Crocodile

Tod's Unveils Men's A/W 2011-12 Collection

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes, Men's Style

Famed luxury goods firm Tod's has just unveiled its luxe men's collection for the Autumn / Winter 2011–2012 season, amping up the formality a notch while remaining the epitome of casual elegance and chic refinement. Highlights for the upcoming season include new takes on Tod's classic Winter Gommino boots as well as more formal black patent leather loafers (above, right) with a distinct wedged black rubber sole that come in a range of lace-up and slip-on versions. Other featured items include an impressive selection of bags, luggage accessories and small leather goods such as wallets and iPad cases in a range of leathers and precious exotic skins such as crocodile and python. A standout piece is the black transversal 24-hour bag (above, center) in matte black crocodile, a stylish cross between a business and weekend case. The colour palette for next fall also includes natural hues of rich chocolate brown, warm honey, marble, stone and earthy sand, including a suede bomber jacket (above, left).

Tags: apparel, crocodile, luggage, mens style, shoes, Tods

Exotic Handbags by Jilly New York

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Simple elegance never goes out of style yet it can be difficult to find. It's easy to get caught up in trends and the latest it-'fill in the blank' without taking into consideration what you really want. And I can safely say we all want an item that will stand the test of time; one that we will use and wear for years on end.

And that is the philosophy of Jilly New York. Their motto: Quiet Luxury. Classic Elegance. Exotic Beauty. You can't go wrong with designing from such a sound foundation. Creative Designer Jill Haber says she was inspired by the "desire to find gorgeous handbags that are not embellished with overbearing, heavy hardware or logos. I thought that gorgeous, exotic skin
was the perfect canvas to create easy, chic pieces that complement a woman's style, rather than dictate it."

Gallery: Exotic Handbags by Jilly New York

Source

Tags: clutch, crocodile, handbag of the day, handbags, hobo, jill haber, jilly, leather, ostrich, python, satchel

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Cartier Tourbillon & Crocodile Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a high-end marquee watch for women, Cartier will unveil this Troubillon & Crocodile timepiece at the SIHH watch show in January. I didn't know that Cartier had a thing for reptiles, I thought it was just big cats. Times change I guess. Not a ton of details on the watch yet. I don't know how large the case is, or what material it is in. Though I am guessing a case size of at least 40mm in width, and done in 18k white gold.

The case is decorated with a number of diamonds, and the fantastically rendered 3D crocodile on the dial is also in gold and diamonds. What a stunning jewelry creation. It sits on a black dial accompanied with a few lotus flowers. Inside the watch is a partially exposed in-house made Cartier calibre 9458 MC manually wound movement with a flying tourbillon. The movement is placed to the side of the dial for an asymmetrical position. The Tourbillon & Crocodile won't be part of a limited edition per se, but will likely be made only to order after a few pieces are made by Cartier. More info on this next year.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com .

Tags: cartier, crocodile, tourbillon, watch

The Classicist: Bespoke Leathergoods from Norton MacCullough & Locke

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Men's Style, The Classicist

Norton MacCullough & Locke, the new London firm committed to producing the finest custom-made trunks, jewelry boxes and homeware in the essence of 1920s bespoke British luxury which The Classicist first wrote about earlier this year, is introducing a new collection of custom-made small leathergoods. Founded by veterans of Hermès, Claridge's and Patek Philippe, Norton MacCullough & Locke creates only individual, hand-crafted pieces. NML's Head of Design Lester Ng and CFO David Manchee developed the collection to incorporate both function and practicality whilst retaining the Norton MacCullough & Locke aesthetic and principles. Ranging from iPhone and iPad cases to card holders, document wallets and passport covers, each piece in the new collection is hand-crafted in England by specialist leatherworking artisans, utilizing the finest materials and traditional techniques.

The firm offers a range of leathers, colors, finishes and personalization options to ensure that each bespoke piece is both unique and exclusive, giving the consummate bespoke experience. There's no need to travel to London to commission them however; the luxe accessories can be purchased by downloading the bespoke order form from the Norton MacCullough & Locke website. Following approval of a visual sample (and payment confirmation), the pieces will be created and delivered within 4-8 weeks. In addition to the styles, materials and personalization options offered via the site, Norton MacCullough & Locke will source specific leather types and colors for your piece upon request, specializing in exotics ranging from ostrich, crocodile and lizard skin.

Gallery: Norton MacCullough & Locke Bespoke Leathergoods

Tags: bespoke, crocodile, exotic leather, humidor, iPad, iPhone, leather, leathergoods, London, luggage, luxury travel, mens style, Norton MacCullough Locke, travel, trunks, UK

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Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

There is no doubt that Nancy Gonzalez designs unforgettably beautiful handbags. From the craftsmanship, to her choice of exotic leather, color, details and silhouette – it all comes perfectly together to create a bag that the consumer can literally wear forever. Gonzalez's Woven Crocodile Shoulder Bag ($4100) is no exception.

Its eye popping burnt orange crocodile leather is suitable throughout the year and given the size, you can fit many personal items while the bag maintains its shape. The woven detail embodies a balance between subtlety and attention grabbing while elegantly complementing the color and silhouette.

The fully lined interior features a magnetic closure, multiple compartments and zippered pockets for you daily essentials and side magnetic located at the top of the bag to change the size. Dimensions: 17"W x 13"H x 7"D.

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Tags: crocodile, handbag, handbag of the day, Nancy Gonzalez, shoulder bag, ShoulderBag, woven

Asprey Londoner Luggage by Globe-Trotter

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Men's Style

Famed London luxury goods house Asprey has come out with a luxurious new line of luggage created in collaboration with Globe-Trotter, makers of fine travel cases since 1897. The five-piece Londoner Luggage collection, manufactured by hand in England, was designed by Bruce Hoeksema, Asprey's newly appointed creative director. The luggage comes in Asprey's signature royal purple with purple genuine crocodile handles and trim, and matte black with oxidized metallic corners and black crocodile handles and trim. The cases are lined in durable hemp linen with a leather hand stamped Asprey label and signature Asprey locks. The hand stitched crocodile corners were chosen to complement the classic regimental stripe of the removable webbed luggage straps that secure the suitcases.

Tags: alligator, Asprey, briefcase, crocodile, England, exotic leather, Globe-Trotter, leather, London, luggage, suitcase, UK

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Ruffled Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Ruffled Tote is a delicious new bag from one of our favorite crocodile artists in a rich brown shade.

Crocodile ruffles are the stuff dreams are made of. This luxurious bag is 15"W X 12"H X 5"D with double handles and a detachable 16" drop shoulder strap all in crocodile, and lined in soft brown suede. Nine out of ten things you own will feel "not good enough" to put in this purse.

That is, unless decadence is your modus operandi, in which case you will feel perfectly comfortable carrying this with any outfit. The brown is versatile and complements jeans beautifully, yet the ruffle makes it dressy enough for many elegant evening affairs. The tendency toward darker color in the creases makes it appropriate to carry even with a black ensemble.

The Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Ruffled Tote is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $3,600.00.

Tags: brown, crocodile, handbag of the day, nancy gonzalez, tote

Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag makes working a far more attractive and enlightened experience.

A new addition to the striking Meheru collection, which includes a shoulder bag, clutch and travel bag in this stunning shade of violet-lapis crocodile print leather, the Laptop Bag features interior padding in Blumera's signature magenta silk, ensuring that "if you drop it, god forbid, the computer should be ok!" A hidden strap secures any computer of up to 17" into place for maximum protection. The bag also includes a padded zip compartment which fits an iPad perfectly, also in magenta. Did we mention how much we love the bold, feminine colors? Violet-lapis crocodile print leather and magenta silk don't happen every day, but they should.

Keeping true to the designer's spiritual roots and inspiration, the bag includes a goldtone trinket engraved with a secret message from Indian mystic leader Meher Baba. We got a source to go and look at this one for us; it says: "It is for love that the whole universe sprang into existence, and it is for the sake of love that it is kept going." That's a nice sentiment to carry around.

The Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag costs $790 and is currently available for pre-order from the new Los Angeles Blumera boutique (8570 Melrose Ave.). Call 720-BLUMERA (258-6372) or email orders -at- blumera.com to get yours ahead of everyone else.

Tags: blue, blumera, crocodile, laptop bag

The Classicist: The Mystery of Out of Africa Author Karen Blixen's Hermès Luggage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

Hermès has uncovered a couple of remarkable pieces of bespoke luggage in its archives, made for famed Danish Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dineson, in the 1930s. The Art Deco tobacco-colored crocodile skin cases, one ordered in 1930 and the other in 1935, contain every conceivable article an aristocratic author could need on an arduous journey to Africa. The famed Parisian luxury goods house notes that the more complex of the two took its craftsmen 368 hours to make; both feature fine inlays and engraving, with most pieces adorned with a baroness' crown and the author's DBF monogram for Dineson Blixen-Finecke, a combination of her maiden and married names (her full title was Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke).

The cases feature myriad compartments and leather boxes for spirits, smoking accessories, writing instruments, notepaper, perfume bottles, cosmetics, playing cards, jewelry, small tools, sewing items, brushes and more, with some items finished in sterling silver and tortoiseshell. However, Hermès notes the the items appear to be unused and probably never made it to Kenya, where Blixen established a coffee plantation at the foot of the N'gong Hills; and therein lies something of a mystery. Noting that by December of 1930, when the first case was ordered, Blixen was somewhat down on her luck and preparing to leave Africa, Hermès thinks it unlikely she ordered it for herself and the archives are unclear. Could it perhaps have been intended as a gift from her lover, dashing big game hunter and pilot Denys Finch Hatton?

Gallery: Karen Blixen's Crocodile Hermes Suitcases

Tags: Africa, Art Deco, author, bespoke, crocodile, Denmark, Hermes, Isak Dineson, Karen Blixen, Kenya, luggage, luxury goods, Out of Africa, Paris, suitcase, travel, vintage luggage

Continue reading “The Classicist: The Mystery of Out of Africa Author Karen Blixen's Hermès Luggage”

Rare Hermès Crocodile Briefcase for $30,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

The Sac à Depeche crocodile skin briefcase from Hermès of Paris is one of the famed French luxury goods house's most coveted and exclusive items. The ultimate gentleman's business accessory, the elegant model has long been a favorite of aristocrats, royalty, the international jet set and heads of state. The Sac à Depeche was first introduced by Hermès in 1937, and one of the first purchasers was the Duke of Windsor. John F. Kennedy famously carried an example in black crocodile given to him by Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, which he took with him on that fateful trip to Dallas in 1964. Kennedy's briefcase sold for $700,000 at auction in 1998. The Sac à Depeche in crocodile remains available by special order – with a 4-5 year waiting list. However, a rare and authentic 20th century crocodile Sac à Depeche is now being offered for sale by London's Pullman Gallery for about $30,000. Finished in tan Crocodilus Porosos, the very finest crocodile skin in the world, the exquisite case is in perfect mint condition, and comes complete with a key fob and two keys, signed Hermès, Paris.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: briefcase, crocodile, Duke of Windsor, exotic leather, Hermes, John F. Kennedy, luggage, mens style, Paris

Ildikó Gál Bespoke Exotic Leather Shoes from Hungary

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style

Hungarian bespoke shoemaker Ildikó Gál, which handcrafts exquisite footwear from exotic skins, makes its American debut this month. The brand has opened a new showroom in New York at 501 Fifth Avenue showcasing its first collection of men's handmade dress shoes, all constructed by third generation Hungarian cobblers. Ildikó Gál combines modern technology with Old World craftsmanship to produce luxurious products of unsurpassed quality. Constructing the perfect shoe starts with a state-of-the-art scanner that measures each foot from all angles. The foot scan data is instantly transmitted to the last makers, who create lasts that reflect a customer's unique feet.

From small towns and villages in rural Hungary where shaping leather into shoes is an art form handed down through generations, the shoemakers produce stunning, handcrafted footwear. Each shoe design is executed completely by hand using traditional methods and the finest skins, and takes about six weeks to complete. Each finished pair is stamped with the artisan's signature and delivered in a custom fitted wooden box with custom made shoe trees, silk shoe bags and special polishes. Prices start at about $2,500 per pair and exotic skins on offer include stingray (above), sharkskin, alligator, crocodile and ostrich.

Gallery: Ildiko Gal Bespoke Shoes

Tags: alligator, bespoke, crocodile, exotic leather, Hungary, Ildikó Gál, mens shoes, New York

Brioni Crocodile Skin Watch Box

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Need suitably stylish storage for those luxe timepieces Ariel Adams is always writing about? Check out this beautiful new watch box from luxury Italian clothing label Brioni, made of the world's finest genuine crocodile skin. Lined with suede and glove-soft leather, the box is priced at $5,000 and comes in classic brown, black and red. Featuring gold-plated hardware it holds six watches in removable compartments, along with a separate slim portfolio to hold additional watch straps. Famed for its hand-sewn custom tailored suits starting out at $4,000 and running as high as $47,000, Brioni provided 007's evening wear for several of the James Bond films and has also outfitted the likes of Al Pacino, Eric Clapton, Donald Trump and Prince Andrew.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Brioni, crocodile, crocodile leather, exotic leather, Italy, watches

Nancy Gonzalez Croc Savvy Hobo, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Nancy Gonzalez Croc Savvy Hobo is a cheerful and striking purse with a subtle modernity everyone will surely be imitating soon.

What really impresses us about this purse is the innovative shape. By adding multi-strap detail to the base of the top handles and inching them toward the center of the bag, a half-egg shaped line is achieved over an artfully ruched, wide boat of a body. The overall effect is very attractive, and we haven't even gotten to the fact that this bordeaux-colored beauty is made of rare, valuable Caiman fuscus crocodile.

The hobo is 7 1/2"H x 14 1/2"W x 4"D, has a magnetic snap closure, and features interior zip and cell phone pockets in a cream lining. Looking into this bag is like peering into the delicious center of a slice of red velvet cake. And now we are hungry.

The Nancy Gonzalez Croc Savvy Hobo is available from Neiman Marcus for $2,495.00.

Tags: crocodile, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, hobo, nancy gonzalez, NancyGonzalez, red

Brooks Brothers Crocodile Luggage & Accessories

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Classic clothier Brooks Brothers is making a foray into high-end luxury goods with its new line of genuine crocodile luggage and accessories for men. The ultra-luxe, elegant and understated collection consists of five pieces: a Crocodile Weekender duffel bag (above); matching Crocodile Flap Briefcase; a Crocodile Travel Bag; an Alligator Journal; and an Alligator Eyeglass Case. The last two are finished in fine alligator skin; all the bags feature brass hardware. The Weekender retails for $15,000; the Briefcase for $10,000; the Travel Bag for $3,000; the Journal for $3,000; and the Eyeglass Case for $1,000. Altogether the five pieces come to $32,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: alligator, briefcase, Brooks Brothers, BrooksBrothers, crocodile, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, luggage

Asprey Crocodile Skin Poker Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey has been making some of the world's most exquisite games for decades, of the sort that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. One of their latest offerings is a beautiful handmade gentleman's poker set in black polished genuine crocodile skin with ceramic poker chips and royal purple Asprey playing cards (above). Priced at about $8,000 it certainly brings new meaning to "poker night". Asprey, founded in 1781, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, one of several granted by the British Royal Family over the years. As we reported last year, Asprey decided to return to its roots and focus on its core business of luxury goods representing a high-water mark of taste, refinement and quality after having branched out into clothing and footwear.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Asprey, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, crocodile, gambling, games, London, poker, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Royal Warrant, royalty, RoyalWarrant, UK