Welcome to September ~ and, the inaugural issue of LVR !
By way of introduction, LVR magazine is a universe unto itself. Through it, is an omnichannel experience that will amplify our insider look at fashion, beauty, art, lifestyle and culture through our freshly redesigned website, expanded social media, the LVR app, mobile and live chat. This new storytelling experience is designed to bring you, our reader, personalized content with which to engage, to customize and inspire. Because we believe the ultimate luxuries are personal—and the most personal experiences empower.
For our first issue, I can think of few people who embody the force to empower more than Katy Perry. For over two decades, Perry climbed the charts as America’s pop princess, a cultural icon who transmutes themes of liberation and female strength in her seminal music and writing. She’s the only woman to land five songs from a single album on Billboard’s Top 100, maintains the record for the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history, holds a spot as a judge on ABC’s primetime juggernaut, American Idol, and runs her own fashion business: Katy Perry Collection. Perry leans heavily into her trademark brand of buoyant, playful pop stardom; but, make no mistake, she is one of the most successful and influential talents alive. And, for all her avid female #katycat fans, living proof that talent cannot be undermined…even if it is wearing a twirling lollipop skirt.
We come to discover in Empress Katy, that talent and ability alone will not get you to the top without the ignition of tenacity and focus. Katy joined us for this cover shoot on location in the fairytale-like setting of the Italian island of Capri, with baby daughter Daisy, fiancé Orlando Bloom, mother and dog in tow. To see her at work, trapez-ing between managing international pop stardom, new motherhood, business mogul, fiancé and the preparations for her forthcoming Las Vegas residency, her lighthearted confidence and sense of purpose modeled the idea that having strength doesn’t mean sacrificing your vulnerability or femininity. As she explains it, “I am used to spinning quite a few plates. I like the constant stimulation…as long as everyone is happy, that’s all that matters.”
Channeling Perry’s inherent effervescence (and her shared joy of the opportunity to get “dressed” again, coming out of months of lockdown) we look at the new collections with a la dolce vita spin in a setting that taps a sensual elegance and Perry’s own raw energy in some of fall’s most alluring pieces. The result is a perfect dose of escapism and inspiration that I think we can all appreciate.
A jolt of inspiration is also the likely takeaway you’ll have when reading through our first installment of the 2021 Groundbreakers Portfolio. Our team traveled to two of the most fashionable cultural capitals of the world—New York and Paris—to capture the leading social media female powerhouses in tech, fashion, business and pop-culture as they give us an intimate glimpse into their individual roads to success (spoiler alert: it’s almost never linear), and, the self-empowerment they found along the way. Styled to personal effect in the chicest new fall/winter ’21 designer pieces, their stories pay tribute to a journey in the pursuit of happiness and greater meaning.
Imparting similarly profound meaning into our first issue is a one-off logo custom designed by contemporary art sensation Brendan Murphy. Charged with the energy and dynamism of fashion, art and living that we endeavor to chronicle in LVR, Murphy’s signature formulas inscribed within our logo tell the story of now and then, as a representation of all that will be born from the LVR experience. We are so honored to have his artistic vision as part of this issue.
September is also a time for fall fashion decisions. To that end, our editorial team has culled the best new clothing, shoes, bags, jewels and beauty (along with details on how to style it all) to help round out your dream fall/winter ’21 shopping list.
Its aim, as with the rest of this issue, is to celebrate fashion and all of the elements of a most fashionable and well-lived life. We hope our pages inspire you to cultivate your own sense of joy and transformation as you embark on the new season and our new LVR experience.
Enjoy!
Kate Davidson Hudson
Editor-In-Chief
LVR
