This week in Miami, adidas Stella McCartney launches its spring/summer 2013 collection — a new line dominated by cool metallics and botanical prints.
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Monthly Archives: December 2012
Is Balenciaga haute couture on the way?
In an interview with WWD, PPR boss François-Henri Pinault has hinted that Balenciaga may make a return to the haute couture calendar.
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Golden Spike to offer trips to the moon for $1.4 billion
Colorado-based company Golden Spike announced plans for a commercial venture to send private clients to the moon during a press conference on December 6.
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Top airport restaurants around the world
Globetrotting editors at popular food site The Daily Meal have released their picks for the best airport restaurants around the world, giving the top spot to Barcelona, where travelers can tuck into a pre-flight meal prepared by a Michelin-starred chef.
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World’s most expensive Christmas dinner
A rare breed turkey wrapped in 50-carat gold leaf, a bottle of champagne that predates World War I and the world’s most expensive fish eggs are part of a meal that’s being described as the most expensive Christmas dinner in the world.
For £125,000 (€155,000), London chef Ben Spalding, currently head chef at John Salt, will prepare a Christmas dinner for four made up of some of the rarest and most expensive ingredients in the world.
Before tucking into their gilded meal, diners will clink to the holidays with an aperitif of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne 1907 valued at £37,000 in diamond-studded flutes.
The four-course meal opens with bird’s nest and Almas caviar, prepared with a 150-year-old balsamic vinegar, and Pata Negra Ibérico jamón.
Following that, diners will sample the world’s most expensive melon from China, the Yubari King, served with whole white truffle and saffron.
But the showpiece of the meal is the Dodine of rare breed turkey with Wagyu beef fillet and heart, wrapped in no less than 50-carat gold leaf and sprinkled with Akbari Pistachios – which alone cost £5,000 (€6,200).
The world’s most expensive coffee bean, the Kopi Luwak make up the dessert course which is served with Densuke watermelon, a seedless fruit grown on the island of Hokkaido, Japan which produces only 10,000 melons a year, all of which is served off a gold, Ugandan vanilla plate.
Meanwhile, Spalding will be donating 80 percent of his fee to the Cancer Research UK and Hospitality Action. The event is organized by VeryRirstTo.com, a service which offers exclusive, luxury products and experiences to its members.
The menu:
Sharpener: Diva Cocktail and Piper-Heidsieck 1907 Champagne
Bird’s nest & Almas Caviar 150-year-old balsamic and Pata Negra Ibérico jamón
Served with 1949 Cheval Blanc
Whole white Alba truffle poached in poulet de bresse juice & Sargol saffron stock, Yubari King melon
Served with 1988 Corton-Charlemagne, Coche-Dury
Dodine of rare breed turkey with Wagyu beef fillet and heart, wrapped in 50-carat gold leaf, Périgord truffles and Akbari pistachios
Served with 1959 La Tache
Whipped Kopi Luwak & Amedei premium chocolate with rare Densuke Watermelon eaten off a gold Ugandan vanilla plate
Served with 1976 Chateau d’Yquem
Key ingredients used in the meal:
Diva Vodka – £2,000
Piper-Heidsieck 1907 Champagne – £37,000
Dry ice – £180
Pata Negra Ibérico jamón – £600
Bird’s Nest – £100
Almas Caviar – £5,000
150-year-old balsamic – £1,030
Whole White Alba truffle – £3,500
Poulet de bresse for stock – £2,500
Saffron stock – £500
Yubari King melon – £2,500
Dodine of rare breed turkey – £500
Wagyu beef – £4,500
Gold leaf – £6,000
Périgord truffles – £900
Akbari pistachios – £5,000
Kopi Luwak – £3,000
Amedei chocolate – £150
Densuke watermelon – £2,600
Gold Ugandan vanilla plate – £1,500
1949 Cheval Blanc – £4,680
1988 Corton-Charlemagne, Coche-Dury – £1,390
1959 La Tache – £5,400
1976 Chateau d’Yquem – £990
Hollywood sign unveiled after major makeover
The refurbished Hollywood sign was presented in all its freshly painted glory Tuesday after its biggest makeover in 35 years, in time for 90th birthday celebrations.
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Arzak to open a restaurant in London’s Halkin Hotel
Halkin Hotel in London has tapped triple-Michelin-starred father-daughter team Juan Mari and Elena Arzak of Spain to help relaunch the establishment’s restaurant.
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Vacheron Constantin Year of the Snake timepiece
Luxury Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin has designed a “Year of the Snake” luxury watch for the next Chinese New Year.
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The work of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer, one of the 20th century’s most important architects, who designed the United Nations building in New York and his country’s futuristic capital of Brasília, died on Wednesday in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro. He was 104.
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Hire a Mini Cooper for $0,40 an hour!
Mini has launched a car hire scheme in the UK’s capital designed to put a smile on Londoners’ faces.
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Karl Lagerfeld Teams Up with Melissa
Karl Lagerfeld is teaming up with footwear brand Melissa. The designer has signed up to create capsule collections for the label over the next four seasons.
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Thomas Keller launches luxury gourmet gift sets
Thomas Keller has launched luxury gift sets that include a sparkling wine and caviar box set and a truffle risotto kit that replicates the same meal from Per Se.
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Rolex official F1 timekeeper from 2013
Rolex has signed a global partnership with Formula 1 to become the event’s official timekeeper and official timepiece from 2013.
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World’s biggest sculpture to be built in Abu Dhabi
Christo, the legendary public artist famous for his Wrapped Reichstag (below), plans to build the world’s largest sculpture out of oil drums in Abu Dhabi.
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Europe’s ‘Zero-G’ aircraft to start commercial flights
Until now restricted to trainee space explorers and scientists, Europe’s “Zero-G” aircraft is to start making commercial flights for paying customers from March 15.
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Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013 Campaign
Karolina Kurkova and Anne Vyalitsyna star in the new Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013 ad campaign, which was captured by Giampaolo Sgura.
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Sotheby’s to auction off El Bulli wine cellar
Spanish chef Ferran Adrià will be selling off the contents of the wine cellar from his now-shuttered restaurant El Bulli in two separate auctions to be held next year.
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Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Venet
Bugatti has just released images and details of a special Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport made by artist Bernar Venet for Art Basel Miami 2012.
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Color of the Year for 2013: Emerald
Color forecasting firm Pantone has declared Emerald green as the defining shade for 2013. For more than a decade, Pantone has selected its Color of the Year, influencing product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries including fashion, home, and beauty.
PANTONE® 17-5641 Emerald is in stark contrast to last year’s Tangerine Tango. A reddish-pink shade called Honeysuckle (2011) and turquoise blue (2010) are other recent Pantone picks.
“As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Emerald tones were noticed at Spring/Summer 2013 ready-to-wear collections from Akris, Acne, Richard Nicoll, Vera Wang and Kenzo among others.
The rich and vibrant tone, evoking refinement and luxury, is often associated with gemstones and will also be incorporated into makeup palettes, enhancing green, blue and hazel eyes.
Louis Vuitton family launches wine for Chinese market
A fifth-generation family member of the Louis Vuitton dynasty has launched a wine in Hong Kong developed specifically to cater to the Asian palate.
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Twelve at Hengshan hotel opens in Shanghai
The much-anticipated Twelve at Hengshan, A Luxury Collection Hotel, was unveiled last week on Shanghai’s tree-lined Hengshan Road.
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