Jared Paul Stern
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Lara Stone Replaces Madonna as the Face of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is bidding adieu to aging pop chameleon Madonna and replacing her with model-of-the-moment Lara Stone, nearly 30 years her junior, in its upcoming ad campaigns. The Dutch stunner, who appears on the cover of the new British Vogue and has starred in numerous other high-profile ad campaigns, will bring a breath of fresh air to the famed French brand. Stone poses on a bed of moss and ferns surrounded by doves in the new ads, photographed by Steven Meisel, which will debut in Februrary fashion mags. "Because the collection loosely took its cues from the idea of the New Age traveler, we decided to create a green, outdoorsy set that would evoke a spirit of peace and love," Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs tells Vogue UK. "To model the clothes, we wanted a modern, iconic, sexy beauty... It had to be Lara Stone."
Tiger Woods' Troubles Will Cost Him Billionaire Status
Back in 2008 we reported that Tiger Woods was set to become the world's first billionaire athlete, with earnings on target to cross the billion-dollar mark, which they did in October. In order for his net worth to follow suit however, he would need to continue the momentum for at least another year, given the taxes and management fees he has to pay, to be considered a bona fide billionaire. Now in the wake of his fateful car crash and ongoing mistress revelations, along with the looming prospect of one of the most expensive sports divorce settlements ever and now news of his lucrative advertising revenue stream drying up, it seems Woods may never reach that goal. The golfer's $110 million in annual income from endorsements and tournaments, as estimated by Forbes magazine, hinges on his standing with consumers, which is currently at an all-time low. Sorry, Tiger, looks like you'll have to be content as a mere multimillionaire several times over - at least until that divorce goes through. For God's sake please don't end up like Lenny Dykstra.
Belvedere Vodka Silver Ltd. Edition
Belvedere, the all natural super premium vodka from Poland, has come out with a limited edition silver bottle for the holidays perfect for gift giving or festive occasions. Available only until the New Year, the Belvedere Silver bottle features the brand's signature design set against a mirrored background for a modern, celebratory look.
Using only Dankowskie Gold Rye grown solely in the sweeping plains of Poland's Mazovia region, water from a pristine artesian well, and a proprietary purification process, Belvedere is distilled four times to uncover the vodka's strength of character.
The preciseness of the distillation process allows the distinctive notes of the vodka to come through without stripping away the subtle nuances, resulting in a smooth, creamy, peppery taste with a clean finish.
The limited edition Belvedere Silver bottles are available in four sizes: 375 ml, 750 ml, 1 litre and 1.75 litre, with the 750 ml size retailing for $35.
Dolce & Gabbana Gold Edition Sunglasses
Italian fashion stars Dolce & Gabbana have come out with an exclusive new collection of Gold Edition sunglasses and eyeglasses plated in pure 18-carat gold. Priced at $580 per pair, the limited edition aviator-style shades and specs feature a mix of different materials for the temples, enhanced by the Dolce & Gabbana logo engraved in the same color. Made in Italy, the sunglasses feature polarized glass, and a certificate of authenticity comes with each pair of glasses attesting to the originality, design and quality and the use of 18-carat gold. Each pair is presented in its own jewelry case featuring a plaque with the words "Dolce &Gabbana Gold Edition" and containing two tiny side drawers to hold a cleaning cloth and certificate of authenticity. Inside there is a semi-rigid glasses case in black leather, decorated with a tiny plaque and logo. The Gold Edition models are available at ILORI Luxury Sunglass boutiques.
Aeroyacht 110 by Wally Comes with Icon A5 Plane
Gregor Tarjan, designer of the Aeroyacht 110, a superfast 110-ft. catamaran equipped with an Icon A5 exploration airplane, has commissioned Monegasque yachtbuilder Wally to construct the avant-garde craft. Representing the first model of a sleek, new range "embodying the ultimate high-performance, supremely styled world yacht," the Aeroyacht 110 will be one of the largest composite multihulls in the world. As standard equipment the craft will come fitted with a two seat Icon A5 amphibious, retractable and fold-able sports plane, launched and retrieved from a specially designed pod. The yacht, which is expected to do 35 knots at full speed, will be ready for delivery in 2011.
Vertu Launches V Accessories Collection
Vertu has come out with a new range of stylish, high-tech accessories created to complement the brand's pioneering range of luxury, handcrafted mobile phones like the new Constellation Ayxta. First previewed at Baselworld, the inaugural collection features a luxury Vertu V Bluetooth Headset and Vertu V Memory Card reader together with contemporary versions of the traditional ballpoint pen and a collection of small leather goods.
The Vertu V Bluetooth Headset (right) for $730 is made from stainless steel and high quality resin. The resin combines low weight and high strength properties in a scratch resistant material with an ability to be hand polished to achieve a lifetime lustrous finish.
The Vertu V Memory Card Reader for $490 is a discreet USB memory stick with the ability to expand its memory capacity via a micro SD card. A three stage connection process also enables users to easily transfer data between a Vertu handset and computer.
The Vertu V Ballpoint Pen for $330 has a masculine look in black and steel. With a perfectly tuned twist mechanism it's ergonomically balanced. The small leather goods collection completes the range with its matching accessories cases made from Vertu's highest quality black saddle leather.
Bespoke Hermès Luggage & Wardrobe Gift Package
For our final installment on the eye-popping holiday offerings from that glossy chronicle of the filthy rich Robb Report - following the matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million and more - we have a bespoke basket of goodies from famed French luxury goods house Hermès. Starting at $215,000 depending on what exactly the recipient chooses to indulge in, the gift includes: a custom eight-piece luggage set handcrafted by a single Hermès craftsman in Paris from their incredible range of luxurious, exotic leathers (above) including crocodile, alligator, ostrich and lizard, dyed in any of 300 shades; consultation with a specialist from Hermès to create a bespoke suit, topcoat, shoes, and leather and knit accessories, all of which will be made to the recipient's specifications; and a private tour of the Hermès leather atelier in Paris for the recipient and a guest. Some luggage items, like the portable alligator skin bar trunk the firm once made for Sammy Davis Jr., may take up to a year to complete.
Lenny Dykstra's Patek Philippe and More at Auction
My colleague Deirdre Woollard has been entertainingly chronicling former baseball star Lenny Dykstra's travails in bankruptcy court. Now it seems the hard-charging athlete-turned-entrepreneur is trying to raise a little ready money by selling off some of his prized possessions. Among the lots at Patrizzi & Co.'s Dec. 14th Exceptional Watchmaking Masterpieces auction in NYC is Dykstra's 18K white gold Patek Philippe (above) made in 2004. The fine and rare annual calendar timepiece shows the phases of the moon and has a power reserve indication. Estimated at $28,000 - $ 35,000, it comes accompanied by a photograph of Dykstra playing with the New York Mets. Also included in the sale are two major pieces of Dykstra sporting memorabilia: a 1986 New York Mets World Series trophy and plaque, estimated at $18,000 - $25,000; and a Silver Slugger Award from 1993 with a Louisville Slugger bat and National League Player of the Week 1990 plaque, estimated at $12,000 - $16,000.
Yves Saint Laurent's Paris Apartment for Sale
Famed French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent's incredible collections of art, antiques, furniture, decorative objects and personal effects were recently auctioned off in a series of sales fetching a total of over $700 million. Now the legendary couturier's Paris duplex on the Rue de Babylone, which housed many of his most prized possessions collected with longtime partner Pierre Bergé, is being put up for sale as well. The 5,400-sq.-ft. spread with a massive garden has been listed with prestigious Paris-based agency Emilie Garcin and is expected to fetch at least $30 million, WWD reports. Pictured above is the cover of The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, a stunning book about the eye-popping environments Saint Laurent created.
Ralph Lauren's Luxe Holiday Offerings
This holiday season Ralph Lauren has come out with a number of luxurious offerings rooted in the spirit of 1930's Sun Valley, the famous Idaho ski resort frequented by socialites and celebrities. The designer's Holiday Collection "embodies wintry sophistication with luxe cashmeres, rich tartan plaids, regal velvets and chic yet rustic details, creating gifts with a nod to classic American heritage and modern sensibility." Standout items include a tartan plaid duffel bag made of rich wool with saddle leather trim for $1,500, and the Brabham Vice Box at $4,995 (above), a streamlined case containing handsome crystal barware, sleek coasters and a debonair poker set. As a limited edition of 50, each box bears a numbered plate. Other home items evoke the inviting world of the Adirondacks or a sleek urban environment, with a sophisticated jewel-toned palette executed in sumptuous materials.
[via JustLuxe]
