Routes of Desires: The New VO+ Issue

Why are certain streets still the places where luxury establishes its value? Are historic thoroughfares still the focus of the luxury world? Which markets are growing and where is new wealth concentrating? This issue reflects on how places, cities, countries, streets, holiday destinations and luxury communities have transformed and evolved over time. There are stores that create a sense of belonging within their neighborhoods, where value transcends the preciousness of the jewels in the window and is, instead, rooted in a strong sense of community cohesion; ateliers, villas, historic buildings, discreet clubs and temporary residences that thrive on the exclusivity of being “unseen”. Then there are streets that, over time, have become home to prestigious international companies and brands, for which one might wonder if they are still the places to bet on or whether nostalgia alone keeps them in the pantheon of must-be destinations. This issue, rather than merely an atlas of famous streets, offers a snapshot of new investment flows, store openings, destinations and markets where wealth, lifestyles and new consumption rituals converge.