Not long ago—somewhere between the rise of quiet luxury and the sixth iteration of the “new normal”— playfulness and daring seemed to exit the room. Maybe we were all too exhausted. Or cautious. Or simply unsure whether exuberance still had a place in the conversation. But in 2025, there are undeniable glimmers of its return. Across the 15 categories in this year’s Best of the Best (our 37th annual edition), luxury is evolving. Some changes are thrilling. Others pragmatic. A few are long overdue, yet all point to an industry in motion.
That momentum feels especially vital right now. This midpoint in the decade reflects the tension of transition: a kind of liminal space between luxury that whispered and luxury that’s learning to raise its voice again. Sure, the pandemic is behind us, but economic uncertainty lingers—from market swings to unpredictable tariffs. Climate-driven disasters are no longer distant forecasts; they’re immediate realities. And yet, amid that volatility, the boldest expressions of luxury this year don’t feel frivolous or naive—they feel necessary. Aesthetic risk, technological ambition, and stylistic swagger have resurfaced, not to distract, but to push back.
Nowhere is that energy more striking than in style, as Dolce & Gabbana’s fall 2025 runway show made abundantly clear: The designers clad models in a theatrical reinterpretation of black-tie—with pomade-slicked hair, brooch-bedecked lapels, satin obi belts, and asymmetric shawl collars. Whether in revolt against financial unease or as a counter to years of minimalist restraint, the message was unmistakable: Fashion is embracing unapologetic flair and the bold silhouettes that define it.
The same verve carries over into horology. One of this year’s most remarkable creations wasn’t forged in a lab or built on a factory floor but crafted at a single watchmaker’s bench. The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria is more than a timepiece; it’s cosmic ambition in 41 complications, a reminder that wonder and ingenuity are very much alive in mechanical form—and precisely why it’s our Watch of the Year.
On the open road, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (pictured) embodies a broader shift: Once dismissed as a passé compromise, hybrids have reemerged as a best-of-both-worlds powerhouse, marrying modern tech with old-school visceral thrill. Our Hybrid of the Year, the GTS blends electrification into its flat-six with such finesse that the result marks not a detour but an evolution. It’s a car that doesn’t just keep up—it nudges its legacy forward.
Of course, not every story this year is one of reinvention or delight. In some sectors, the change looks more like a reckoning. The art market—once a rocket ship—is correcting mid-flight. The wine world is contending with a generational shift, as younger drinkers take a step back from the bottles their parents once prized. And prime real estate is being reshaped not only by price per square foot but also by sea-level rise and wildfire zones.
Yet innovation continues redefining the experience of luxury, from sea to sky. Aboard Rossinavi’s Seawolf X catamaran, adaptive A.I. doesn’t simply boost performance efficiency; it reads your rhythms and anticipates your preferences—from cabin temperature to mood lighting. Aloft, Boom’s XB-1 is the first civil jet to break the sound barrier since the Concorde (reaching Mach 1.122), proving that supersonic flight is not only possible but destined to become routine.
The winners our editors have chosen this year aren’t only excellent—they’re attuned. They reflect a world in flux: some with joy, others with urgency. They remind us that luxury doesn’t just sit still and shimmer. It moves. It adapts. And at its best, it leads—with clarity, confidence, and, yes, a little bravado.
Enjoy the issue.
Authors
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John Vorwald