.

Melissa 37:00

Well, and they'll do different, yeah, they'll carry stuff that's like you know, a sax exclusive or like a bird or whatever.

Todd 37:06

Right.

Melissa 37:06

Yeah. But I fear that that's going away.

Todd 37:09

It is because of the department store is disappearing. And I I I'm hoping that this kind of return to tradition that we've been talking about, about traditional interiors, timeless clothing. I'm hoping that there will be some nostalgia for actually shopping because I don't think that people know how to do that anymore.

Melissa 37:28

Yeah.

Todd 37:29

They want to just pick the shirt online and pick the pan online and order a shoe. And I do some of that, but there's so much to be discovered if you're walking through a store.

Melissa 37:41

I agree. Or like trying it on. So many times I've bought stuff online and then like it looks great on the you know emaciated model, but then like I put it on myself.

Todd 37:50

And you and you oftentimes can't tell like the size. So you know, you order something online, and even though the dimensions are there, you think, oh my gosh, this is really tiny, and I thought it was gonna be this size. So, and you get all that first hand information when you're looking at it in real time in a store.

Melissa 38:06

I think the same is true for home furnishings, right? Because the colors online are gonna look different, and that's why having like this swatch of fabric, and then you look at the paints and all of that is so important.

Todd 38:17

And there used to be wonderful stores where you could walk through and really experience good design. Um, but those are so few and far between now.

Melissa 38:26

Well, it's like, you know, pros and cons of again, like the internet and like, you know, convenience is fantastic and what it's done for us, but then it's also just ruined so much of things too, right? Because now, since people don't go to the store, they go online, but you know, you're really yeah, I think it's like I'm that's why I'm excited to go to market with you and like see the see the things.

Todd 38:52

Back view of how things kind of work. Yeah, I think you'll really enjoy that. It's it's interesting.

Melissa 38:57

I'm excited.

Todd 38:58

Yeah.

Subscribe Comment And Wrap

Melissa 38:59

Well, this was fun.

Todd 39:00

Yes.

Melissa 39:01

And you know, I always love our.

Todd 39:02

I'm sorry I did not offer you a refreshing beverage.

Melissa 39:04

Next time. Okay. Next time I'm gonna expect it. And it better be very nice, very bougie. Although it can't be like 9 a.m. because then I won't make it or be asleep by the rest of the day.

Todd 39:16

Yes. Yeah.

Melissa 39:17

But this was awesome. I'm excited. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Todd 39:21

Okay.

Melissa 39:21

Make sure people subscribe so that they Yes.

Todd 39:24

Well, I hope that they do subscribe.

Melissa 39:26

Yeah, and leave a comment about what you want to hear more of.

Todd 39:29

Yep.

Melissa 39:29

All right, see you later.

Todd 39:31

See ya.