The traditional concept of luxury is thought to include the finest and most expensive items the world has to offer— flawless diamonds, rare vintages of Burgundy wine, sleek sports cars, posh palace hotels, and Michelin-starred meals. It’s a world that I wasn’t born into, but because of my work, I get to experience life behind the cashmere curtain. I continue to be amazed at the level of luxury that exists, and the more I see, the more my personal definition of luxury evolves.
Luxury is a relative term.
In my professional life, it means visiting enviable destinations and having exclusive experiences. However, in my personal life, luxury means something completely different. First and foremost, time is my most treasured luxury. Believe it or not, some of my most appreciated luxuries don’t have anything to do with material possessions. Instead, I prize watching the world pass by while sitting on a picturesque terrace, a family dinner in Texas, TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry, a great Spotify playlist, the sound of silence in the mountains, and seeing the City of Light from the back of a scooter.
When I revamped Leah Travels in 2015, I wanted it to be a true reflection of who I am, both professionally and personally. I’m not pretending to be someone that I’m not. I have traveled the world in relatively extravagant fashion, but I also live in a small, furnished medium-sized unfurnished apartment in Paris’ 8th 6th 7th arrondissement. It’s not always glamorous, however living a life that I love is a luxury.
Paris is known for luxury like no other city, with haute couture fashion, high-end jewelry, fragrances, and fine dining interwoven with Parisian culture. Since co-founding Garnier Creations in 2021, my mission has been to share bespoke encounters with France’s most revered luxury houses, combining the spirit of experiential travel with the captivating world of luxury. By working closely with the top names in fashion, jewelry, beauty, home design, wine/spirits, and gastronomy, we transform brand interactions into memorable encounters, showcasing their histories, stories, and savoir-faire.
For me, “Finding Luxury” encompasses everything that I want to show on this site and social media. Not only do I seek out the best travel, brand, and gastronomy experiences that money can buy, but also those things that require little, if any, money.
Luxury is largely about perspective, and this is mine.
