Monthly Archives: March 2011

Ferrari ff sold out

Ferrari FF, Lamborghini Aventador: sold out for 2011

Ferrari ff sold out

Both the Ferrari Four and the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 have already been sold out for the next year’s worth of production.

This information is revealed just after the official public release of both sports cars at the Geneva Motor Show last week and even before the cars are heading to dealerships around the world.

All 800 Ferrari FFs planned to be produced in 2011 are sold, according to Ferrari CEO Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. The car will be priced at $ 359,000.
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Louis Vuitton Lippo Plaza Shanghai

China may double luxury sales by 2015

Louis Vuitton Lippo Plaza Shanghai

China’s luxury spending may more than double by 2015, surpassing Japan to become the world’s largest market for branded goods, according to McKinsey & Co.

Sales of luxury items in China, including clothes, handbags, watches and fine jewelry, are expected to increase to about 180 billion yuan in 2015.

The 2015 estimate would be equivalent to 20 per cent of global luxury spending, the consulting company said.
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jewelry mona lisa

Mona Lisa made of 100000 carats of jewelry

jewelry mona lisa

A Chinese jewelry collector has created a replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” with 100,000 carats of jewelry.

He has spent the last five years working on this one-of-a-kind jewelry painting and the last 30 years collecting all the necessary raw gem stones.

This bedazzled replica of the Mona Lisa is currently on display in a shopping mall in Shenyang City, China.
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Chanel Autumn Winter 2011 2012 ready-to-wear collection show

Lagerfeld feels a volcanic autumn chill at Chanel

Chanel Autumn Winter 2011 2012 ready-to-wear collection show

Karl Lagerfeld sent a volcanic chill of autumn swirling through the Grand Palais on Tuesday as he presented a tomboyish Chanel fall-winter collection.

In a deliberate contrast from the Parisian garden theme that framed the spring-summer show, Lagerfeld sent darker, looser looks down a wooden boardwalk the length of a venue carpeted with volcanic dust that crunched underfoot.

The soundtrack – “A Forest” by The Cure, about a man who goes looking for a woman in, well, a forest – set the tone, even if there wasn’t a tree in sight.
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Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace To Open Nobu Hotel

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace Las Vegas has announced plans for a multimillion-dollar renovation that would transform one of its hotel towers into the luxury Nobu Hotel.

Under the deal, the Centurion Tower will be revamped and the 9,500-square-foot Nobu Restaurant and Lounge will open at the site.

The Nobu tower, named after the famous Japanese restaurant brand, will feature 180 guest rooms, 16 suites and a separate check-in for guests.
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autograph hotel

High-end hotelier Autograph lands in Europe

autograph hotel

Marriott‘s new Autograph brand is to appear in Europe for the first time within months, the firm said March 7.

Autograph, an upscale brand which brings together independent hotels and resorts under the Marriott name, will appear first in Spain, where the company plans to add four properties currently owned by AC Hotels into the exclusive group.

The hotels include the historic AC Santo Mauro and AC Palacio del Retiro buildings in Madrid, which have been converted from houses into five-star properties.
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blake lively for chanel

Blake Lively for Chanel Ad Campaign (preview)

blake lively for chanel

Blake Lively was hired to be the spokesmodel for Chanel Handbags print campaign and now the first image has appeared online.

The ad, shot by Karl Lagerfeld, has the Gossip Girl against a set of mirrors staring at the viewer from her reflection and carrying the new Mademoiselle bag.

In contrast to singer Lily Allen’s playful Breakfast at Tiffany’s–inspired ads, Lively’s campaign feels edgier and more sophisticated, with a moody, Hitchcockian tone.
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Rafael Nadal’s New Armani Underwear Ad

The new video ad for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans featuring Tennis star Rafael Nadal has made its way out in full.

The 50-second clip sees Nadal player going shirtless, wearing only Armani’s jeans and briefs. He leans on the wall and a piece of wood, and lies on the wet floor.

The video is made for the clothing line’s Spring/Summer 2011 advertising campaign.
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Princess Yachts 32M

LVMH Debuts M Class Princess Superyachts

Princess Yachts 32M

LVMH acquired UK-based yacht builder Princess Yachts in 2008 and they are now entering the superyacht sector with the launch of the first of their M class vessels.

The first model in the series, the 32M, was unveiled at the London Boat Show in January 2011. It is also the first craft truly worthy of the world-class LVMH imprimatur.

For the yacht’s debut the company brought in some of its other brands, including Fendi, De Beers and Moet to demonstrate the glamour of the new range.
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Chanel J12 Chromatic

Chanel J12 Chromatic

Chanel J12 Chromatic

The Chanel J12 Chromatic is made of a new proprietary ceramic titanium material that is of course highly scratch resistant with a hardness close to that of sapphire.

The J12 Chromatic features a spectrum of models — 38mm and 41mm case sizes each with an automatic mechanical movement, and a more petite 33mm case size with a quartz movement.

Water resistant to 200 meters. There are also diamond and diamond baguette encrusted models (set in an 18k white gold bezel).
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Nude, Green Leaves and Bust

World’s most expensive painting on show in London

most expensive painting on display

Pablo Picasso’s “Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur”, the world’s most expensive painting, was to go on display Monday for the first time at London’s Tate Modern museum.

The 1932 painting set a world record when it was snapped up by a mystery bidder for 106.5 million dollars at New York’s Christie’s auction house last May.

It will be the first time the painting has been displayed anywhere since 1961 and prompted the famous London museum to create a new Pablo Picasso room to house the loaned work.
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Gresso iPhone4 Black Diamonds for Lady

Gresso iPhone 4 Black Diamonds for Lady

Gresso iPhone4 Black Diamonds for Lady

Luxury phone maker Gresso has unveiled the new iPhone 4 Black Diamonds for Lady, in the case of the 200-year-old African Blackwood, combined with black and white diamonds, platinum and 18K rose gold.

The buttons on the panel feature 2-carats worth of black diamonds and an inside frame made of 18-carat rose gold with white diamonds.

The iPhone 4’s back panel has been decked out with black diamonds in 6 carats, in combination with 13 carats of stunning white diamonds.
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British designer Sarah Burton

Sarah Burton To Design Royal Wedding Dress

British designer Sarah Burton

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress for her marriage to Britain’s Prince William will be designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen fashion house.

Sarah Burton, who took over as creative director at the prestigious house after McQueen’s suicide, was selected by Middleton to help her develop her own style.

Burton, 36, denied she had been handed the “most coveted commission” in fashion but tradition dictates that royal bridal-gown designers are bound to secrecy by the royal family’s office at Buckingham Palace.
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bulgari bvlagri ad

LVMH to buy Italian jeweler Bulgari

bulgari bvlagri ad

French luxury group LVMH has agreed to buy Rome-based jeweler Bulgari SpA in a cash-and-shares deal worth euro4.3 billion ($6 billion).

The deal will see Bulgari’s founding family become the second largest family shareholders in LVMH behind that of Chief Executive Bernard Arnault.

LVMH also announced a tender offer of 12.25 euros per share to acquire the remaining shares of Bulgari, a 61 percent premium over where they were trading before the announcement.
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queue LV china

China’s middle class stampede for luxury handbags

queue LV china

It could be a queue for a pop concert, a top nightclub or even the opening night at the theatre. But the hundreds of people lined up in a Hong Kong street are actually waiting to bag a bit of luxury.

“We’re looking for new handbags,” says student Celeste Law as she queues patiently alongside her friend Karina Luh outside the supermarket-sized branch of Chanel on Hong Kong’s Canton Road.

The students, both 20, already sport impressive accessories — Celeste carries a Louis Vuitton monogrammed bag, while her friend’s is from Chanel.
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Delta plane

Delta tops the world’s most admired airlines

Delta plane

Delta Air Lines has been voted the world’s most admired airline by Fortune magazine, managing to push Singapore Airlines into second place.

The award means that Delta came out top in a string of assessments including social responsibility and quality of product, as well as business-related criteria such as quality of management and global competitiveness.

Delta has moved steadily up the ranks over the past four years to reach top spot, which was awarded to Singapore Airlines last year — the airline’s boss Richard Anderson described the award as a “remarkable achievement” in a note to staff.
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Mondrian soho hotel bedroom

Morgans Hotel Group Unveil the Mondrian SoHo

Mondrian soho hotel bedroom

Mondrian SoHo, Morgans Hotel Group’s third Mondrian and debut hotel property in downtown Manhattan, officially opened this week.

Morgans selected Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, the visionary behind the re-imagined Mondrian Los Angeles, to create Mondrian SoHo in collaboration with the company’s renowned in-house design team.

Noriega-Ortiz’s design for the hotel draws inspiration from Jean Coucteau’s 1946 romantic French fantasy film “La Belle et la Bête.”
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Stella McCartney Kids spring 2011

Stella McCartney S/S 2011 Kids Collection

Stella McCartney Kids spring 2011

Stella McCartney Kids expands into its first full range collection for S/S 2011 with an extension into wholesale distribution and enhanced on line shopping experience.

The fun and modern styles for boys, girls and babies, aged newborn to 12 years, is available on the dedicated website and will be in stores worldwide next week.

The new Stella McCartney Kids collection is effortless, playful and vibrant capturing the energy and freedom of summer.
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Jerry Hall diamond

Cora Sun Drop Diamond On Display

Jerry Hall diamond

London’s Natural History Museum is currently hosting the most stunning yellow diamond in the world – the Cora Sun-Drop.

At 110-carats, the Cora Sun-Drop is roughly the size of a woman’s thumb and is largest vivid yellow pear-shaped diamond known in the world.

It has been lent to the museum by leading US diamond manufacturer Cora International for display to visitors for a limited time.
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Kirsten Dunst in Bulgari Fragrance Ad

kirsten dunst Mon Jasmin Noir

Italian luxury label Bulgari has released the ad image for its new fragrance, Mon Jasmin Noir, a flanker to the 2008 perfume Jasmin Noir.

Actress Kirsten Dunst can be seen covered with only some draped fabric, holding a giant flacon of the fragrance and sitting next to a real lion.

Mon Jasmin Noir, which features notes of lily of the valley, sambac jasmine, musky nougatine and vibrant wood, is now exclusively available at US department store Nordstrom before being rolled out internationally from next month.
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Arceau Pocket Promenade de Longchamp Watch

Hermès – Arceau Pocket Promenade de Longchamp

Arceau Pocket Promenade de Longchamp Watch

The Arceau wristwatch imagined in 1978 by Henri d’Origny lends itself ideally to a pocket-watch version.

Its asymmetrical attachment and its lugs naturally invite a cord-strap fixed to the arch like a stirrup leather to a stirrup, thus evoking the saddle- and harness-making origins of Hermès.

Whether in a trouser or jacket pocket, the manner of wearing the Arceau Pocket further accentuates the innate classic chic of the original watch design.
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