Prada Resort 2014 Campaign by Steven Meisel

The Prada Resort 2014 Campaign features models Anna Ewers, Amanda Murphy and Cameron Russell for a set of images lensed by Steven Meisel. What’s your favorite new Prada style? Comment below.

Lara Stone by Nico for Madame Figaro

Lensed by famed fashion photographer Nico, Dutch model Lara Stone lights up the pages of Madame Figaro’s October 25th issue.

Johnnie Walker Blue Collection Trunk by Alfred Dunhill

Johnnie Walker Blue Label has teamed with Alfred Dunhill to launch a limited edition collection trunk. The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Collection was designed in conjunction with the premiere of “Celebrating a Journey Shared”, a film which portrays a memorable journey of two exceptional men – John Walker and Alfred Dunhill – from the bustling city of London to the highlands of Scotland.

The collection features a limited edition design bottle and a Collector’s Trunk. The packaging of the exclusive bottle is put together with its interior evoking the contours of a map while its exterior speaking directly to dunhill’s positioning as the British men’s luxury brand using their brand signifier, ‘Chassis’, in their leather goods.

“Created by two purveyors of British luxury, this limited edition Collection is built on both brands’ shared values and pioneering heritage of quality craftsmanship,” said James Thompson, Managing Director, GLOBAL RESERVE, DIAGEO. “This film, with cues of luxury and masculine sophistication is our visual expression of this partnership and this Collection.”

BMW Motorrad S1000R 2014

Meet the BMW Motorrad S1000R for 2014. BMW Motorrad has debuted its latest bike: the BMW S1000R, which features exposed bodywork, aggressive styling, a 163 horsepower engine along with several performance-minded features like Automatic Stability Control, Race ABS and several different ride modes.

The 2014 BMW S1000R is available in non-metallic Racing Red, metallic Frozen Dark Blue, and non-metallic Light White liveries, and will be available in March/April 2014. No word on pricing just yet.

Introduction to Wine Varieties: A Beginner’s Guide to Wine

You don’t need to be a master sommelier to understand wine varieties. Red wines include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel, and the newly popular Pinot noir. On the White side, the most popular are Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, and Rieslings.

The differences can be subtle, obvious and sometimes varying. You can instantly fall in love with some wines. Others you may learn to enjoy over time. It’s subjective and depends on your sense of adventure.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red high in tannin, resulting in a more heavy, fragrant drinking experience. Not a light wine, usually containing a smoky, peppery flavor. Savor it over a long meal. As this wine does get better with age, select a bottle that is at least 10 years old. Merlot is not as strong compared to Cab. It’s a mellow and fruity variety. Take a sniff to discover touches of plums, raspberries and currants.

Lately, I’ve been enjoying wonderful Malbec’s from Argentina. Affordable and delicious. Dark and mellow, easy to drink. A full-body red wine with touches of blackberries and plums.

The popularity of Pinot noir went through the roof after Sideways, taking the wine industry by surprise. Powerful and aromatic, Pinot noir can be deliciously overwhelming to the senses. Think woody and cherry. As it is a difficult grape to grow, Pinot noir tends to be a bit more expensive.

Zinfandel is the Rodney Dangerfield of wines. Strong in alcohol and spicy, these qualities can be disruptive to a great meal. That being said, wine producers are mellowing those attributes — finally earning Zin some respect.

Chardonnay is an accessible white wine for beginners. A gentle wine, fruity, with smoky touches. You’ll look impressive selecting a random Chardonnay from the menu to compliment your seafood, you can’t go wrong. Pinot blanc is a bit similar to Chard, with a sharper, crisper tone. A bit dry, with hints of spice and apple. Next is Pinot Gris, a subtle, lighter wine with touch of honey and citrus.

Wonderful German Rieslings are strong and sweet. Perhaps too acidic and dry for some. Perfect companion with pork. Sauvignon blanc is also a dry, crisp and refreshing white wine.

Rolls-Royce Celestial Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Bespoke offering took center stage at the Dubai International Motor Show with the unveiling of the Celestial Phantom. The auto features 446 diamonds meticulously hand-set into the door-cappings, center console lid and rear-privacy divider.

This one-of-a-kind masterpiece celebrates a seminal moment in Rolls-Royce history – the handover of the first Phantom to its owner at midnight on January 1, 2003.

The exterior color scheme evokes the night sky – integrating fine glass particles into the paint to achieve an alluring sense of depth and light. The theme continues when one opens the coach doors of this very special Phantom Extended Wheelbase.

Upon entering the car, occupants are welcomed with a new take on Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature that has captivated Rolls-Royce’s discerning customers more than any. The constellations, exactly as they were at midnight on that historic evening, are represented by over a thousand fiber optic lights hand-woven into the Celestial Phantom’s headlining.

The finest leathers, presented in a ‘Dusk’ hue, allude to the inky quality of a cloudless night sky. Bespoke glassware and an exquisitely appointed picnic set express the manner in which a customer’s lifestyle and passions can be seamlessly integrated into their personal, highly Bespoke Rolls-Royce.

Hallmark attention-to-detail is evident throughout. The night-sky constellation arrangement was verified by the South Downs Planetarium to ensure authenticity, whilst hand-stitching to the headliner subtly maps out the constellations.

The exterior is finished with engraving to wheel centers while an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine elegantly alludes to the car’s ethereal theme.

Dining under the stars takes on a new dimension with a themed re-imaging of the famed Rolls‑Royce Picnic Set. The glassware features a beautifully hand-engraved Celestial motif whilst celebrated porcelain maker Nymphenburg was commissioned for the set’s plates, providing an exquisitely presented image of the constellations.

Gisele Bundchen Flaunts Her Body In Vogue Paris’ November 2013 Issue

The highest-paid model in the world makes a stunning comeback on Vogue Paris issue. One of the world’s most beautiful woman, Gisele Bundchen, has wowed her fans as well as readers of Vogue with her jaw-dropping editorial cover shoot for the November 2013 issue.

The bold images from the latest Parisian issue of Vogue features Gisele decked from head to toe in haute couture as well as stripped to nothing but tennis shoes and socks. Titled Body Double, the ingeniously conceptualized editorial is shot by photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Styled by Emmanuelle Alt, editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, the shoot stars Gisele, dressed or undressed to look picture-perfect. The lady surely knows her way to please the shutters as well as viewers. Swide reports that one of the images shows her dressed as a masked bride wearing white lace Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda gown from the Venice collection.

Last we saw the supermodel grace the cover of the June/ July 2012 issue of the Vogue Paris.

Vogue Paris

Vivienne Westwood Teams Up With Globe-Trotter To Unveil A Capsule Collection Of Luggage

Globe-Trotter, the luggage brand also favoured by HM Queen Elizabeth II, has collaborated with Vivienne Westwood to create a capsule collection, a part of the ‘Vivienne Westwood ♥’ collection. The renowned British luggage manufacturer will carry English fashion designer’s identify in form of stylish cases that pack in exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Offered in two shades, cream and navy blue, the collection comprises of cases available in three sizes – 30” Extra Deep Suitcase with Wheels, 21” Trolley Case and 9” Mini Utility Case. Each case is dressed with burgundy leather trim details and finished with polished brass hardware.

The interior of Vivienne Westwood ♥’s Globe-Trotter cases also boats of the designer’s signature blue and red tartans.

The highlight of the collection is the iconic VW ‘squiggle print’ that shows up on leather luggage belts and straps. These are crafted from a natural and gold Squiggle print for the cream cases, and chestnut brown and bronze Squiggle for the navy cases.

Each piece is handmade at the Globe-Trotter factory in Hertfordshire. The 9″ Mini Utility can be grabbed for about $650 while the 21″ Trolley Case, sports a $1,700 tag. The 30″ Extra Deep Suitcase can be wheeled away for $2,100.

Globe-Trotter is one of 5 brands hand picked by Vivienne Westwood for  ‘Vivienne Westwood ♥’; fellow collaborators in the collection are Gloverall, Johnstons of Elgin, Lock & Co. and Pantherella.

Globe-Trotter

The Art Of Colour: Classy Jewellery With Modern Twists By Fabergé

The House of Fabergé’s latest campaign film, “The Art of Colour” presents the finest jewellery creations, highlighting the colourful gemstones (emeralds, sapphires, rubies, spinels and tsavorites) and the modern influences of our times on classic jewellery. The campaign, consisting of a 49-second film, directed by James Appleton, “provides a contemporary approach with a powerful and modern feel, capturing the house’s ethos of pure luxury, artistry and innovation.” Each Fabergé jewellery is a bold and daring object of art (each ring from the Émotion collection, for instance, features over 300 gemstones), that manages to push the boundaries of design. An explosion of rich colours that captivate the feminine universe. The ad targets especially women that shop jewellery for themselves (as a curiosity this has become a massive phenomenon these days). They pay more attention to colours, that’s why with this striking new campaign Fabergé’s intention is to celebrate the superior quality of their gemstones.

Fabergé’s captivating objects of art can be found in exclusive boutiques in London, New York, Geneva and Kiev and other selective locations from all across the globe. Starting price for the Émotion collection rings: $ 19,923. You can check the entire collection here. 

Daily Dream Home: Pearl Valley 276

South African luxury homes are proving to be spectacularly inspiring and their number grows constantly. Today’s dream home is known as Pearl Valley 276 and was meant to be a house that showcases the owners’ love for entertaining. Antoni Associates were chosen to design the home located in Paarl, Cape Town, for this family who planned on raising children in a harmonious, more relaxed country lifestyle. Timber and stone were chosen for the materials’ warmth and natural descent, creating an inviting atmosphere under the African sun. Enhancing the need for a social environment, the use of these warm materials and extensive use of glass welcoming daylight contrast the raw off-shutter concrete ceilings, creating a sophisticated feel.

Entertaining comes easy with a floor plan created for social gatherings: ” The informal family spaces include an open plan kitchen, informal dining and open bar, all linked to the entertainment lounge. A feature marble clad two-sided fireplace divides and screens off the family lounge from the spa room. These areas of the house flow out onto the outdoor entertainment deck with a sunken outdoor boma (a typical South African outdoor enclosure). Here timber seating is casually arranged around an open fire.”