Hello again, and I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far my sexy, sassy, fabulous fashionistas! Did you miss me? Aaaaw, of course you did! Well, last week, I was in Paris, and this week, I found myself trotting and floating around Amsterdam, high as a kite (don’t tell my kids!), as I set out to discover the future of fashion in the home of sex, drugs, and quaint little canals! It’s been an eye opener for me, your favourite long-necked jet-setter, and let me tell you, my sweet little two-legged friends, it really is a jungle out there!
I’ve been on a mission to discover the role social media plays – particularly TikTok – in the ever-evolving world of high-end fashion. Today’s luxury is nothing like yesterday’s luxury. It now lives and breathes online like never before, and I’m both intrigued and ever-so-slightly perplexed at the pace of it all. I can’t keep up with my two young calves who have now embraced and entered the TikTok generation, and instead of running wild and free across the wild plains of the Serengeti National Park, they seem quite content to just stay at home and stare at their screens for hours on end like a couple of tall, spotty zombies.
Oh darlings, I’m so glad I had the luxury of growing up without social media! I mean, don’t get me wrong – life before FB, IG and TT still had its stressful moments and peer pressure was a thing we all had to deal with. Bagging your first kiss. Navigating those awkward teenage years. Dealing with spots and learning to embrace them. Trying my best to fit in with all the other giraffes. But I think social media brings with it all kinds of pressure to be liked, loved, and shared - and popularity these days is now based on the followers you have as opposed to what you can contribute towards life via-normal, face-to face interactions.
It's all gone a tad crazy, so sit back, chill, and let me try and make sense of it all as I clumsily type away on my laptop in the executive lounge at Schiphol Airport on my way to my next adventure. Erm, and yes, I’m still a little bit stoned…so please bear with me. Waiter! Bring me some more nuts and a veggie platter!
A Wild Weekend in Amsterdam: Fashion, Fun, and Brain Fog
I simply had to witness the madness first-hand (or hoof). So, off to Amsterdam I trotted to witness a luxury fashion brand’s TikTok-inspired fashion show, where influencers strutted up and down the catwalk in outfits that looked like they had been designed by an AI bot on LSD. I honestly thought I was hallucinating!
All the top fashion influencers were there - either in the audience, live-streaming the event on their phones or strutting their stuff on the catwalk - and I couldn’t help but think of all those poor supermodels sitting at home, filing their nails, watching through pursed lips as their jobs are being taken over by influencers, holograms, or actual AI robots. All that model training - learning how to walk, pout, and not smile – and for what?! And what do the unemployed models do now? I wouldn’t trust them to drive trains or operate any kind of heavy machinery. My heart goes out to them, and I hope they find another way to utilise their skills. Maybe there’s a job for them all at the White House? I’m sure Donald Fart would be happy to train them and make at least one of them Head of National Security, or something.
The New Power Players: How influencers are influencing luxury
The merging of luxury with social media. Now, my dears, when influencers are shaping the conversation on global wealth redistribution while casually sipping Veuve Clicquot at a fashion event, one has to ask: when did luxury become so influenced by influencers??
According to my research (well, not mine, I found it online), 82% of luxury consumers claim to value authenticity, but only 34% can actually spot genuine craftsmanship. And that, my lovelies, is where I think we might have lost our way a little bit. When did we start following the crowd instead of our own unique sense of taste? When did we decide that a well-lit filter was more valuable than a well-made, hand-crafted, truly bespoke leather handbag?
Is TikTok Taking over Luxury?
According to a latest report I read in the Financial Times on the plane from Paris (yes darlings, I am indeed a savvy creature of habit), Gen Z now represents a huuuuuuuuuge 30% of global luxury spending – and it’ll hit 40% by 2026! I nearly spat my small bottle of mineral water out (or was it a large G&T?) when I read this. Luxury brands are spending a fortune on TikTok too - up 237% in 2024 alone!
I remember the good old days when style was all about sophistication – but now it’s all about unboxing videos and young people sniffing the leather strap on a new pair of high heels.
When Luxury Goes Virtual: The Digital Dilemma
Before I tell you more about my trip to Amsterdam, I’ll just quickly mention a thing called virtual luxury. Darlings, I can’t really get my ever-so-long neck around this. Humans spent $27 billion last year on digital designer goods. In a nutshell, this means there are LOTS of people buying handbags that – wait for it - don’t even exist!!! Somebody, call me a doctor, I’m palpitating!
There are also many other things I don’t understand, like Luxury NFTs, and these grew by 285% last year too! If any of you darling readers can explain to me what an NFT is and how the devil it works, please PM me, and I’ll send you my bank details and a Sophie Charm! And can you believe it - virtual fashion shows had more viewers than all physical Fashion Weeks combined. Now, don’t get wrong, I love innovation, but nothing beats the feel of real butter-soft leather against your hooves. Can you imagine spending a fortune on a handbag you can’t even touch let alone carry? It’s enough to make me weep into my beloved, bespoke leather LUC8K Tote bag!
So, yes, I was inspired (if not overwhelmed) by the TikTok fashion show, but only because it was REAL and most of the humans there were actually real – at least I think they were!
I was by far the oldest living creature at the event, if not the tallest, and after watching an endless stream of young humans doing strange dances to weird music for 3 solid hours without a break, I was thirsty and hungry to fully embrace the real Amsterdam experience - when in Rome, darling, or rather, when in Amsterdam…
Amsterdam – The Highs, The Low Bridges, and Everything in-between
My good friend Anouk (a PR guru and lovely human being) is a native, and she kindly offered to give me a whistle stop tour of her delightful and vibrant city. We started by eating a lot of strange cookies in a charming little café by the canals and let me tell you, the world has never looked so poetic! The water shimmered, the bicycles seemed to float, and I’m fairly certain a local artist tried to sketch me as I gazed at the architecture with what I can only describe as 'high-end wonder.' I couldn’t stop laughing at how tall everyone looked, they all seemed like two legged giraffes! Anouk then informed me that yes, Dutch people are taller than normal people, and that I’d just eaten an incredible amount of ‘Space Cakes’, which are laced with high-strength cannabis! So there I was, accidentally and delightfully stoned, so there was only one thing to do: Sex!
Naturally, I couldn't leave without visiting the infamous Sex Museum - which, darlings, was a real eye opener! Who knew history had such a risqué side? You humans sure do take the art of sexual intercourse very seriously indeed, and I had no idea you had so many ways to enjoy it! We animals (apart from dolphins and a few naughty monkeys) generally don’t have sex for fun – we do it for survival. Well, that’s my excuse anyway ;)
I needed some fresh air after all that leather, plastic, and outfits with holes in them, so Anouk took me on a canal cruise, and apart from almost knocking over a bridge with my fabulously long neck, I found it to be the most relaxing way to truly appreciate Amsterdam.
But my darlings, Amsterdam is more than just indulgences and giggles - it's a city that really does know how to balance luxury with responsibility. Bicycles whizzed past me in a perfectly orchestrated ballet of zero-emission journeys and adventures, and it did make me wonder: why aren’t more cities around the world this elegantly efficient?
In the spirit of blending luxury with a conscience, Anouk took me to her favourite sustainable fashion boutique hidden away in the Jordaan district. They had the most exquisitely crafted bags made from upcycled leather, and the owner of the shop was so impressed with my own beautifully crafted LUC8K bag that he took my card and ordered ten on the spot! Like me, he adores a brand that understands that true luxury isn’t about excess, but about craftsmanship and responsibility. It was a humbling moment to see that other luxury fashion brands can also be kind to the planet. Bravo I say!
As my flying visit came to an end, I took a moment to reflect outside a cozy little rooftop bar, sipping on an organic, locally-sourced cocktail. Amsterdam had shown me that luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive - they are, in fact, the perfect pairing. Just like a bespoke LUC8K bag and a private jet or a fine champagne, wouldn't you agree?
Sophie's Wisdom: The Timeless Truth
Darlings, this is what I think about real luxury. It isn’t just about being seen - it’s about being remembered. It’s not about trending hashtags; it’s about timeless style that makes you smile. Having a long neck makes me stand out, but when I’m with my herd back home, my LUC8K bags turn heads and get everyone talking. They always attract attention, and yes, not good when we’re trying to hide from hungry lions, but very good when I’m trying to create a lasting impression. If you’ve got it, flaunt it my dears!
Luxury is changing, no doubt, but one thing will never change - true indulgence is personal. It’s about the way a perfectly crafted handbag makes you feel. It’s the thrill of running your fingers or hooves over artisan stitching. It’s the quiet joy of knowing something was made just for you, not mass-produced for an algorithm.
The Purpose of Luxury: Own it with a Smile
And that, my darlings, is precisely why I stand proudly (and tall, very tall) with LUC8K. We don’t just create handbags - we craft experiences. Each piece is handmade with love in France with the kind of care and attention that algorithms and AI bots simply cannot replicate. We understand that spending money on something truly special won’t bring you happiness - but it can certainly help you smile.
And for heaven’s sake, if you’re going to treat yourself to a handbag, make sure it’s one you can actually hold and carry with you on your life’s journey!
Until next time, my loves, be a leader not a follower. Go with your heart and drop by next week to see where else my globe-trotting adventure takes us...
Keep it real, and always be you, no matter what!
Big love as always
Sophie xxx
