Monthly Archives: June 2010

Second life for Lacroix creations

The exuberant creations of Christian Lacroix, who lost his prestigious house last year, are to get a second life as part of France’s national heritage.

The French culture ministry said Tuesday that the owners of the label had confirmed a donation of 11 outfits for the country’s Decorative Arts Museum.

A further 3,000 haute couture models dating from the creation of the label in 1987 to its demise in 2009 would be lent to national museums when necessary.
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Nobiskrug to build line of 85m Rolls-Royce yachts

U.S.-based Atlantic Yachts has contracted with Rolls-Royce’s Marine division to design and engineer a new line of superyachts dubbed the NVC 85 Y.

The 85-metre craft will be built by Germany’s Nobiskrug GmbH while Atlantic’s founder Paul Madden, formerly of Blohm + Voss will oversee the project.

“The German built version of the NVC 85 Y is all about design, technology, safety at sea, and comfort,” explains Madden.

“Rolls-Royce Marine’s design team in Norway has worked diligently with us to create a yachting platform without equal.”
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Net-à-Porter opens men’s shop

Online designer store Net-à-Porter has finally confirmed the launch of a men’s division: Mr Porter will open in January, but you can already register online.

The site will launch for the S/S 2011 season, with an edited line-up which includes global designer labels and niche brands, as well as editorial and style advice.

Mr. Porter will feature brands such as Burberry, Ralph Lauren, YSL, Gucci, Margiela, Balmain, Margaret Howell, Rick Owens, John Lobband and Dunhill.
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Ferrari Festival of Japan 2010

Over 600 Ferraris converged on Japan’s Fuji Speedway in the shadow of the famed mountain recently for the 2010 Ferrari Festival of Japan.

The event was organized by the Japanese branch of the famed auto marque in conjunction with the Corse Clienti department from Italian HQ.

Many of the owners took their vehicles to the track, including rare racers like the famed F399 single-seater from 1999, four 599XXs and six FXXs.
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Raza sets record for Indian modern art in London

A painting by leading Indian artist Syed Haider Raza sold for almost 2.4 million pounds in London on Thursday, setting a record for a modern Indian work.

“Saurashtra”, dated 1983, was estimated to fetch between 1.3 and 1.8 million pounds, but finally sold for 2,393,250 pounds including buyers’ premium.

The painting belonged to a key period in Raza’s career when he began to integrate elements of his Indian childhood and cultural heritage into his paintings.
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Ground Zero hotel opens — but is it too soon?

The new hotel next to the site of the former World Trade Center in NYC officially opened June 9, although guests won’t have much of a view for a few years.

The World Center Hotel is located on the southern edge of the World Trade Centre rectangle and offers views of the new One World Trade Center, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2013.

The hotel offers five types of guest rooms, a private restaurant and club on the 20th floor, instant check-in, free wifi and a host of “green” innovations such as eco-friendly showerheads and room occupancy sensors.
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Chanel J12 Marine Diver

Chanel continues to develop their J12 watch collection. For this summer they are coming out with the J12 Marine Diver – a waterproof watch up to 300 meters.

The Watch Case – available in two color variants (black or white) – is made from a high-tech ceramic and the crystal is an AR-coated sapphire.

The watch movement is using a Swiss automatic caliber and its bracelet also using a high-tech ceramic and it has an extra caoutchouc rubber strap.
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The World’s Most Expensive Shopping Streets

New York City’s famed 5th Avenue is no longer the most expensive street to lease a retail store According to a new report from Colliers International.

The average annual rent on Manhattan’s luxury shopping destination fell 10.7 percent from a year earlier to $1,250 a square foot as of March.

In first place now is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris with a two percent increase to $1,256 a square foot.
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Ferrari 599 Roadster Confirmed for August

Ferrari’s next new model will be a 599 roadster, Ferrari chairman Luca de Montezemolo told journalists in London last night.

“A lot of our clients are saying they want an open, 12-cylinder car with very sporty performance. At Pebble Beach, we will present this car,” he said.

The Ferrari 599 Roadster will be the first open top V12 from Maranello since the 575 Superamerica five years ago.
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Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Is Back

Prince Harry will be in New York City to once again attend the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors’ Island on June 27th.

Polo is played on horseback; teams of four try to score goals by hitting the ball into the opponents’ goal using long-handled mallets.

He will again face off against Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras, who is also a model for Ralph Lauren.
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Brazil’s prosperity bursts forth on catwalk

Brazil kicked off Latin America’s premier fashion event, Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Wednesday, with parades showcasing its economic prosperity and optimism.

“We’re a young country, a young culture, with an enormous potential for growth, for development,” organizer Paulo Borges told reporters ahead of the first shows.

Brazil‘s designs for the 2010-2011 summer season — including the inevitable sexy bikinis — are sashaying down the catwalks daily to next Monday under the overarching theme “Anima” (“animated” or “lively” in Portuguese).
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Montblanc Limited Edition Skeleton A380

Last week, the first A380 of the German aircraft “Lufthansa” carried Germany’s national soccer team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Celebrating the world’s biggest airliner – the Airbus 380, Montblanc has developed a Limited Edition – Skeleton A380 in collaboration with Airbus.

Inspired by the imposing aircraft, its extraordinary design features the distinctive two rows of windows and the A380’s typical shape.
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Origami Yacht by Prototipi Design

Millennium Yacht Design Award winner Fabio Federici has created an innovative new sea-going vessel with the Origami Yacht.

Origani’s distinctive feature lays in navigation which she easily does by closing the wings that makes her fast and aerodynamic.

When anchored, she opens its walls to allow the user enjoy greater space on the main bridge with the sea view of 360 degrees.
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World’s tallest residential tower in Mumbai

A Mumbai developer is about to start construction on what he claims will be the world’s tallest residential tower.

Mumbai builder Lodha Developers Ltd. said it will finish the over 117-story stack of private homes called “World One” in 2014.

At more than 450 meters, it will be taller than the Empire State Building in New York or the Willis Tower in Chicago.
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Emirates places biggest A380 order

Dubai-based Emirates Airline is to fly a total of 90 Airbus A380 “superjumbos” by the end of 2017 after a shock announcement that it is to buy a further 32, the largest single order in commercial aviation history.

The airline stunned its rivals with the $11.5 billion purchase on the first day of the ILA Berlin Air Show, with one aviation leader stating that “one must assume that this is not an investment for the UAE, but it is an investment for the world.”
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The Most Expensive Land in Hong Kong

Sun Hung Kai Properties, the world’s biggest developer by market value, paid HK$10.9 billion ($1.4 billion) for a residential site at a public auction in HongKong.

At HK$12,540 per square foot, it is the highest price paid in a government auction in urban Hong Kong since the market peaked in 1997.

Luxury home prices may rise 20 percent this year as the economy expands and supply remains limited, real estate broker CB Richard Ellis said in January.
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Gucci Icon Store Temporary Tokyo

The temporary Gucci Icon Store arrives in Tokyo and once again the pop-up sneaker store will be offering a nice line-up of exclusives for the city.

Running until July 4, Gucci is set to unveil 14 new models of luxury streetwear done up in premium materials like crocodile, python, patent and suede.

The store is clean, bright, and relates simple Gucci luxury with the luxury house’s signature red and green stripes.
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Gucci Baby Carrier

Thanks to the wonderful designers at Gucci, your baby can not only be right on your back or tummy but also sitting there in style.

Priced at $600, the Gucci Baby Carrier is suitable for children from 3 to 9 months or up to 9 kilograms.

The MAS Sport 42 Luxury Yacht

The Italian designer Paulo Rossi has created a beautiful yacht inspired by an Italian naval boat – the MAS 42 Sport.

The original MAS (Antisubmarine Boat) was a fast, torpedo-armed vessel invented by the Italian Navy in WWI and also used extensively during WWII.

At 42 feet long, the twin engines can propel the vessel up to 54 knots while cruising speed is a crisp 40 knots.
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