Monthly Archives: November 2011

Rolls-Royce 102EX

Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom 102EX

Rolls-Royce 102EX

Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce has developed its first electric-powered vehicle, that goes up to 125 miles fully charged.

The one-off Phantom 102EX has been touring the globe to gauge the reactions of Rolls-Royce owners and potential customers to a fully electric-powered car.

The 6.75-liter V-12 was replaced by a massive 71-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery housed within the aluminum spaceframe.
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Guilin China

Second Club Med Resort in China

Guilin China

Upmarket French leisure group Club Med intends to open a second holiday village in China, in the southern province of Guilin to add to its northern ski resort.

Club Med said it had signed a 10-year accord with Chinese group China Pao Shan, owner of the site, with the resort to open next year and then be revamped and more than doubled in capacity to 300 rooms for 2013.

Guilin, famed for its scenery, is one of China’s top tourist destinations, attracting 20 million domestic and 1.4 million foreign visitors in 2010, Club Med said.
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Cadillac XTS

Cadillac XTS set for Los Angeles unveil

Cadillac XTS

General Motors-owned brand Cadillac will launch its new flagship sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show, it announced this week.

The brand has now confirmed that the Cadillac XTS, first featured as a concept at last year’s Detroit Motor Show, will officially debut at the LA event.

Rumours surrounding the model reached fever pitch when Cadillac accidentally let slip a photo on their media website.
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Isaac Mizrahi

Isaac Mizrahi Launches Eyewear

Isaac Mizrahi

Isaac Mizrahi is to launch an eyewear collection, which is set to reach stores in Fall 2012 according to WWD.

A licensing deal has been signed with B. Robinson to sell sunwear and eyewear from the Isaac Mizrahi and Isaac Mizrahi New York brands.

Sold in department and specialist stores across the globe, B. Robinson is one of the world’s most prestigious eye and sunwear companies.
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Cartier Air MV

Cartier Facebook fans can see new Air video

Cartier Air MV

Cartier have collaborated with French band Air to showcase an exclusive new video from the electro group.

Fans looking to see the video for “How Far Would You Go For Love” need to go to the luxury jewelry house’s Facebook page and select ‘Like‘.

Cartier commissioned the clip as part of its True Love Has a Colour and a Name campaign, which features a series of videos celebrating romance.
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fast ferry Capricorn

A fast ferry to be converted into a luxury superyacht

fast ferry Capricorn

An unnamed billionaire has just acquired the 146-metre fast ferry Capricorn, built by Fincantieri in 1999, with plans to convert it to the world’s 4th largest private yacht.

The recent sale shall see a complete refurbishment and extension to 152 metre powered by four diesel engines and two gas turbines producing 95,000hp in power.

It will then be considerably larger than the yachts currently owned by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of Qatar, David Geffen and Paul Allen.
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Emily Blunt Yves Saint Laurent Opium Campaign

Emily Blunt is the new face of YSL Opium

Emily Blunt Yves Saint Laurent Opium Campaign

Emily Blunt is starring in Yves Saint Laurent’s F/W campaign, shot by Patrick Demarchelier, for the fashion house’s iconic Opium fragrance.

Blunt, who follows in the footsteps of Kate Moss and Sophie Dahl, will “unveil a fiery, almost reckless woman with magnetic seduction, that nobody or nothing can resist.”

The star said that she found it “really exciting to embody a fragrance which has stood the test of time without its allure ever being diminished.”
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veuve clicquot bottles

Champagne prices expected to rise next year

veuve clicquot bottles

Major industry players have issued a bubble-bursting forecast warning that retail prices will rise by as much as six percent in the UK alone.

Several champagne houses agreed that the rise in grape prices from the Champagne region’s 2011 harvest will be unavoidably passed on to the consumer.

Estimates vary between a three to six percent rise in retail prices, reported industry wine publication Decanter magazine this week.
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Versace For H&M Fashion Event

Chinese website sells Versace for H&M

Versace For H&M Fashion Event

While a fashion show in New York Tuesday night showcased the upcoming Versace for H&M line, a website in China has been claiming to offer the collection online.

On November 8 models including Daphne G, Natasha Poly and Lindsay Wixson showcased pieces from the range at a special launch.

The upcoming partnership evokes various key styles from the Versace archive including silk-crêpe dresses, multi-colored panel print gowns and the classic studded leather jacket.
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Cartier Cadran Lové

Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon Watch

Cartier Cadran Lové

Here’s a first look at the Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon watch, a piece that will be officially unveiled in January 2012 at SIHH in Geneva, Switzerland.

This piece builds off of previous innovations and design motifs to result in this interesting looking timepiece.

The Caliber 9458 powering the Cadran Lové Tourbillon is a variant of an already existing tourbillon (the ladies “Alligator Tourbillon”) but the watch itself is decidedly masculine, i.e. with sculpted Roman numerals rather than a pave diamond crocodile.
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brioni store

PPR Buys Menswear Brand Brioni

brioni store

French luxury products giant PPR said on Tuesday it was acquiring Italian high-end menswear brand Brioni, in line with the restructuring of its business.

PPR has “signed an accord with Brioni shareholders to acquire 100 percent of the capital,” it said in a statement, without giving a figure for the deal.

PPR head Francois-Henri Pinault said this acquisition “completes our portfolio of luxury brands … in the mens’ ready-to-wear segment,” which is growing fast.
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Tom Ford beauty

Tom Ford Opens Beauty Boutique

Tom Ford beauty

Tom Ford thinks consumers would be ‘surprised’ by the number of men who secretly wear cosmetics.

The designer made a personal appearance at department store Bergdorf Goodman in New York last week for the opening of his in-store Tom Ford Beauty Boutique.

The creator revealed in a video interview with style.com that he also expects gentlemen to use products from the collection
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restaurant couverts

Michelin awards record number of stars in Germany

restaurant couverts

Germany now ranks second behind France as the European country with the most three-starred eateries, after Michelin inspectors handed out a third star to a contemporary restaurant that centers its cuisine on the aromatics of food.

In the 2012 edition of the Michelin Guide Germany, La Vie, in Osnabrück has become the ninth restaurant to earn the highest ranking possible from the red book.

Inspectors also promoted 10 new restaurants this round, to give the country a total of 32 two-starred establishments.
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Manolo Blahnik Boutique Dubai Mall

Manolo Blahnik opening Liberty store

Manolo Blahnik Boutique Dubai Mall

Manolo Blahnik has announced a deal for British department store Liberty to sell his footwear as of spring 2012.

The UK currently only has one exclusive outlet at the designer’s store on Old Church Street in London’s exclusive Chelsea neighborhood.

Situated on Regent Street in the heart of London’s shopping district since 1875, Liberty boasts a long fashion legacy and is best known for its floral, abstract and paisley patterned print fabrics.
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cocktail

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2011

cocktail

Drinks International, based out of the UK, has published its version of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant awards, with the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

From secretive speakeasies that require walking through phone booths, wardrobes and hidden, unmarked doors, editors and bar professionals around the world selected their picks for the best bars around the world.

While New York and London dominate the top 10 list, watering holes from 16 countries are represented along the way, including bars from France, Spain, Denmark, Spain, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
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De Bethune Dream Watch IV

De Bethune Dream Watch IV iPhone case

De Bethune Dream Watch IV

De Bethune has released the Dream Watch IV, an iPhone 4S case that features a mechanical clock as well as protection for your phone… and your brain!

Clearly inspired by the unique piece made for Only Watch 2011 (below), the pocket watch face is made from blued titanium with gold and diamond stars.

The Dream Watch IV also provides electromagnetic protection for the user by reducing the physiological impact of its potentially damaging waves.
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Lufthansa windowside bed First Class

Lufthansa offers new First Class cabin

Lufthansa windowside bed First Class

Last week Lufthansa sent its first retrofitted 747-400 from Hong Kong to Frankfurt and those flying first class were in for quite a surprise.

Where previously these planes catered for 16 passengers in their ultra-luxury section, now they are fitted out for just eight and that means a full-length, window-side bed next to the seat, among other treats.

Lufthansa’s move comes as the likes of Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air New Zealand and Air Canada have done away with first class cabins in favor of expanded business class facilities.

At the same time other carriers such as Qantas, Air France and British Airways have removed some first class seating from selected planes and increased the space available to business class.

With the European debt crisis affecting all airlines, Lufthansa is hoping the changes will attract more and more passengers from the South China region “and to attract more passengers to pay a full fare we need to offer an ever great product”.

According to market researchers China Elite Focus there are more than one million “Chinese Luxury Tourists,” who fly first or business class.

“Chinese tourists are big spenders, they are travelling more and seeking new venues. Traditionally, CLTs have holidayed mainly in Asia but are beginning to look further afield to Europe, the USA, Middle East and Australia,” said the company.

Lufthansa has not forgotten its business class passengers either. The airline is planning to roll out its first full flatbeds in business class in its B747-8 planes which are due to come into service early in 2012.

Perrelet Turbine Poker

Perrelet Turbine Poker Watch

Perrelet Turbine Poker

Just released is the Perrelet Turbine Poker watch, a piece which makes very clever use of the brands aeronautical-inspired 12 blade double rotor dial.

A selection of cards are hidden beneath the rotor blades which constantly revolves thus obscuring the cards which will not be revealed until the rotor stops.

Perrelet offers three dial options featuring different card hands. The case is in DLC coated stainless steel and has a rubber strap.
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