Monthly Archives: April 2010

Royal luxury on rails

An exhibition of European royal trains is to go on show at the Dutch Rail Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The collection, which includes trains used by Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, opens to the public on April 15.

The collection will be opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who will arrive in her own royal train — which will then go on display at the museum.
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Chanel Bocce Ball Set

Chanel has contributed the South of France’s official sport, Pétanque by creating a a vintage-inspired Pétanque/Bocce ball set.

The set, priced at about at about $2,800, includes eight stainless steel bocce balls engraved with the Chanel logos and a wooden “jack” or target ball.

The case is finished in two-tone brown and natural woven wicker with Chanel’s trademark interlocking C’s done in braided rope on top, and brown saddle leather straps and handle.
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ipad white

InterContinental Hotel Concierges Getting iPads

Luxury hotel chain InterContinental is to trial iPad devices for its concierge staff from next week.

InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, which owns 166 high-end properties, will roll out the devices to trial hotels in four cities as part of a global program.

A spokesman for the brand confirmed to Relaxnews that if the trial was successful, the chain will consider rolling the scheme out globally.

Using the devices, hotel staff will be able to provide high-resolution satellite maps, close-up street views and short video clips of local attractions to guests.
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Karl lagerfeld coca cola light bottles

Coca Cola Light by Karl Lagerfeld

Coca-Coca Light the Lagerfeld way! This favorite drink of women has called upon the genius of Karl Lagerfeld to dress the Coca-Cola light aluminum bottle.

The designer lends his inimitable style and his unmistakable silhouette to the chic lines of the bottle, all in a special limited-edition box, accompanied by a bottle-opener hidden in a drawer.

Assuming this isn’t an April Fools’ joke, the Coca-Cola light box by Karl Lagerfeld will be available from April 24th at colette.
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Roberto Cavalli Easter Eggs

uova-pasqua-cavalli

Just in time for Spring Caffè Giacosa has created a delectable line of milk, dark and white chocolate eggs.

Owned by famed designer Roberto Cavalli, the Caffè Giacosa is one of the best restaurant in Florence.

Situated right next to the Cavalli store, the café seems quaint from the outside yet impossibly chic and decadent upon entering thanks to the trademark Cavalli leopard and zebra print décor captured in the plush seating.
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Richemont Buys Net-a-Porter

Global luxury giant Richemont said on Thursday it was buying up a pioneering 10-year-old web-based women’s fashion retailer, Net-a-Porter, founded by a former editor and valued at 350 million pounds.

The Swiss group already owns one third of the business, which was created by former fashion journalist Natalie Massenet and employs 600 staff in London and New York.

The deal will turn the website into one of the luxury goods company’s hallmark “maisons,” alongside standalone brands such as Cartier, Dunhill, IWC, Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Massenet will remain as chief executive and will invest in a Richemont unit being created to own the online business, the Swiss group said in a statement.
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Madonna and her 25 pieces of luggage

Madonna flew into London’s Heathrow airport yesterday along with more than 25 pieces of luggage.

The 51-year-old star looked pale and tired as she stepped off the plane from New York with her two adopted kids, David Banda, four, and Mercy James, also four.

However, the two porters who had to move the enormous pile of luggage looked far more exhausted, reports the Telegraph.

They were photographed struggling to shift two trolleys laden down with bags through Terminal 3.
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Johnny Depp’s Yacht Available for Charter

For $130,000 per week you can cruise the Mediterranean this summer like a bona fide movie star in Johnny Depp’s classic yacht the Vajoliroja.

The name Vajoliroja is a combination of Johnny’s family’s names. Va for Vanessa, Jo for Johnny, LiRo for his 9 year old daughter Lily Rose and Ja for his son Jack.

The stylish 156-ft. yacht, which Depp bought in 2007 and had completely refitted in 2008, boasts the attractive, vintage lines of a 1930s tycoon’s steam yacht but was in fact constructed by Turkey’s Turquoise Yachts in 2001.


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China’s mainland has over 875,000 multimillionaires

super rich chinese

The Hurun Research Institute published the 2010 Hurun Wealth Report today for the second consecutive year.

The report analyses the number and distribution of China’s wealthy across the nation’s major cities and provinces.

The report shows that there are 875,000 people with more than RMB 10million (EUR 1.1M / USD 1.47M) in China today, an increase of 6.1% from last year.

This growth has occurred against a background of strong economic performance in China‘s economy.

GDP grew by 8.7% in 2009 to RMB 33.5trillion, and the Shanghai Composite Index rose over the same period from 2300 points to 3000, an increase of 30%.
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Armani Dolci’s Chocolate Easter Eggs

This Easter, Giorgio Armani’s 5th Avenue flagship will be selling Armani Dolci branded chocolate eggs for your most discerning friends and family.

The dark, milk, or white chocolate eggs come in two sizes, all stamped with a giant “A and come gift wrapped in a blue box tied with a fuchsia ribbon.

The chocolates are available at Armani’s flagship on 5th Avenue and can be shipped anywhere in the US through May.
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Takashimaya to Close Fifth Avenue Store

Japanese retailer Takashimaya plans to close its New York flagship this June, according to Crainsnewyork.com.

Located at 693 Fifth Ave., between East 54th and East 55th streets, the store has been at the building, which the company owns and plans to sell, since 1993.

The multi-level store has shopping in categories including women’s and men’s clothing, jewelry, home decor and gifts and also has a floral boutique and spa.
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Christie’s sued in counterfeit wine case

A Palm Beach billionaire has uncorked a suit charging Christie’s auction house is in cahoots with counterfeit wine sellers.

William Koch is still steaming about four bottles of wine supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson that he bought for more than $300,000, which allegedly turned out to be fakes.

He’s already sued the seller – and now he’s trained his sights on the auction house, claiming it knew the Bordeaux was bogus.
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First look at Madonna For D&G Sunglasses

Pop queen Madonna and Italian fashionistos Dolce & Gabbana have joined forces on a new collection of sunglasses called MDG.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana sketched more than 50 styles of shades and Madonna picked out six pairs for the collection.

They will come bearing prominent MDG logos, with an “M” made from little stars and the other letters plain.
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