Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

Blake Lively, along with Monegasque royal Charlotte Casiraghi, is the latest pretty face to model a Gucci product. So while Charlotte is fronting Gucci's Forever Now campaign in a comfortable pants and Gucci loafers, it's up to Blake to up the style quotient in the new Gucci Premiere ads. This she does, with lots of sizzle. In the new TV ads for the Premiere fragrance, the Gossip Girl shimmers in a mermaid-cut dress, first in an apartment overlooking Beverly Hills, and then after a quick spritz of Gucci Premiere, in the lift, on her way out. Of course, the scent of the new perfume diverts Blake to fantasyland. In her case, it's a desert of all places, right in the middle of a photoshoot. Really, Blake?

Luxury can be sustainable and need not be a burden on the environment. Gucci , one of the world’s leading luxury brands had way back in 2004 voluntarily initiated a Corporate Social Responsibility (SA 8000) certification process for its entire production cycle.  Rossella Ravagli, Gucci’s corporate social responsibility manager believes that since 1921 Gucci has been about quality, but nowadays quality goes hand in hand with sustainability. They are now collaborating with Safilo who are worldwide leader in the premium eyewear segment and produce some of the most expensive sunglasses in the world. Together they have launched a collection of sustainable models of sunglasses. Last year in August Gucci and Safilo together introduced four models made from acetate containing a high percentage of material from natural origins. Another range of sunglasses called the Gucci Eyeweb collection was also released. Aimed at a young and dynamic clientele, the collection includes t...

 Charlotte Casiraghi named new face of Gucci   Charlotte Casiraghi named new face of Gucci   Charlotte Casiraghi named new face of Gucci   Charlotte Casiraghi named new face of Gucci  Charlotte Casiraghi named new face of Gucci  Princess of Monaco and daughter of Caroline of Monaco, Charlotte Casiraghi, aged 25, will be the new face of Gucci. Rumors were emerging during the third day of the Paris Fashion Week and the choice was finally confirmed by the Italian house to fashion publication Elle.fr. Casiraghi follows in the footsteps of Evan Rachel Wood and Natasha Poly, who have also represented the fashion brand.

Steve Jobs is no more but the iPhone 4s is here. There are several luxury apps in the market ready to be loaded in your iPhone. You have a variety of apps, right from yacht brokerage to Hublot novelties to an app that allows you to design your dream super car. It is somewhat cool to carry these luxury lifestyle apps in your phone. It acts a s a guide and at the same time projects your personality and interests. We have selected ten of the coolest luxury apps for you here. Check them out and load them on your new iPhone 4S. 1.    App by Hublot Hublot was one of the first luxury brands to launch their app for iPhone. They have used the augmented reality technology to offer the Try It function. It allows you to see how a particular timepiece will look on your wrist. All the new novelties by the Swiss brand can be seen in panoramic, 360-degree viewing angles. The fun part of the app is Compose Your Hublot function. You are invited to choose a color and sound depending...

The year gone by has been a good year for the fashion and luxury industry. Practically all the major global brands recorded healthy growth and have sustained the momentum this year.  But there have been subtle changes in the consumer behavior and his attitude. America and Europe disapprove of conspicuous consumption. Flaunting is not considered cool anymore. There is a growing concern about the origin of a product. The awareness about the impact of a luxury product on the environment has increased. The focus is more on craftsmanship. The appreciation for the skills involved in the creation of a product is much higher today. Anything mass produced becomes cheap. The world today is flooded with mass produced goods. Bespoke attention to individuality has become the ultimate luxury. The 2011 Brand Report released by the global research agency Millward Brown reveals some encouraging trend. Apparel industry increased its sales by 10%.  The luxury industry was even...