We live in an era of ephemerality. Everything must be immediately available, easily consumable, and above all, fast. Fast food at your desk, fast fashion on the go, speed dating for fleeting encounters, and an attention span that lasts barely longer than a 15-second clip.
We consume a lot, but we rarely enjoy. In this noise of arbitrariness, something that used to form the backbone of our culture is in danger of falling by the wayside: style.
The end of the ceremony? (Or: The Lagerfeld dilemma)
There is one observation that symbolizes our times: sweatpants. What was once considered a fashion statement of rebellion or purely sportswear has now conquered almost every public space and often seems like a surrender to aesthetics. Please don't get me wrong—comfort is a valuable commodity. But when we eliminate the difference between our sofa at home and public spaces, we rob ourselves of anticipation.
"Anyone who wears sweatpants has lost control of their life."
Karl Lagerfeld's famous quote may be exaggerated, but there is a deeper meaning behind it. After all, "dressing up" is not just about pleasing others. It is an act of appreciation for the moment and for ourselves. It sends a signal to our brain: "Attention, something special is about to happen."
When music loses its soul
This trend toward superficiality does not stop at our senses. It is paradoxical: we have access to the entire history of music, right in our pockets. We have the technology to hear every whisper of an orchestra in high fidelity. And yet we put up with music sounding tinny from a cell phone or inferior speakers—even in the car.
Those who listen to their favorite music on their smartphone while driving miss out on the emotional dimension of music. Music is not background noise; it is a physical and emotional experience. It should envelop us and give us goosebumps. Those who forego this experience are, in a sense, watching the sunset through dirty sunglasses: you can see the outlines, but you miss out on the glow.
The Art of Mindfulness (Or: A Plea for the New Hedonism)
"Quality means approaching the world with certain expectations. It is the knowledge that a good moment deserves a good setting."
Choosing quality again has nothing to do with snobbery. It is the decision to counter "fast" with "fine." It is the courage to want to own less, but instead to own things that have soul. Perhaps in this context, it is also time to redefine the concept of hedonism.
Long dismissed as mere pleasure-seeking, reflective hedonism is probably the highest and most appropriate form of rebellion in a world of 'fast everything'. It means that we take our pleasure seriously. That we refuse to settle for the average just because it is convenient – especially for ourselves.
The car as a "private third place"
A wonderful example is our own retreat on four wheels. For many of us, the car has long since become a private "third place"—that essential space between home and work. It is a place where we don't have to function or be on call; a transitional zone where we can shake off the stress of the day before opening the front door.
So why should we compromise in this precious space? A high-quality sound system is not just a technical toy here. It is the acoustic design of this retreat. When the bass hits precisely, the mids carry the singer's voice straight to your heart, and the highs define the room with crystal clarity, the drive to work or home suddenly becomes a daily break.
Upgrading your car sound system isn't just about being able to listen to louder music. And it certainly doesn't mean that you now have to drive past the ice cream parlor with your windows down all the time. Rather, it's a conscious decision to make this personal "third place" as high-quality as it deserves to be. It's about perceiving everything that artists want to convey to us—and that includes, in particular, the subtleties—the soul of the music that can put us in a state of genuine relaxation and contentment.
The conscious decision to choose something special
So we should stop thinking of quality as something "extra." Quality should be the standard for our everyday experiences. We need to start placing value again on how we present ourselves, how we live, and how we perceive the things around us. It's about treating ourselves to something that lasts.
- Durability: Perfectly crafted garments that only become more beautiful with time.
- Presence: Really savoring your dinner instead of just swallowing it. Enjoying good company and good conversation, with your smartphone tucked away in your pocket.
- Enthusiasm: Technology that not only fulfills a function, but also touches us emotionally.
So let's leave our sweatpants where they belong—at the gym or on the sofa. Let's turn up the new system and give our attention to the music—on the stage it deserves. It's time for a new era of enjoyment. Because in the end, it's not the fast things we remember, but the moments that were so good we wanted them to never end.
