What to Buy If You Win the Powerball Jackpot: 15 Vogue Editors Name Their Fashion Splurges Inline
Photo: Courtesy of 1stdibs.com1/15Nicole Phelps, Director, Replica Handbag Store Runway
“I’d buy a big chunk of land in Litchfield County (halfway between New York City and my parents’ place farther north in Connecticut), and hire a sensational but not too busy architect to build my dream house. Big kitchen, big fireplaces, big pool, big guest house, and a garage where I’d park the 1969 black Porsche 911S I’d tool around in on the weekends up there. And to accessorize it, this vintage Rolex.”
Rolex stainless steel white gold bezel Datejust watch, $6,800, 1stdibs.com
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigitalimages.com2/15Celia Ellenberg, Vogue Beauty Director
“If we’re talking budget-irrelevant purchases, I would procure that insanely gorgeous, pale lilac floral gown from McQueen. Short of going back in time to my wedding (which is maybe something I could also facilitate if I were a billionaire?), I can’t think of a single place I would wear Look 27. But I feel like just seeing it in my closet and trying it on every once in a while in my living room would bring me a profound sense of joy.”
Photo: Courtesy of Victoria Miro Gallery3/15Mark Guiducci, Vogue Arts Editor
“If I were a billionaire, I would start a lobby to end tax loopholes for billionaires. But not before buying myself a big, beautiful Peter Doig painting.”
Peter Doig, One Hundred Years Ago, 2001
Photo: Courtesy of matchesfashion.com4/15Chioma Nnadi, Vogue.com Fashion News Director
“I have been desperately trying (and failing!) to save my pennies for a piece from Grace Wales Bonner’s Spring collectsion. This gorgeous little velvet jacket might be the first thing I would splurge on. Oh, and then maybe a 19th-century mansion overlooking the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar would be next.”
Wales Bonner Aime embellished crushed-velvet jacket, $4,401, matchesfashion.com
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigitalimages.com5/15Catherine Piercy, Vogue.com Beauty Director
“Oh, this is easy! I don’t even have to think twice about it. I would splurge on a daily massage—there is nothing more indulgent and nothing better for your mood, your body, your circulation. In fact, if I won the Powerball, I would build a wing onto my Brooklyn apartment and install a massage therapist there so that he or she could be on call 24 hours a day.
“Also, I experienced convulsions of joy when I saw this Dior fur on the Fall 2015 runway. Since it’s sold-out/past season, I would find it on eBay and pay the no-doubt-that-much-more-exorbitant price. No shame.”
Photo: Courtesy of 1stdibs.com6/15Edward Barsamian, Vogue.com Style Editor
“It’s no secret that I love handbags, and this Hermès Birkin in matte Himalayan crocodile with white gold and diamond accents is the ultimate fantasy. Plus, should I win, I’ll be in good company, as both Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian West have similar versions.”
Hermès Birkin bag in matte Himalayan crocodile, $450,000, 1stdibs.com
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci7/15Alessandra Codinha, Vogue.com Fashion News Editor
“Besides a beach house, a whole lot of Hans Wegner furniture to fill it, and trying to facilitate world peace through various charitable donations? This somewhat ridiculous but totally splurge-worthy coat. Because at $1.3 billion—at random—I think you’re allowed to be a little ridiculous.”
Gucci diamond intarsia mink fur coat, $47,000, gucci.com
Photo: Courtesy of farfetch.com8/15Chloe Malle, Vogue Social Editor
“If I won the Powerball, I would donate $1 billion of the $1.5 to the International Rescue Committee to support their amazing work helping with the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe.
“Then I would buy a farm, take a trip to Iceland, and add the whole collectsion of Olympia Le-Tan Disney clutches to my closet. I mean, what better luxury than to be able to choose between Dumbo, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty? You’d have a different Disney classic for every day of the week!”
Olympia Le-Tan Bambi clutch, $1,835, farfetch.com
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci9/15Jorden Bickham, Vogue.com Executive Fashion Editor
“I just bought two pairs of Gucci slides . . . Which I would feel a lot better about if I just won the lottery. Otherwise, if I won the lottery, I think all that money would have to go into a high-yield account . . . You’ve gotta pay yourself first, you know?”
Gucci Princetown crocodile slipper, $2,500, gucci.com; Gucci Princetown metallic leather slipper, $595, gucci.com
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton10/15Gabriella Karefa-Johnson,Vogue Fashion Associate
“I won’t lie: I’ve spent a good amount of the last 72 hours contemplating this very question. I don’t have very extravagant taste. Most things I pine for are reasonably priced—even for those of us with well under $1.5 billion in the bank. That being said, I wouldn’t mind bribings the powers that be to open the Balenciaga vaults for me. The Nicolas Ghesquière–era architectural shoes from Fall 2010 will forever remain on my wish list. I’d imagine running wild through an archive comes with a pretty hefty price tag . . .
“More realistically, when I win the lottery tomorrow, I’m marching my way to 57th and Fifth and buying 30 pairs of the Vuitton Palm Canyon Desert Boot. I plan on wearing them every day for the rest of my life and want to make sure I’m well stocked.”
Louis Vuitton Palm Canyon Desert Boots, $1,270, louisvuitton.com
Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue, March 200611/15Sara Moonves, Vogue Contributing Editor
“I saw this ring in the antique jewelry section of Barneys in Los Angeles and have been dreaming of it ever since! It would make for a great lotto win splurge. But what I would really want is an Irving Penn photograph, specifically one of the Balenciaga images he shot on Sasha P. with Phyllis Posnick.”
Photo: Courtesy of net-a-porter.com12/15Emma Elwick-Bates, Vogue Fashion News Editor
“Animal-print coats are catnip for me, but I don’t have the highly elusive snow leopard in my collectsion. With temperatures now dropping, this Saint Laurent coat is one to cherish (and just throw on over jeans).”
Saint Laurent leopard-print goat-hair coat, $15,000, net-a-porter.com
Photo: Courtesy of stephenrussel.com13/15Selby Drummond, Vogue Senior Accessories Editor
“This is very easy to answer: a lot of caviar; Lauren Adriana and Taffin and Stephen Russell jewelry; and I would hire Axel Vervoordt to build me a house. The rest to charity.”
Stephen Russell 19th-century gold, spinel, and diamond earrings, price upon request, for information: stephenrussell.com
Photo: Courtesy of shop.visvim.com14/15Kelly Connor, Vogue.com Market Editor
“If I won the lotto, I would buy every gun in the U.S. that I can get my hands on and hire a bunch of talented artists to melt them into beautiful sculptures! I would then have an incredible sculpture garden somewhere upstate (where my future horse farm would be, too). People can come visit the garden and all ticket proceeds would go to the CSGV (Coalition to Stop Gun Violence). Then I would go to Japan and buy the entire Visvim collectsion to outfit myself and my fiancé for our ranch!”
Visvim studded bison belt, $1,320, visvim.tv
Photo: Courtesy of The Met15/15Hamish Bowles,Vogue International Editor at Large
“I’m already shopping in my head. Here’s my list so far: an Oliver Messel villa on Mustique. A palazzo on the Grand Canal, decorated with Roberto Peregalli and Laura Sartori Rimini of Studio Peregalli. An apartment on the Seine, decorated with Jacques Grange.
“A dedicated building for my fashion collectsion. I would settle for Deco Moderne on Long Island City. A John Singer Sargent portrait. A John Currin painting. And finally, a Charles James four-leaf clover dress. The problem is, I would still be living beyond my means!”
