French designer Pierre Cardin outlined his plan on Monday for a 255-metre (837-foot) tower called the Palais Lumiere that he wants to build in an industrial port area on the famous Venice lagoon.

“I want to offer Venice a big garden for eternity,” the Italian-born Cardin told reporters in the city, where some locals are horrified by the project.

The Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign of Hermès is shot by photographer Nathaniel Goldberg, featuring Bette Franke and Wouter Peelen.

French culinary titans Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse and Guy Savoy will share the stage August 28 as judges on the US cooking reality show MasterChef.

Following the London 2012 Olympics, athletes who captured the public attention during the games have been chosen by major fashion, luxury and beauty brands to be spokesmodels. A look at some of the athletes cast by fashion.

Ford said Tuesday it would bring its Lincoln brand to China in two years, pitching the vehicle to the luxury segment of the world’s largest car market.

Lincoln cars, Ford’s luxury brand, would be available in China in the second half of 2014, the company said in a statement.

The Ritz-Carlton is opening this week its first hotel in Austria and its ninth in Europe with the new Ritz-Carlton Vienna.