Win a free GPS from Gadling!

Gisele Stars in Aquascutum's New Ad Campaign

Aquascutum, the London luxury brand founded in 1851, has brought back Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bundchen to star in its new Fall ad campaign. The pictures, co-starring model Jamie Doran, were shot at London's historic St. Paul's Cathedral, Vogue UK reports.

Meanwhile, the company which invented and patented several waterproof materials and pioneered the trench coat, is introducing its first ever line of bags for both men and women. The traditional brand began its foray into high fashion a couple years back when it hired Pierce Brosnan to star in a series of James Bond-style ads.

Over the years Aquascutum coats have sheathed the likes of the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, Sophia Loren, Greta Garbo, Sean Connery, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Gallery: Aquascutum of London

Gisele in last season's ad, #1.Gisele in last season's ad, #2.Gisele in last season's ad, #3.Gisele in last season's ad, #4.Pierce Brosnan for Aquascutum.

Celine 'Watch Me Dance' Clutch, Handbag of the Day


This bag looks a little dated to me (80's anybody?) but I'm not the fashion police (apparently this look is slated to come back 'in' this fall) and I love the name so thought it was worth featuring. Celine's "Watch Me Dance" Clutch bag is made of patchwork leather in bright color squares on a blue background. It features a flap front with a turnlock closure, an optional shoulder strap, satin lining, and a little padlock with key trinket that dangles off the back. $1,200

Gallery: Celine 'Watch Me Dance' Clutch

The Trouble in Tamarack


Just a year ago I was writing about booming sales at the Tamarack Resort in Donnelly, Idaho. Now a Wall Street Journal article reports that the luxury ski resort is in big trouble now that financing for the project has dried up.

Tamarack was welcomed with acclaim when it was announced in 2003 and so far buyers have committed more than $500 million for condos, houses and building sites bringing a big rush of Aspen-style prosperity to the area. Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf were attached to building a luxury hotel complex, the Fairmont Tamarack Local stores and restaurants flourished, jobs abounded and rents rose. But last winter the building slowed. The ski town's lifts still ran but tourism fell and unemployment rose.

Things started to go south around a year ago when the investor who had already put up money for the Fairmont Tamarack decided not to put up any more money for the project. This led the developers to slow construction. Combine this with the nationwide real estate droop and you have a recipe for a boom town gone bust. Tamarack went into default on its loan payments to the Credit Suisse bank and business entities involved in the project have filed for bankruptcy. Credit Suisse then followed with a foreclosure suit and is now looking to take over Tamarack's majority-ownership stake. The town, which was once a timber town and was hoping for an economic resurgence is now grappling with seeing tourism cut in half and the eyesore of an unfinished base village for the ski resort. The resort still expects to run lifts over the winter but the dream of a new prosperous winter resort town in Idaho is dead for the moment.

De Beers Plans More Retail Stores


De Beers is making big moves into the retail market. The diamond company which was once more on the back end of diamond transactions, providing diamonds to jewelers, is now planning to have around 50 stores by the end of the year. In an interview in the Wall Street Journal, De Beers Group Managing Director Gareth Penny said that the company's retail business is still in its "start-up phase and is rapidly expanding, seeking to be in one of the top five jewelry retailers in the world. De Beers currently has seven stores open in the U.S. in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, New York and Washington D.C.

This is part of a big shift in De Beers over the past few years. Recently De Beers created their Forevermark diamond brand. They are putting their substantial marketing muscle behind Forevermark and planning to build into one of the world's leading diamond brands.

Bang & Olfusen Forecast Turns Dim


Another purveyor of luxury goods seems to be in trouble. Bang & Olufsen has forecast lower profit and sales for the year for the third time. The Denmark-based company has said that they have seen less of a demand for luxury consumer electronics and they are also facing legal disputes. Bloomberg reports that shares have lost almost two-thirds of its value this year.

Bang & Olufsen is in a tricky spot because their products often cost more double or triple what a similar products would cost from another manufacturer. While Bang & Olfusen products often have really fantastic design and a distinctive look in an economic crunch that might not be be enough to keep customers shopping. Analysts say that Bang & Olufsen may have to find a partner for their electronics business as technology increases and if profits continue to fall. Bang & Olufsen is scheduled to release fiscal 2008 earnings in August and hopes that profit will improve. I'm certainly pulling for them. They've had a few design clunkers over the years (I think their Serene cell phone is a bit of a miss) and their products may be overpriced at times but no other company produces consumer electronics that are quite as distinctive.

Wikiosco, Estate of the Day


I decided to take another look at another huge home that I covered a couple of years ago. Two years ago I first saw Wikiosco (the name means House of Beautiful Waters), a 1895 historic Tudor revival. The home sits on Lake George in New York facing a wide expanse of lake shoreline. The 11,000 square-foot t stone exterior stucco framed home has a beautiful classic interior with a library, leaded glass windows, an elevator, a fitness center and the original fireplace mantels and woodwork. The home has been restored by the current owners but mostly looks as if it is ready to film a Victorian melodrama without much stage dressing. The property includes a two-bedroom guest cottage, an in-ground pool, tennis court and a parking garage with room for over 20 cars. The price hasn't changed in two years, it's still at $17.9 million.

For more prime properties and lush locations, see Luxury Homes and Mansions.

Gallery: Wikiosco

Continue reading Wikiosco, Estate of the Day

Whitley Neill Gin

More and more spirits also doing charitable work. England's Whitley Neill Gin has created "The Whitley Neill Top of the Tree Challenge" cocktail competition to raise money for UK-based charity, Tree Aid, which supports African communities. UK bartenders will be creating cocktails involving the gin and at least one other ingredient which has derived from a tree. The cocktails will be available until August 1 and the bars will donate money from each cocktail sold to the Whitley Neill Planting Project in Africa.

Whitley Neill Gin already donates five per cent of the proceeds of each bottle sold to Tree Aid. Tree Aid focuses on the poorest sub-Sahel villages where 90 per cent of the population depends on trees including the Baobab, which is a signature botanical in Whitley Neill. The gin was launched in 2005 and is produced in small batches in an antique copper pot still and contains two African botanicals, baobab fruit and Cape gooseberries. It sells for around $30.

Patek & More at Sotheby's Important Watch Sale

On July 16, Sotheby's in London is staging a stunning sale of Important Watches. The top lots are all of course Patek Philippes, but there are some prime timepieces from the likes of Rolex, Panerai and Cartier as well. Leading things off pricewise is an exceptional platinum minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon Patek with retrograde date, phases of the moon and a black dial, est. $700,000 - $900,000.

From there prices drop dramatically and there are some deals to be found. We're particularly fond of this 1945 steel Patek chronograph with register and tachometer, est. only $50,000 - $80,000. On the Rolex front there's a rare 1972 stainless steel Submariner made for the British Royal Navy, est. $50,000 - $70,000, and a stainless 1983 Daytona cosmograph, est. $28,000 - $36,000. Also worth noting: an oversized Panerai limited edition white gold dual time zone Radiomir, est. $11,000 - $17,000. See the gallery for pix.

Gallery: Sotheby's Summer Watch Sale

Platinum minute repeating perpetual calendar tourbillon PatekPlatinum automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar Patek1972 stainless steel Rolex Submariner1983 Rolex DaytonaLimited edition white gold dual time zone Panerai Radiomir

Handbags for Humanity, Charity of the Day


Yay! Three cheers for buying cute designer handbags and supporting charity at the same time! Artist and designer Julie Feldman has a gorgeous collection of handbags and has made several of them part of a charity effort called "Handbags for Humanity." Every time you buy a designated bag (on her website the eligible bags are marked with a special logo) a percentage of the profits are sent to various charities that are listed on the website and right now include Center Theater Group, Ellen's Run, Long Beach Women's Cancer League, and Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles.

Gallery: Julie Feldman's 'Handbags for Humanity' Handbags

Sesame XLarge TootsieAnne with a Single Large RoseMarge RainbowHornback WeekenderThe Heart Clutch

Win A John Ferdinand Bracelet

Men's jewelry is often a subject of some debate. Although men have been adorning themselves with jewelry for thousands of years, some say that men have no need for this type of embellishment. And certainly when it comes to men's jewelry, bad taste can abound. But simple, tasteful jewelry on a man can also be incredibly sexy.

John Ferdinand is an independent accessories brand from Hong Kong. They create pieces styled in solid sterling silver and inlaid with ebony, using offcuts from furniture making which would otherwise be discarded. The pieces also come packaged beautiful raw bamboo boxes. Although they design primarily for men, the company has found that about half of their customers are women who are mostly buying for themselves. No surprise, the designs have a contemporary unisex appeal.

This week one lucky reader will win the Halcyon bracelet which features a chunky curved silver panel inlaid with ebony on a thick, soft strap of nappa leather with a silver buckle. It's got a watch-like appeal making it perfect for those who use their cell phone to tell time but would still like a bold piece of wrist candy.

This week's comment starting question is: What are your feelings on men wearing jewelry?

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, July 11, 2008. We'll randomly choose one winner amongst the eligible entries and announce the winner on July 12, 2008.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below answering the question above.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Friday, July 11, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive the John Ferdinand Halcyon bracelet valued at approximately $333.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

See complete contest rules here.

Buy a May Fair Hotel Suite for a Year


If you travel a lot it having nice places to stay can get really expensive. The May Fair Hotel in London is looking attract those types of travelers by offering them a way to defray those costs a little: buy one of their hotel suites for an entire year. Of course the price tag is not cheap at $585,000 but it does represent a savings of 60% compared to their regular nightly rates.

It might be nice to be able to leave some things in the suite and treat it like an apartment of sorts (an apartment that includes a daily maid and room service!) but you'd really have to travel a lot to make the cost economical.
What do you think, would you do it?

Gallery: The Mayfair Suites Collection

Versace's New Madonna Small Boston Bag, Handbag of the Day

Not the most summery of bags, but Versace's New Madonna Small Boston Bag is more of an "all year goes with everything" bag. Croc-stamped patent leather with a beautiful ombré effect is accented by darker contrasting leather trim and polished silver hardware. A very structured shape with lots of accents like zippers, metal rings, and silver stud details, with the interior featuring a satin lining, zip pocket, patch pocket, and cell phone pocket. It also has a flat base with metal feet and a zip top with a locking Versace pull tab. $1,775

Gallery: Versace New Madonna Small Boston Bag

Aguas de Ibiza Spa and Resort


In September, a new hotel concept will open in the Balearic Islands, the cluster of islands off the coast of Spain that includes Ibiza and Mallorca. The Aguas de Ibiza Spa & Resort will be a waterside hotel located by Ibiza's Santa Eulalia Bay marina. The glamourous new hotel was built by local architect Juan de los Ríos, designed by Barcelona-based Triade Studio and run by the Torres family. It will offer 112 rooms and suites. Deluxe rooms and suites will have private terraces and large glass windows. The fourth floor is home to the Cloud 9 club, a hotel within the hotel that will have its own check-in desk, design scheme, services and amenities. Cloud 9 will offer loft rooms including the Presidential Ibiza Loft which is a two-story luxury suite. All rooms have Bang & Olufsen televisions.

Aguas de Ibiza is designed to be "eco-luxurious" combining eco-friendly materials with techniques to reduce energy usage by more than 35 percent in comparison to luxury properties.

The resort also has a gym, climatized pools with mineral salts, three outdoor pools including a rooftop pool, beauty salon, boutique and a business center. The Revival Wellness Club will offer everything from treatments with Ibiza salts to aromatherapy with seagrass and almonds. The resort will also include the Scuba cocktail bar and Air Ibiza, a rooftop par with a red-tiled pool. There will be three restaurants serving tapas at the Alabastro Lounge, Mediterranean specialities at the Oligo: Madeinterranean and modern interpretations of traditional Ibizan dishes at the gourmet restaurant La Sal.

[via Design Taxi]

Asprey Shifts Focus, Ditches Clothing Line


Asprey, the 200-year-old London luxury goods firm, is dropping its clothing and footwear lines to concentrate on core businesses like jewelry, silver and leathergoods. WWD reports the move is part of an initiative by the company's new President and CEO Robert Procop to shore up the historic brand. As we reported previously, Asprey changed direction in 1996 when the company was sold to Prince Jefri of Brunei. Its gunrooms were shuttered and additional clothing and accessory lines launched in an attempt to make the firm more fashionable. Gorgeous actress Keira Knightley (above, in Asprey designs) was subsequently hired on as spokesmodel.

Gallery: Asprey of London

Keira in an Asprey necklace.An Asprey runway look.Asprey's New York store.Asprey's London flagship.An inlaid Asprey shotgun.

Riviera's Famed Provençal Hotel to Re-Open as Apts.


A famed Art Deco hotel on the Côte d'Azur that's been derelict since 1973 is being turned into a luxury apartment building catering to the bon ton. Developer Cyril Dennis is relaunching Le Provençal, on the border between Juan-les-Pins and Cap d'Antibes, where the likes of Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald once frolicked.

The London Telegraph reports that Dennis is transforming the 45,000-sq.ft. beachside property, built in 1925, into 56 luxury units with 360-degree views, indoor / outdoor pools, private gardens, Porsche kitchens, marble floors, Turkish baths and aquariums. He describes the Provençal as "the last jewel in the Cap d'Antibes," an area where top-drawer villas now go for over $200 million thanks to an influx of superrich oligarchs such as Roman Abramovich.

Gallery: Le Provençal

Marilyn Monroe on the beach.The dilapidated entrance.Renderings of the new Le Provençal.The Provençal today.The beach at Juan-les-Pins.

Next Page >

Categories
Apparel (595)
Art (185)
Auctions (439)
Big Givers (22)
Books (24)
Celebrity Shopping (609)
Charity (213)
Charity of the Day (137)
Children (26)
Cigars (200)
Cosmetics and Fragrance (166)
Decor (1778)
Dining (709)
Estates (2121)
Events (218)
Gadgets (948)
Garden (36)
Green (134)
Handbags (1142)
Holiday Guides (34)
Jewelry (855)
Journeys (1458)
Men's Style (36)
Pets (136)
Preferred (13)
Real Estate Developments (70)
Services (270)
Shoes (191)
Spas (232)
Spirits (483)
Sports (86)
The Classicist (12)
Timepieces (698)
Water (618)
Wheels (937)
Wine (861)
Wings (490)
Writing Instruments (149)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Sponsored Links

Luxist bloggers (30 days)

#BloggerPostsCmts
1Deidre Woollard1592
2Rigel Gregg704
3Jared Paul Stern510
4Laura Malesich270
5Lisa Palladino170
6Star Sutherland110
7Marsha Reid10

Most Commented On (60 days)

Recent Comments

More from AOL Money & Finance

Weblogs, Inc. Network

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: