Monthly Archives: July 2013

Miu Miu Fall-Winter 2013 Campaign [VIDEO]

Miu Miu has unveiled a new video shot by Inez & Vinoodh as part of its F/W 2013 advertising campaign.

The two-minute video shows the stars of the campaign dancing, holding giant signs with their names on them as they wait for a ferry on a stormy dock.

Miu Miu Fall Winter 2013 Campaign

Miu Miu boss Miuccia Prada hired a cast featuring some of the world’s biggest models, including daughter of the Rolling Stones frontman, Georgia May Jagger. Alongside the rock royalty, Brazilian Victoria’s Secret ‘angel’ Adriana Lima and American beauty Lindsey Wixson also appear in the film.

Miu Miu Fall Winter 2013 Campaign

Soundtracked by the retro vibes of the “Hand Clapping Song”, performed by The Meters, the girls sway and clap along, showing off their different personalities as well as the brand’s latest clothes.

Miu Miu Fall 2013 Campaign

Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

Limited Premiere Edition Corvette Stingray announced

Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

A limited edition of 500 exemplars of the new Corvette Stingray will soon be selling in the US for roughly $75,000 and up. What sets it apart from the classic sportscar series is, in particular, its blue body and visible carbon fiber roof panel.

The Stingray Premiere Edition 2014 is equipped with the Z51 Performance Package, which makes for 460 horsepower and an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (0-100km) in 3.8 seconds.

This high-end Stingray revamp features all the best equipment available and is embellished with carbon fiber trimmings, Brownstone suede-covered seating and “Stingray”-logo interior sill plates and wheel caps. Each of the 500 cars comes with a luggage set custom-created for the series by Thule.

Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January, the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray is touted as the most powerful standard Corvette ever.

four seasons st petersburg

Four Seasons restores Russian palace in St. Petersburg

four seasons st petersburg

A 19th century Russian palace and St. Petersburg landmark has been restored as a luxury hotel bearing the Four Seasons brand name.

Known as the House with Lions, the palace —  which boasts a colorful history since ground was broke in 1817 — has been renovated to evoke the spirit of Imperial Russia.

After being delayed several times, the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace opened its doors yesterday to reveal the laborious restoration efforts made to resurrect the palace’s European-influenced esthetic.

Materials used include neo-classic mahogany, hazelnut and cherry furnishings, black lacquer and chinoiserie motifs from Europe.

Ceilings, granite columns and plaster details of the grand lobby have been preserved and restored, while the showpiece of the palace – the sweeping staircase to the second floor – is also original granite.

Rooms are swathed in luxurious fabrics and materials sourced from Europe such as velvet and silk, while fixtures and bathrooms include marble and granite.

Over the course of two centuries, the House with Lions — named after the two marble lions which stand guard outside the palace — served as the Ministry of War between 1827 to 1917.

Major hotel chains have set their sights on Russia for expansion, particularly with the 2014 Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup 2018 on the horizon.

The Hotel Indigo St. Petersburg-Tchaikovskogo, for instance, is slated to open this fall, and the Sheraton Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Hotel is scheduled to open later this month.

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace

Marc Jacobs muscular doll

Honey fragrance by Marc Jacobs coming July 15

Marc Jacobs Honey Fragrance

Marc Jacobs is launching a brand new fragrance, Honey, this summer. Joining existing scents Daisy, Dot and Lola, the bottle is a reimagining of Jacobs’ Dot design.

The product of a collaboration between perfumer Annie Buzantian and nose Ann Gottlied, this new fruity-floral essence features pear, fruit punch and mandarin, combined with orange blossom, peach nectar and honeysuckle and the scents of honey, intense vanilla and soft wood.

Like Dot, the bottle features polka dots in summery colors, but this time black and yellow striped butterflies seem to be collecting pollen from the fragrance.

Honey will be sold beginning July 15, starting at 45€ for the 30ml bottle.

lebua state tower bangkok

Thai tourism board launches luxury travel portal

lebua state tower bangkok

While the beaches of Thailand may be known for being overrun by young budget-conscious backpackers, the county’s tourism board has launched a new site promoting luxury travel experiences in a bid to woo globetrotters with deep pockets.

Thailand Super Quality is being pitched as an online portal that can help affluent globetrotters build bespoke, luxury travel packages in categories like dining, golf, spa and wellness and shopping.

Thailand spa

The new site presents “a new aspect to experiencing Thailand,”  and one that moves away from the image of backpack-laden college students and young people in search of a bit of hedonism, no-frills beachside huts and cheap eats.

Instead, properties listed on Thailand Super Quality include luxury villas, for instance, five-star hotels in the heart of Bangkok, and private, exclusive island getaways.

Sri Panwa Phuket

Likewise, visitors are given a list of fine dining destinations such as Thai, fusion, and Japanese cuisines,  and addresses for the best craftsmen and luxury retail shopping experiences in Bangkok.

The site also offers a golf category listing the best courses across the country while tourists looking to recharge are given a list of the most luxurious spa and wellness centers in Thailand.

Couples On The Beach

Top 10 countries with most holidays

Russians enjoy twice as much vacation time as Americans and nearly quadruple the time off taken by Mexicans, reveals a newly released survey ranking countries with the most holidays.

Couples On The Beach

In its review of the 30 countries surveyed, online reservation site Hotels.com found that Russians enjoy 40 days off throughout the year.

The US gets 20 days off, while Canada is second to last on the list with an entitlement of just 15 days vacation time. At the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, Mexicans get a paltry 13 days off.

Meanwhile, a slew of studies have shown that productivity actually increases in proportion to vacation time taken, serving to recharge employees’ batteries and re-enter the workplace with a renewed sense of purpose. It’s a concept that some companies have taken a step further in the US.

Companies such as IBM and Netflix, for instance, have tossed the standard two-week vacation policy in the US and implemented an open, unlimited vacation program in an effort to prevent staff burnout in a country where employees get so little time off.

Here are the top 10 countries which enjoy the most time off (public holidays + annual leave):

1.     Russia 40 days off
2.     Italy 36
2.     Sweden 36
4.     Finland 35
4.     France 35
4.     Norway 35
4.     Brazil 35
8.     Denmark 34
8.     Spain 34
10.   Colombia 33

Tour de France

How to score VIP access to the Tour de France

tour de france champs elysees

A handful of spots are still available for VIP, front-row seats to the greatest cycling sport event in the world. Though the 100th edition of the Tour de France kicked off over the weekend, official tour operators for the event have a few empty spots for select legs of the race.

Trek Travel, one of six official outfits for the Tour de France, still has availability for July 11-17, when the cyclists make their way through Ventoux and Provence.

Those keen on being a part of history also have the option of a Paris Finishing Package, a four-day itinerary that includes sweeping aerial views of the convoy as cyclists make their way along the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde from the balconies of the Automobile Club de France.

Instead of bumping shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of fans in the July heat, guests will sip on champagne and cocktails and watch the arrival of the first-ever nighttime peloton.

Similarly, Thomson Bike Tours still has spots remaining for both hard-core biking enthusiasts and non-riders alike.

Segments that roll through the Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux, and the Alpes d’Huez are designed to give riders a taste of the course. Rides range from 30 to 80 km daily and include access to VIP viewing areas throughout the race and the chance to ride the last few kilometers of a Tour de France stage escorted by the Official TDF Car.

Non-riders can purchase spectator packages that include exclusive VIP access to the finish line, guided visits of technical areas, media centers and team zones and meetings with Tour de France celebrities.

For more last-minute tickets and VIP access to the Tour de France, visit www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/.

Sous le Signe du Lion Jewelry Collection by Chanel

Chanel Lion Celeste brooch

Chanel presented its new line of haute joaillerie on the occasion of haute couture week, which officially wraps up in Paris on Friday, July 5. All of the pieces in the French luxury house’s new collection were designed around the theme of the lion, symbol of Venice, the City of the Doges, a location very dear to Gabrielle Chanel. Leo was also the zodiac sign of the Chanel founder.

The “Sous le signe du Lion” jewelry collection includes 58 pieces inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s ‘spirit animal,’ expertly and creatively translated into wearable luxury by Chanel’s fine jewelry department.

Chanel Lion Ring

The “Lion Royal” set, the collection’s most emblematic piece, is made of platinum, white gold and diamonds. Composed of a transformable diamond necklace, the piece can be worn as either a chain or a short necklace. The central element is a lion’s head, which can be turned into a brooch.

Every piece in the collection includes a version of Gabrielle Chanel’s lion on it. The “Lion Céleste” brooch, in white gold and diamonds, is based on Venice’s lion motif, while the “Constellation du Lion” brooch and pendant earrings link this king of animals to the comet.

Chanel Lion San Marco Ring

Chanel also chose to pay tribute to the lion of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice with the “Lion San Marco” gold and platinum ring, topped with a lion sculpted in lapis lazuli and a white and yellow diamond-studded star. Only five specimens of the ring will be available.

Jewelry sets, necklaces, brooches and pendant earrings with diamonds, white gold, sapphires, topaz and platinum complete this precious collection.

Chanel Lion Royal

ritz carlton abu dhabi

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Offers Camel Milkshakes

ritz carlton abu dhabi

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal has hired what they call a camel milk mixologist who will create cocktails based on the protein-rich milk.

Using locally-sourced camel milk, the mixologist will craftdrinks with ingredients like freshly muddled mint and strawberries to offer international guests a taste of local, authentic flavors of the Middle East.

ritz carlton abu dhabi bar

The launch of the new service also coincides with one of the most important months in the Muslim calendar. The Holy Month of Ramadan kicks off July 9.

“Because camel milk has a high level of protein and additional nutrients, it’s an excellent beverage to consume during Suhoor, the meal taken prior to sunrise for Muslims fasting during Ramadan,” said mixologist Mohammad Daoud.

camel milk

Camel milk is said to be the closest thing to human milk than any other animal-derived milk and is rich in vitamins B and C, and iron. It’s also touted as a dietary treatment for diabetes given that the milk is a rich source of insulin and is more easily digestible for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.

An a la carte menu is available for Suhoor during Ramadan, during which time Daoud will be on hand to make bespoke cocktails and also make food and camel milk meal pairing recommendations.

camel milk mixologist

Champagne Taittinger Fifa

Taittinger declared official Champagne of World Cup

Champagne Taittinger Fifa

Champagne Taittinger has secured ‘official Champagne’ status for its namesake brand at the 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament which will be held in Brazil.

As the World Cup’s official champagne, Taittinger will keep the effervescent stuff flowing liberally during the games next year in an agreement that will run until December 2015.

The brand will be served to guests in FIFA’s VIP and VVIP areas for major events.

Meanwhile, fifth-generation winemaker Lidio Carraro in South Brazil was chosen as the official World Cup wine supplier and will bear the FIFA seal worldwide.

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris receives Palace rating

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris

Le Royal Monceau is the latest top-end Paris hotel to receive the prestigious Palace rating — one step higher than five stars — from Atout France, the French Agency for Tourism Development.

Le Royal Monceau La Cuisine

Located on Avenue Hoche, it has 149 rooms and suites. Its two restaurants, La Cuisine and Il Carpaccio, received Michelin stars earlier this year. It re-opened in 2010 after a two year transformation by Philippe Starck, revealing brilliant, witty contemporary interiors infused with artistic flair.

Le Royal Monceau Carpaccio

The vibrancy of les Années Folles of the late 1920s, when the hotel first opened, peopled by a cast of artists, intellectuals and adventurers, had been successfully recreated.

Le Royal Monceau Presidentielle Suite

Le Royal Monceau is the sixth Paris hotel to receive the rating, the others being the Four Seasons George V, the Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, the Plaza Athénée, Le Meurice and Le Bristol.

Le Royal Monceau spaLe Royal Monceau Terrace

julianne moore reed

Julianne Moore poses for Reed Krakoff

julianne moore reed

Julianne Moore has signed up as the face of the latest campaign for Reed Krakoff. Shot by the designer himself, the star was photographed on location at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy offices, in New York City for a new campaign set to hit the September issues of fashion and lifestyle publications.

“I have admired Julianne’s extraordinary talent and unique style for many years and have been fortunate enough to get to know her on both a professional and personal level,” Krakoff told WWD.

The designer said he picked Moore for “the combination of personal strength, confidence and a subtle sensuality, which is strongly reflected in the imagery.”

The actress, who was shot in a python and knit back vest with her famed red locks down over her shoulders, is no stranger to the world of fashion, and has previously starred in campaigns for Bulgari.

Krakoff recently announced he would be standing down from his post as Creative Director at Coach in order to focus on his own namesake brand.

Loewe Fall Winter 2013

Penelope and Monica Cruz turn bag designers for Loewe

Loewe Fall Winter 2013

The Spanish luxury goods label has joined forces with sisters Penelope and Monica Cruz to design a new handbag, set to be unveiled in November.

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz stars in a new Loewe advertising campaign shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot on the roof of the Casino de Madrid in the Spanish capital. It’s the second campaign featuring the star who inked a three-year endorsement deal with Loewe in November 2012.

Loewe also took the opportunity to announce a new collaboration with Penélope and her dancer sister Mónica Cruz who will design a new bag, set to appear in November. The siblings created the cross-body bag which features outside pockets bag with British creative director Stuart Vevers.

penelope cruz Loewe Fall Winter 2013

“We wanted to do something special but also practical, and we wanted the design to have an unmistakable Spanish element,” Penelope told WWD. The sisters’ collection will also feature coin purses and large zip wallets.

The bag is one of the last projects for 39-year-old Vevers who is departing Loewe to take up his new post as creative director of Coach.

penelope cruz Loewe Fall 2013

Mombo Camp

Travel + Leisure’s best hotels in the world 2013

Mombo Camp

Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp emerged the overall favorite in T + L’s 18th annual World’s Best Awards 2013, a ranking of luxury accommodations as voted by readers of the US-based publication.

One of of Mombo’s best-selling assets: a location set within the Moremi Game Reserve which provides one of the best big game viewing vantage points in Africa, say camp operators.

Guests sleep in plush, four-poster beds, have access to both indoor and outdoor showers, and can live peaceably among rhinos, elephants, and game animals which roam freely under their feet beneath raised walkways that connect the private tents to one another.

Little Mombo also features a ‘treehouse-luxe library’ that invites guests to relax with a post-game drive cocktail, editors say.

Other amenities include thatch-roofed living and dining areas as well as a plunge pool. Morning and afternoon game drives also offer frequent sightings of lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffe and zebras.

In addition to offering luxury accommodations in the middle of the African plains, guests can sleep guilt-free as Mombo is powered completely by solar energy. The camp also implemented a rhino conservation project which reintroduced black and white rhinos to the region.

For these and other reasons, readers gave the luxury camp site a top score of 96.6 out of 100.

Meanwhile, though properties listed represent nearly every corner of the world, luxury chains such as the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont, the Mandarin Oriental and The Peninsula make repeat appearances throughout the ranking.

Top 10 hotels for 2013

1. Mombo Camp and Little Camp, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
2. Castello di Casole, A Timbers Resort, Casole d’Elsa, Italy
3. Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa
4. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, La Fortuna-Arenal, Costa Rica
5. Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
5. Ritz-Carlton, Berlin (tie)
5. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, North Island, New Zealand (tie)
6. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
7. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
8. Singita Sabi Sand, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa

1897 Red Revenue Small One Dollar

Rare Chinese stamp sells for $890,000

1897 Red Revenue Small One Dollar

One of China’s rarest stamps sold for HK$6.9 million ($890,000) at auction in Hong Kong, the auctioneers said Wednesday.

With just 32 recorded copies, the Qing Dynasty “1897 Red Revenue Small One Dollar” stamp is “China’s rarest regularly-issued stamp”, Interasia Auctions said in a press release.

The bright red stamp, symbolising luck and good fortune in Chinese culture, is rare because the characters “Qing Dynasty postal service, one dollar” were considered too small, prompting the printing of a second version.

The stamp was part of a three-day auction of Chinese, Hong Kong and Asian stamps which ended Monday bringing in a total of HK$71.9 million, Interasia said.

“Philately has a special place in Chinese culture, with rare stamps regarded as important cultural icons and treasures, just like art,” auction house director Jeffrey Schneider said in the statement.

A pair of rare stamps bearing an accidentally inverted picture of Chinese nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen sold for more than $700,000 in Hong Kong last October.

Mainland Chinese are regular buyers of the top lots at sales of art, jewellery and wine as Hong Kong positions itself as an auction hub for Asia as well as the gateway to China’s vast market.

Giambattista Valli opens accessories boutique

Giambattista Valli store

Giambattista Valli is opening a Parisian store entirely given over to his high-end shoes and accessories.

Situated opposite the main store (30 rue Boissy d’Anglas) the space is dedicated to the most luxurious and exclusive shoes, bags and jewelry from his collections, and is set to open in September.

Limited edition items have been created especially for the store, including a version of the recently launched ‘Valli’ bag, the ‘pretty ugly’ Birkenstock-inspired sandals in crocodile, and a special jewelry collection designed by longstanding creative collaborator Luigi Scialanga, who has produced all of Valli’s fine jewelry since the house was first launched in 2005.

Valli debuted his first haute couture collection in July 2011 and has become a major name on the schedule, regularly dressing fashionistas and celebrities like Diane Kruger for the red carpet.

Giambattista Valli accessories

Carbon Fiber Hammock Bathtub: Relax in Black

Vessel from Splinter Works

A new futuristic bathtub, whose lines evoke a hammock, has recently been unveiled by British design company Splinter Works in a very limited-edition run.

The hammock-shaped bath tub, called Vessel, is designed for use in a wetroom and does not touch the floor but rather is suspended from the walls with stainless steel brackets.

The carbon fiber bath, which was released mid-June, measures 2.7 meters long and is available in black, red, blue, yellow, pink, bronze and silver.

Vessel can be filled using a floor-standing tap and the waste water is released through the base into the wetroom, though a downward drain pipe can be added if the bath is not installed in a wetroom.

Miles Hartwell, co-founder of Splinter Works describes the idea behind the design of Vessel: “Struck by the synergy between the shapes of two compelling symbols of relaxation, a hammock and a bath tub, we were inspired to develop a piece that would provide the ultimate vehicle for total escapism.”

Vessel, which is being produced in a very limited run of 12, costs £22,500 ($33, 260) + VAT if applicable). Vessel is available directly from Splinter Works in the UK and can be shipped worldwide. 

hammock bathtub

Empire State Building

Empire State Building Gets $2 Billion Offer

Empire State Building

An unidentified bidder from West Asia has offered $ 2.1 billion in an unsolicited bid for New York’s iconic Empire State Building, according to The hindu business line.

The offer appeared to top another unsolicited bid of $ 2 billion by Rubin Schron, who partly owns the Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan. Schron made the offer public after the Empire State Building’s operating company, Malkin Holdings, announced plans to become publicly traded.

The 102-storey building with 2.95 million square feet was valued at 2.3 billion dollars in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and even with some tax exemptions for its energy-efficiency and elevator improvements, it still pays roughly 31 million dollars a year in property taxes.

Built in 1930, it was once the tallest building in the United States and is situated at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, a favorite venue for tourists.

motorola moto x ad

“The First Smartphone You Can Design Yourself”

motorola moto x ad

First ads for Google’s X Phone, now called the Moto X, promise a handset as unique as its user and a phone designed and built in the US.

Rumors of an all-conquering Android handset co-developed and built by Google and Motorola have been swirling around for the best part of a year as have the mythical handset’s capabilities.

And although the ads state simply that the Moto X is “coming soon”, they do finally confirm that the handset’s internal and external specifications can be personalized and customized by its owner — as the ad says “you should have the freedom to design the things in your life to be as unique as you are.”

That suggests that consumers will be able to choose how much RAM and internal storage the device has as well as the color, finish and texture of its casing. It could even mean that users can create a customized ‘skin’ to reflect their tastes and their smartphone needs.

In May, during the All Things Digital D11 conference, Motorola Mobility’s CEO, Dennis Woodside revealed that the Moto X would use a host of ‘always on’ sensors to enable contextual awareness and automatically do things based on location. For example it would know when it was in a car and so launch the voice command option and the turn-by-turn navigation application.

It would also know when the user wanted to take a photo and therefore launch the camera app immediately — something that would usually require a number of swipes and touches.

All in all, the Moto X is shaping up to be an intriguing phone and one that is focused on features and benefits rather than simply internal specifications.

LVFall2013

Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 Ad Campaign

LVFall2013

The new Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 Ad Campaign Features supermodels Gisele Bundchen, Isabeli Fontana, Karen Elson and Carolyn Murphy wearing the brand’s latest fall 2013 offerings.

Photographed by Steven Meisel, the quartet poses on a moody set wearing fur jackets, silk dresses and matching short coifs which evoke a retro elegance as they lounge in a hotel room.