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The National
an hour ago
- The National
What Louis Vuitton's $160 lipstick says about the state of luxury
When Louis Vuitton announced in March this year that it was venturing into the beauty business with make-up supremo Pat McGrath, expectations were immediately sky-high. Now the first products from Louis Vuitton La Beaute have been revealed, and The National was given a sneak peek. Set to hit shelves on August 29, they are priced at $160 (Dh587) for lipstick and $250 (Dh918) for the eye shadow quartet. Even in the opulent world of luxury, that is a surprisingly steep price. The packaging is beautiful, with an all-metal construction that closes with a satisfying, magnetic click. The cases are refillable for $69 (Dh253) and eyeshadow refill is $92 (Dh360), which can make them longer-term purchases. Unsurprisingly, Louis Vuitton is turning its luggage skills to creating tiny lipstick-sized carry cases, although presumably, we can expect pricing to match the craftsmanship. The make-up formula leans into McGrath's expansive knowledge, gleaned over decades working for every major fashion house and fashion show, and will come in two finishes – an intense matte and a creamy satin, available in 55 shades. There are an additional 10 shades of sheer lip balm, made with hydrating shea butter and hyaluronic acid. But at a time when the luxury sector as a whole is experiencing a slump, it is difficult to see past the eye-watering price, which is double that of the already expensive Hermes lipstick ($83) and almost four times the cost of a YSL lipstick at $54. Even the Louboutin Rouge Stiletto lipstick, which is housed in a dramatic, attention-grabbing spike feels something of a bargain at $60 in comparison. Already, social media is echoing with laments that the price point will encourage other luxury brands to move their entry points upwards. Beauty is typically the entry point into luxury, offering customers a first step into a coveted brand at a modest spend. A lipstick in the handbag builds aspiration and loyalty, setting up a progression from beauty to handbags to ready-to-wear. The ' Lipstick Effect ' was coined by Estee Lauder's Leonard Lauder, who noted lipstick sales surged after 9/11, as consumers sought small luxuries when larger purchases felt out of reach. Correlating a link between an economic downturn and a rise in smaller ticket luxury sales, such as lipsticks, he realised that customers look to gift themselves small, affordable treats, amid times of social pressures. As Europe grapples with an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, global uncertainty triggered by the tariffs imposed by US President Trump, and a dramatic downturn in the Chinese appetite for luxury goods, globally, customers are delaying buying expensive luxury items, deterred by rising prices and concerns about falling quality. By pitching its beauty so high, Louis Vuitton risks alienating some potential clients, but it also signals supreme confidence – pricing lower, it suggests, would undersell the product. McGrath herself set a precedent with her 2015 Pat McGrath Labs line, charging $39 for lipsticks and growing it into a $1 billion brand and Selfridges's bestselling make-up by 2019.
Filipino Times
an hour ago
- Filipino Times
Saudi Arabia Authorises VistaJet as First International Private Jet Operator for Domestic Flights
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has authorised Dubai-based VistaJet to operate domestic private jet services in the kingdom, marking the first time an international operator has been granted such rights. The move follows the lifting of cabotage restrictions for on-demand charter companies on May 1, allowing foreign-registered aircraft to conduct domestic flights within Saudi borders. GACA said the approval supports its Vision 2030 plan to transform the kingdom into a global aviation hub, while boosting competition, improving service quality, and attracting new investments. VistaJet, part of Vista Global Holding founded by Swiss billionaire Thomas Flohr, has been serving Saudi Arabia for more than 15 years on international routes. The company reported a 32% year-on-year rise in programme members in the kingdom during the first half of 2025. 'Given the nature of Vista's fully owned floating fleet, the company is best positioned to offer immediate private aviation services throughout the kingdom,' VistaJet said in a statement. With its long-range Global 7500 and soon-to-arrive Global 8000 jets, clients will also be able to fly non-stop to destinations worldwide directly from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom aims to grow the general aviation sector's contribution to GDP to 7.8 billion riyals ($2.08 billion) and create 35,000 jobs by 2030. Last year, Saudi Arabia's business jet sector recorded a 24% jump in flight volumes, underscoring strong demand from wealthy tourists, corporate travelers, and government officials.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Egypt plans new submarine power cable to Jordan: report
Egypt is planning to build another submarine power cable to Jordan with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) to supply electricity to Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, a Saudi news network reported on Tuesday. The project will be completed in 2029 and will quadruple the present power supply to Jordan, Asharq Business said, quoting an Egyptian government source. 'Egypt is planning to export electricity to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon via a submarine cable to Jordan with a capacity of 2,000 project is still under study,' the report said. It added that the new cable would start from Taba town in South Sinai and stretch to the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. The project is expected to be completed within 30 months, the report said, noting that Egypt is preparing to invite consultancy bids for the project. According to the report, Egypt is already linked to Jordan via a 500 MW capacity submarine cable which was built in 1999. Construction is underway on a 3GW interconnection project between Egypt and Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
