LondonFashionWeek

Russian Tycoon Sets Champagne Splurge Record

A new record was set for a wine sale in Britain recently when an unnamed customer spent $75,000, including tip, on a bottle of Dom Perignon in a London bar. The buyer's name hasn't been released but he's believed to be a Russian tycoon (Abramovich feeling spendy again, perhaps?) with good taste: the sale was for a methuselah of the prized 1996 Rose Gold vintage. The large bottle, dipped in rose gold and worth more than the champagne itself, holds 6 liters (1.59 gallons) and is obviously meant to serve a large group. The purchase took place this past Tuesday during an afterparty for the screening of the new movie "Boogie Woogie" at the Westbury Hotel and included a well-earned $15,000 tip -- according to witness reports within minutes of delivery 3 glasses of the pricey champagne had been spilled.

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Tags: champagne, dom perignon, Dom Perignon Rose Gold, dom perignon rose vintage, LondonFashionWeek, most expensive

First "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Specials Fetching Big Bucks at Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

A Lotus may seem like an exotic supercar, but the superlight British machines never approach the six-figure prices you'd expect from the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But even that can change in the name of good will.

The first three examples of the special-edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evoras, created in conjunction with supermodel Naomi Campbell on which we reported recently, went up for auction during London Fashion Week, fetching prices in excess of GBP 300,000, or nearly $500,000 American. Campbell's boyfriend Vladimir Doronin got his hands on the first one. The remaining five examples are up for auction now at naomiforhaiti.com, with bidding ending on February 28.

Tags: auction, charity, charity auction, CharityAuction, disaster relief, DisasterRelief, evora, haiti, london fashion week, LondonFashionWeek, lotus, lotus evora, lotus evora naomi for haiti, LotusEvora, LotusEvoraNaomiForHaiti, naomi campbell, naomi for haiti, NaomiCampbell, NaomiForHaiti, vladimir doronin, VladimirDoronin

Azza Fahmy Egyptian Jewelry

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

At London's Fashion Week something other than new clothing designs were making an impression: the jewelry and accessories by designer Azza Fahmy were not only noticed but they were loved as well.

Formerly a "British Designer of the Year" and always an Egyptian native, Azza Fahmy has been working diligently with her two daughters to market her unique jewelry designs far from home in Western markets (due to Middle Eastern tastes leaning more towards karat weights and grams of gold than art and creative design). Western shoppers are eating up the beautiful jewelry, no matter the expensive prices ($250 and up), and Fahmy hopes that popularity in the West will lead to better business in the East.

There's always a balance to be had, of course, but I have to say I'm happy to be part of a culture that values art and design over cold hard cash value. She's got some really beautiful pieces, especially the necklace above!

Gallery: Azza Fahmy Egyptian Jewelry