Luxury and practicality don't always go hand-in-hand, but for his first collaboration with Baccarat, French designer Philippe Nigro brought a certain flexibility to the storied French house.

WSJ: Artisanal Pillows and Luxurious Lights | Fresh Picks

But I also see it as a lovely way to play homage to the tradition of the storied fashion house, and to the relationship the designer had with her daughter.

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As we were finishing our 2012 list, one of our fashion picks from last year, Alexander Wang, 29, made headlines when he was tapped by French luxury conglomerate PPR to become the creative director of storied fashion house Balenciaga.

FORBES: 30 Under 30: The Bright Young Stars Of Art And Style

It was impossible, for example, to consider the Apthorp, the storied apartment house on the Upper West Side, without noting that Ms. Ephron had lived there (and wrote about her love affair with the place in the New Yorker), even though she moved out years ago.

WSJ: A Part of the Zeitgeist

Continuing a striking pattern in American politics, five new House Members hail from storied political families.

ECONOMIST: The New Congress