The digital age is upon us, and with it has come a new era of convenience and accessibility that has had a positive impact on just about every area of our lives. From shopping to socialising, there’s little you can’t do online in 2022, but for the affluent luxury lover, getting the kind of flawless experience you would in real life has been an ongoing challenge.
The greater the emphasis has become on accessibility over recent years, the more this has watered down the experience for those in pursuit of luxury, and now that we’re relying on our iPhones and other smart devices more than ever to get what we want, when we want it at just a few clicks of our touchscreens, many of us have been left feeling just like everyone else. It’s a far cry from the VIP treatment we’re used to when shopping in real life shops, eating out and indulging in entertainment and in some ways, feeling like a million dollars has become a thing of the past.
While the internet undoubtedly grants a wider audience to luxury brands, products, and services, those who want the same in-house luxury treatment often struggle to find a platform that meets their usual standards. Online luxury is very much a niche when you consider its physical counterpart, but the good news is that there are still some ways to get the high-end online experience you crave.
Start with the most luxurious hardware
The online experience starts at your fingertips. If you’re stuck with a loud, outdated, slow, or overly heavy device, then you’ll no doubt find yourself getting frustrated – which is a far cry from the effortless ease that should come with using the internet.
Luckily, it’s not hard to find luxurious devices that are always ready to serve your online needs in an instant. Apple tends to be the go-to brand for those in search of high-end options, with the new MacBook Pro the most highly-sought-after option on offer – although if you’re looking for a lightweight device that lends itself well to on-the-go internet usage then the slim Macbook Air is an excellent choice. You’ll still need to free up space regularly to keep yours running quickly and efficiently, but on the whole, these are speedy devices that won’t waste your precious time.
Nevertheless, Apple isn’t the only brand worth considering when it’s time to upgrade your device. The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a futuristic foldable laptop with a wrap-around keyboard for convenient storage. It boasts an excellent high-resolution touchscreen screen and, just as you’d expect from OLED, runs on Intel Evo i7. The 17.3’’ device is currently riding high as one of the best devices on the luxury laptop market, and a great choice for anyone looking for something that will keep them one step ahead of the game.
Get a professionally-tailored luxury entertainment experience
While there’s no denying that the advent and subsequent development of the internet has upgraded many areas of our life and made it easy to stay connected, it does come with its challenges. When you’re using your tech to find online entertainment, for example, you might find yourself overwhelmed with options but find that the experiences on offer aren’t quite what they’re cracked up to be, so it’s important to know where to look if you’re seeking a high-end platform or product.
Live streaming has become a popular way to connect with like-minded individuals over a shared interest, and technology has now been manipulated to appeal to luxury entertainment seekers. The rich and famous, for example, are known to enjoy flocking to luxury casinos to place eye-watering wagers in a bid to beat the house in high-stakes games. The game of choice, more often than not, is blackjack, which is why the online casino platform has created Ultimate Blackjack with Olivia specifically to appeal to luxury card game players.
Professional croupier Olivia takes you through each step of the game at her table via the real-time HD live stream to your device. Better still, it has the high-roller-favourite side bet 21+3 for the poker lovers out there.
So, if you’re looking for a lavish entertainment experience online, then there’s plenty available that will meet your high standards and provide the fun and adrenaline you crave.
Join an exclusive club built around new-age online tech
We’ve all heard of the supposedly secret exclusive clubs out there for VIPs which, in exchange for a sizable monthly fee, afford members access to all sorts of high-end services.
Now, expanding the potential of this invite-only model, exclusive clubs have popped up online as DAOs (decentralised autonomous organisations), which leverage blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to function.
Friends with Benefits is one such club to have recently hit the headlines. This exclusive organisation arranges in-person meetings and collaborations on Web3, using $FWB tokens as a way of collectively funding and governing the community’s activities. Another to watch is Allbright, a female-only private club that offers resources to members and vaunted networking opportunities through its web portals.
Shopping like a VIP online
Studies have shown that nearly one in nine luxury shoppers say that the online experience provided by luxury brands doesn’t meet their expectations, which is unsurprising given that websites are merely digital pages without the setting, service, or even the ambience of a real store. With this in mind, luxury brands have had to get creative to impress potential customers and retain the ones they’ve got, going beyond relying on simply a smooth and efficient website and excellent customer service through the usual routes.
One platform that exemplifies how luxury brands are looking to bridge the gap is Farfetch. Through the app, customers can utilise interactive features like its Visual Search feature – so that you can upload a picture of something you’ve seen and like and allow the app to analyse it before serving you either the exact product or a similar one. This means that if you see someone walking down the street with the jacket or handbag or your dreams, you’ll never have to stop them and ask them where it’s from or spend hours scouring the shops for it ever again.
Farfetch’s efforts don’t end there, as it also offers a host of app-only promotions and a personalised feed that ensures you’ll feel like royalty at every phase of the online shopping process.
Meanwhile, iconic high-end fashion brand Gucci, which has recently created an impressive perfume range called Alchemist’s Garden, has also invested heavily in its luxury digital offering. Not only can you now use the iOS app to try on shoes through augmented reality, but you can also book an appointment in the Digital Showroom Europe, which is in Italy, and attend virtually via the metaverse.
While high-end brands still have a long way to go when it comes to providing an all-round luxury experience, we’re already seeing some exciting developments in this field, and it’s one that is certain to continue gathering momentum as we head into 2023.
