Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

On a secluded plateau near Uluwatu you might expect to hear the ancient chants of a long gone culture and also forget the whole world that is noisy and filled with din. The place is called Bulgari Resort, and I know it would surprise you that the fashion house would find themselves in a place like Bali.  The resort overlooks the Indian ocean and is defined by the dramatic cliffs that jut across. You will also get your own perfectly private beach where you could indulge in golden moments. The  true exoticisms of a tropical culture can be experienced in Bulgari Resort and the Balinese cukltuer and art forms are integrated with Italian style. This is the second luxury property from Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. The beach can be reached only by an elevator and the specialty spa treatment at the sunset can be one of the coolest ways to spend your time. You could also go and visit a volcano if you are in a fiery mood. Moreover, you would be provided with a ...

Amble, the iPhone application by Louis Vuitton that was launched in association with Apple has an Amble website and it interacts with the same to allow travelers to plan for and prepare their journeys on their computers or iPads. Louis Vuitton has always been in the limelight for its success and its global presence as an exceptional and elite luxury brand, and it has recently had several updates and events that have been featured on Facebook as well. Louis Vuitton has created an innovation with the Amble application that can be perceived as a digital travel diary. Amble, has an array of features that makes it easier to plan travel and makes the whole planning process more personal. Louis Vuitton says “ see the world through our eyes ” and hence Amble is a way to explore the world at a slower pace so that people can enjoy their exploration. While people experience the world they can record them on their iPhones as a photograph, or in the form of video or a...

The financial downturn has hit the real estate and the hospitality industry and luxury hotels the hardest. Even with the economy stabilizing somewhat these sectors are finding it hard to bounce back. For them, the priority still is to cut losses and consolidate their position to take advantage of opportunities in future.  The Palazzo Versace hotel in Dubai has cut the price of its apartments by half. A high number of defaults have meant that several properties in the Dh2 billion (US $544.4 million) development have come back to the market with scaled down prices. This is being pitched as a great opportunity for buyers as there has been no skimping on the fittings, features, furnishings or accessories including the $120 drinking glasses designed by the Italian designer Versace himself. The project was promoted by Emirates Sunland Group before the downturn set in. Buyers from the UK, Russia and around the region showing great interest in the project 80% of th...

What better way for Ferrari to celebrate it's 16th Formula One Constructors Championship win, but to launch the open top version of the F430 Scuderia this week. The much-awaited hot wheels, the Scuderia Spider 16M has the same features as the lightweight Scuderia coupe like the 510 hp 4.3L V8 and the 6-speed F1 paddle shift gearbox. According to Ferrar i, Scuderia Spider is apparently the fastest open top model to be ever tested by them around the Fiorano test track. And the best part is that Scuderia is 176 lbs lighter than a standard F430 spider at 2954 lbs dry. That is believed to be very good to support a sprint of 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds with a terminal velocity of 195.7 mph. Ferrari is presenting this wonder car as a limited series model, as only 499 SCuderia Spders will be built. You can look forward to enjoying a carbon fiber shell around the roll bar, number plaque on the sah and the ultra cool interior trim packages. The car is priced at a h...

On July 12 it was confirmed that Italian luxury label Valentino has been sold to the royal family of Qatar for an estimated $858 million. Mayhoola, an investment group controlled by Qatar’s royal family, explained its vision for the fashion house — which was founded in 1959 by namesake Valentino Garavani and is famed for its ultra feminine frocks. “Valentino has always been a brand of unique creativity and undisputed prestige,” said a Mayhoola spokesperson in a release. “Our vision is to back management for the long term to exploit the full potential of this exciting brand. We believe Valentino is ideally suited to form the basis for a global luxury goods powerhouse.” Meanwhile, Valentino chief executive officer Stefano Sassi added the new investors will help the brand “reach its full potential.” As well as acquiring Valentino, the Qatar group also reportedly picked up the M Missoni license, while the Qatar Luxury Group, owned by the Qatar Foundation, acquired French...

Andrew Lewicki knows that people have gotten used to seeing luxury brands extend their influence into other industries. From bicycles to tennis, rugby, football and golf balls, not to mention every kind of object and gadget, luxury brands have left their stamp on a multitude of products. This time, fashionistas who are already dreaming of soft, yummy, branded waffles in the morning will have to wait, as this branded waffle maker is not for sale. It is a piece of art, a sculpture by Los Angeles-based artist Andrew Lewicki whose imagery often plays with the paradoxes of modern life. Via  trendhunter  -  andrewlewicki

Chinese shoppers are increasingly buying luxury goods in mainland China, turning away from high-end stores abroad and in Hong Kong, a survey indicated Thursday. The poll by market research firm Ipsos found that Chinese buyers preferred to shop on the mainland for luxury goods in five of its seven categories — watches, cosmetics, clothes, shoes, and wines and cigars. Last year, mainland Chinese preferred to buy top-end items at home in only three categories. The semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong remains their preferred destination only for jewellery and handbags, despite higher taxes on luxury goods on the mainland. Louis Vuitton was the respondents’ top luxury brand, named by 39 percent of them, followed by Chanel on 17 percent. Seven percent picked Gucci, Hermes had six percent and Christian Dior five percent. A total of 1,135 people on mainland China with annual incomes higher than 100,000 yuan ($15,900) were questioned last month for the China Luxury Forecast, jointly car...

Salvatore Ferragamo will be outfitting the tiny Republic of San Marino with uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Influenced by the luxury label’s Italian mainline, the uniforms combine sophistication with craftmanship as well as functionality. The tailored outfits include a pair of white cotton trousers, a silk crepe dress, preppy blue blazer, blue loafers and a pair of square toe heels featuring a bow. The San Marino Olympians will also tout one of Ferragamo’s iconic bags – the Sofia – which has been given an update. Ferragamo joins the ranks of designers creating Olympic kits, including Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren, Prada and, most recently, Hermès.

California winery Chandon has released a limited-edition bottle of patriotic sparkling wine in time for the summer Olympics decked out in red, white and blue stripes. The limited edition Brut Classic is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and blended with 10 to 20 percent Reserve wines from previous harvests. The wine goes through a second fermentation in the bottle to attain citrus spices layered over notes of almond and caramel. Wine Spectator magazine gave the Brut Classic top marks, describing it as crisp and lively with aromas of green apple, cinnamon and vanilla, while Wine Enthusiast called it a nice, everyday bubbly that’s affordable yet elegant. With just days until the opening of the London Games, a slew of luxury and everyday products are undergoing Olympic makeovers and being pitched as commemorative limited-edition items. In France, macaron houses Pierre Hermé and Fauchon have released limited edition cookies and packaging for the Olympics. Coc...

TAG Heuer has launched the Racer smartphone, “the first luxury phone crafted for high performance” according to the Swiss luxury watchmaker. The Racer is built with carbon fiber lined with titanium and special grade rubber. These features make the smartphone shockproof while also making it lightweight. The phone design was “inspired by TAG Heuer’s heritage in GT cars and Formula 1,” the company said in a statement. The luxury device is powered by Android Gingerbread and will also feature the first customizable 3D user interface, according to TAG Heuer. Starting at 2,800 Euros (US$3,700), the Racer will head to Tag Heuer shops and selected luxury mobile, watch and jewelry retailers in July.

A report from Bloomberg says that BMW will sell cars over the Web for the first time as the world’s largest maker of luxury vehicles seeks an inexpensive way to reach more buyers to recoup spending on its electric models. The BMW i3 and i8 electric and hybrid cars that will launch in 2013, respectively 2014 would be the first to sell directly to customers over the Internet. BMW opened its first i showroom in London where prototypes are being displayed, but when the cars go on sale, the ordering process will take place online. The i3 electric car will reach the market in late 2013 and will cost around 40,000 euros ($48,500). The high-end hybrid sports car i8 will sell for around 100,000 euros. The site will allow BMW to skip the step of the middle man. Not having to go through a dealer mean 5 to 7 percent cheaper vehicles. BMW says that if all goes well, the online retail project could expand to include models in the brand’s regular line-up.

Ferrari, the legendary luxury super-car brand has now taken yet another leap in the field of charity, as the Italian auto behemoth placed its latest offering, the 2012 Ferrari FF under the hammer in Japan. This one a kind event by Ferrari was organized in an effort to raise funds to boost the rebuilding efforts after the devastating 2011 Japan Earthquake/Tsunami disaster that nearly decimated the country’s coastal regions in the month of April this year. The entire proceeds from the charity auction that amounted to a substantial $724,000 will be donated to the undergoing relief efforts in the Japanese city of Ishinomaki. The auction was held at the Japanese Embassy in Tokyo and the event was attended by none other than Ferrari Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, along with more than 200 car collectors. The stunning 2012 Ferrari FF was claimed by Masaharu Seno, a Tokyo based architect who was personally congratulated by Mr. Montezemolo. The charity event even witnessed the pr...

If you were tired of lugging huge bags all the time to work and looking like a walking office yourself, take heart. The new fashion trends reveal that small bags and clutches may come in vogue again and you may not have to carry the huge bags ever again. Of course, this is based on the new design trends that were noticed on the runways and it would be a great way to make sure that you are carrying less, and also making sure that you are in fashion. Robert Burke, who runs the famous New York luxury consulting firm, revealed that the consumers strive to look more carefree these days, and that means that a lot of them would rather go ahead and get something that would make it easier for them to carry stuff. The bags are expected to generate sales to the tune of $10.3 billion and that is a huge amount if you asked me. Brands such as Louis Vuitton would sell small bags for around $14,000 now and thus small doesn’t exactly mean cheap. Women on the other hand would have something new to...

 Dior Short Film at Versailles: The world of fashion is very competitive. And even if you an old and established label like Dior you have to be on your toes all the time to stay ahead of competition and retain your customer base. They have released a short film the Secret Garden to showcase their newest collection. Fashion industry requires all the players to be very agile as it has to keep adapting to constant change. The industry is full of creative minds and glamour and you really have to be out of the ordinary to catch the attention of your potential customers. The Team Has Created Iconic Campaigns for Fashion Brands This film Secret Garden does just that. The film has been made by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, a team that has challenged and inspired the field of fashion photography. They are working as a team since 1986 and have harnessed the latest digital imaging technologies to capture the imagination of art critics. In the past they have created iconic adve...

Lamborghini Insecta - concept car Romanian industrial designer Iulian Bumbu has just released this Lamborghini Insecta concept car, inspired by insect exoskeletons. It is his take on what future Lamborghini styling might look like... BMW X9 CONCEPT BMW has seen some rather odd looking cars roll off the production line over the past 10 years, but Khalfi Oussama's new X9 off-roader concept coupe takes oddball Beemers to a whole new level. The 18-year-old designer hasn't offered any information about his concept that could be a proposal for a new Batmobile, but since he hails from the sandy desert landscape of Tunisia in northern Africa, it's fair to say that this is the equivalent of a modern day dune buggy. The X9 Concept blends the sporty bodylines of a coupe with the rolling stock of an off-roader - much like BMW's chunky yet sporty-looking X6 soft-roader. Limited edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Green Audi R8 V10 upgraded by Racing One Th...