Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

The Hermès Birkin bags have reached a cult status through the years and are considered symbols of wealth and status. Women all over the world aspire for one but thanks to the sky high prices, only few are lucky enough to own them. We never said status symbol came cheap. Hermès has several products like Hermès scarf, Hermès belt, Hermès purse, but none as coveted as the Hermès birkin. The proof of that is the unbelievable amount these bags fetched at a recent auction. A Hermès black crocodile leather Birkin bag fetched $120,000, while another one with gold and diamond embellishments fetched $203,150, making it the most expensive pre-owned Hermès handbag ever auctioned. These bags have an enviable fan following that includes names like Victoria Beckham who owns, hold your breath, over a hundred pieces! Her Birkin collection is valued at over $2.4 million. F1 heiress Tamara Ecclestone has a more modest collection in comparison with around 20 bags. Other celebrities seen showing off the...

The Louis Vuitton maisons as a concept has raised the level of grandeur in their new stores. They have several of them throughout Asia but their latest one has opened its doors for customers in Gstaad which could be dubbed as the grandest of them all. It is LV’s second store in the famous Swiss ski resort. Located on the renowned Promenade of the winter resort, the store is rather cozy. The maison has been opened to coincide with the 700th anniversary of one of Europe’s best known winter and even summer destinations. The maison has been built following a new architectural concept which promises a journey of discovery filled with new emotions and experiences. The New Store is a Prime Example of Alpine Design The maison has been built on a single level and is a prime example of Alpine design and features some of the most unique and exclusive luxurious furniture. However, the highlight of the exclusive store is the marble and stone wood fireplace that helps create a warm ambience in wh...

All the major car makers around the world are working on hybrid models but very few have hit the road till now. Cadillac Converj concept has been under development for long as well. Finally the concept seems to be ready to come out as a production machine.  The prototype of the hybrid model was on display at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new model seems to be an improvement on the Chevy Volt though it shares several elements with it including the same Extended Range Electric Vehicle platform. However it is a bigger and better machine with improved features and better performance levels. Cadillac ELR Will Run as Pure Electric Vehicle Up To 35 Miles The new concept design will be taken up for production in Detroit towards the end of the year and will become available at the dealership across the country sometime in early 2014. The new concept ELR shares the same basic hybrid structure as the Chevy Volt. In simple terms it is capable of running as...

Creating something which is largest in its category is a challenge and Austrian firm C SEED Entertainment Systems has come up to the challenge and created the world’s largest TV with a screen over five meter wide. The TV set is so large that it can’t fit into any living room and has to be installed outdoors.  Priced at £414,000, it will be a significant investment for those who decide to buy it. The price tag is so large that it can accommodate four Porsche 911 cars. The TV set is aimed at the very top end of the customer base and the manufacturers are pitching it as a perfect amenity for a private yacht. Creating something which is largest in its category is a challenge and Austrian firm C SEED Entertainment Systems has come up to the challenge and created the world’s largest TV with a screen over five meter wide. The TV set is so large that it can’t fit into any living room and has to be installed outdoors. Priced at £414,000, it will be a significant investmen...

Shopping as an experience is unparalleled and with the retail sales figures in the US showing an uptrend it makes sense to find out the best stores and boutiques in the country. Bundle.com has undertaken an elaborate exercise to filter out the very best and most expensive stores in the entire country. They accessed and analyzed data from Visa and MasterCard and processed proprietary data of 20 million card holders and millions of transactions done by them. It was a monumental task as it required the filtering out of places like wholesalers, manufacturers and big department stores. The end result of the mammoth exercise was a list of twenty five priciest stores and boutiques in the United States of America. Oscar de la Renta’s Flagship Store in New York Tops the List  It is obvious that all the stores in the list provide fantastical shopping experience to its customers but the price range in which they operate is way beyond the average. These stores cater to the elite who don’t l...

Ever since the Apple iPhones were introduced, a slew of its more luxurious cousins have emerged. The CAVIAR iPhones are one of them. The owner Elijah Giacometti of the the jewelry brand, Perla Penna is the brains behind this range of limited edition smartphones. The first one came out in 2011 and were handcrafted with18-karat Italian gold and embellished with exotic leather and jewels. The name Caviar as you would know is borrowed from the expensive delicacy. This Phone in Caviar Range Has a Titanium and Carbon Fiber Body Since 2011, a number of interesting additions have been made to the Caviar range. Each model that comes out is a limited edition and makes ample use precious raw materials. Their latest offering is the CAVIAR iPhone 5 Titano Diabolo, which is ideal for the alpha male with its titanium and carbon fiber body. Giacometti has roped in Automobili Lamborghini SpA who are specialists in this field. The logo is covered with ruthenium, which is of the platinum group and app...

A bouquet of flowers best expresses your feeling for your beloved on Valentine’s Day. Asda, the Walmart owned supermarket chain has adopted a unique way of stressing this point. They offer a wide range of Valentine’s bouquet collection and have partnered with Joe Massie who is a three time winner of the RHS Chelsea Young Florist of the Year award to create a dress entirely with flowers. The young florist who turned fashion designer for the project confessed he was inspired by the 110 pound red dress by Stephane Rolland showcased during the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. The stunning strapless gown is to be seen to be believed. The Flowers Come From Walmart’s Valentine’s Bouquet Collection.  Joe Massie has used a total of 1,725 roses to create the unique dress. 1,000 of them are Naomi red roses and 75 are gerberas. He has also used 15 Carmen roses and 200 chrysanthemums. The hip and the skirt of the dress have been decorated with gold leaf. On the hem, Massie added petals fro...