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The Classicist: Win a Private Tour of Ralph Lauren's Car Collection & More

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events, Charity, Sports, Big Givers, Men's Style, The Classicist, Luxury Shopping


From now through Oct. 21, Ralph Lauren is auctioning off a number of extraordinary items and experiences to mark the 10th anniversary of Pink Pony, the designer's global initiative to raise awareness and funds in support of the fight against cancer. The online auction, the first of its kind for the Pink Pony cause, is being produced in partnership with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz. Highlights of the incredible event include several once-in-a-lifetime forays into the private world of the famed fashion designer and his luxury empire, including classic cars, polo, chauffeured Bentleys, sexy models and shopping sprees. You check out full details and register to place bids at www.charitybuzz.com/RalphLauren; meanwhile, here are The Classicist's top picks:

1. A private tour of Lauren's incredible car collection, estimated at $150,000: You and a friend will be shown the cars, including the ultra-rare 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic (above), worth an estimated $40 million, a $28 million Ferrari 250 GTO, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, McLaren F1LM and more, by Lauren himself at his lavish estate in Bedford, New York. You'll also get a ride in one of these world-class driving machines and take home a signed copy of Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars from the Ralph Lauren Collection.

2. A weekend at Lauren's private Round Hill Villa in Jamaica, estimated at $150,000: A priceless opportunity to spend four days and three nights for you and up to three guests at the designer's personal Jamaican paradise. The fully staffed villa, which sits on a magnificent, picturesque cliff over the crystal blue Caribbean Sea, has been featured on the covers of House & Garden and Architectural Digest. Enjoy a swim in the villa's infinity pool and private beach access, as well as complimentary tennis lessons and a yoga session.

3. Play polo with Nacho Figueras and stay at The Breakers in Palm Beach, estimated at $15,000: Take a lesson from Nacho Figueras, world class polo player and Ralph Lauren model. You and a guest will refuel afterward during lunch with Nacho, and you'll also spend three nights at the exclusive Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, including a spa treatment for two at the Breakers Spa; a round of golf for two; a $1,000 private shopping experience at the Ralph Lauren store at the Breakers; and VIP access to the U.S. Open at the International Polo Club.

4. Front row seats to the Ralph Lauren fashion show and an outfit from the runway, estimated at $25,000: Bring along a friend when you meet the designer and sit in the elite front row at his Fall 2011 Fashion Show in New York. Then, select your favorite look from the runway to add to your own personal collection. Enjoy two nights at a penthouse suite at The Setai Fifth Avenue hotel, including breakfast for two and one signature spa treatments. [continued]

The Classicist: Royal Ascot, Henley, Cowes & the English Summer Season

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Events, Sports, The Classicist

Royal ascot
The English summer season is in full swing with the year's most important and stylish sporting events on the horizon, maintaining the British traditions of horse racing, tennis, rowing, polo and sailing with elegance and ardor. Lord's Test Cricket has passed, but the Royal Ascot races, the Wimbledon tennis championships, Cartier International Polo, the Henley Royal Regatta and the yacht races at Cowes round out a full season's worth of sporting occasions that are as much fun to watch as to participate in. Herewith The Classicist's guide to the best in class (with a tip of the Panama to the London Telegraph); all you need is a pitcher of Pimm's:

Royal Ascot – June 15-19, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire

Since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the annual Royal Ascot races have become the highlight of the English social season. Ostensibly a five-day sporting event, it's also evolved into something of an immense fashion show, marked by the arrival of the Royal Family in ceremonial horse-drawn carriages every day. It has become the style for ladies to sport increasingly outrageous hats, and lately the traditional rules about "formal day dress" in the coveted Royal Enclosure have been rather loosely interpreted.


Ralph Lauren Launches Interactive Tennis Clinic

Filed under: Apparel, Sports


Ralph Lauren, official outfitter of Wimbledon, is launching an interactive Legends Clinic for tennis fans online via his marquee Polo Ralph Lauren brand. Designed to celebrate both the Wimbledon and American Open Tennis championships, the clinic will launch on June 17. The main feature will be live interviews with three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who will be answering questions and demonstrating some key techniques from a tennis court near Wimbledon. "Wherever you are - in Korea, Los Angeles or on 57th Street and Madison Avenue - you can ask Boris Becker questions, and he will answer them in real time," a Polo rep explains. "The mission for us is to change the way we create content and also make sure the customer sees the authenticity in our relationship with Wimbledon."

A Taste of Wimbledon at Soho House

Filed under: Spirits

The roof at SoHo HouseNew York's chic and sophisticated Soho House is offering something special on their roof (right) through July 5th -- a taste of Wimbledon.

The "Wimbledon Pitcher" is sure to be a favorite among guests sunning themselves -- what a great way to pretend you care about tennis while boozing by the pool! The pitchers are also available on the 6th floor where matches will be playing, but only a hard-core fan would turn down the roof of Soho House to watch people hit things with racquets in England -- no offense, tennis-lovers.

If you're not in New York, fear not; you too can make this traditional British concoction. Here's how, courtesy of Soho House:

Wimbledon Pitcher

Drop into the pitcher:
  • 5 leaves of Mint
  • 4 slices Cucumber
  • 2 Strawberries
  • 3 wedges of Lemon
  • 3 wedges of Orange Ice
  • 8 oz of Pimm's

Top it off with Sprite or make it sing with gin (Hendrick's is recommended), stir, and serve. You can even watch tennis while you're drinking it, for good measure.

Fred Perry 100th Anniversary Polos

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style


This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of dashing British tennis champ Fred Perry, and to celebrate the classic clothing brand that bears his name is coming out with an exclusive new collection of limited edition polo shirts. The polos feature an enlarged version of Fred Perry's iconic 16-leaf laurel symbol with centenary embroidery underneath, in vintage-inspired colors.

Launched at Wimbledon in 1952, the Fred Perry polo shirt was an immediate success. The new collection debuts on May 15th and will be available at the Fred Perry Soho store in New York, Neiman Marcus in Dallas, and Citizen Clothing in San Francisco among others for $95. Perry was the World No. 1 player for five years and was the last Englishman to win the Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Australian Open Men's Singles titles.

Fred Perry & Raf Simons Collaboration for Spring

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Fred Perry, the iconic British clothing brand with a laurel leaf symbol named for the dashing tennis champion, has just released its second collaboration with Belgian designer Raf Simons, for Spring / Summer 2009.

Drawing inspiration from both punk rock and West African culture - neither traditionally known for tennis togs - the collection features natural fabrics and a vibrant color palette of copper brown, earth orange, regal blue and honey hues.

Comprised of 25 pieces, key items include a re-working of the classic Fred Perry polo shirt, originally launched at Wimbledon in 1952, in a striped open knit style (right, $397.50), slip-on tassel loafers ($202), an open knit cardigan ($503), and a slim fit Harrington jacket in regal blue ($292).

There's also the classic Fred/Raf hybrid polo shirt featuring a shirt stand collar and body 'darting' that creates a slimmer, cleaner silhouette, and orange double layer mesh sleeveless tennis shirts and short sleeve turtlenecks styled with slim fit trousers both in regal blue. See the gallery for more.

Serena and Venus To Play With Gold Rackets

Filed under: Wine


Serena and Venus Williams are famed not just for being brilliant tennis players but for also having a certain love of bling. Therefore it's not a surprise that their new limited Wilson K Factor tennis rackets have a golden touch from gold leaf When they play at Wimbledon this year they will be using the K Factor gold rackets. Serena will play with a pure black racket and Venus with a pure white version both with 22 carat gold leaf laid into the frame. 650 of each model of the K Factor gold limited edition rackets will be available worldwide for sale to the public this summer for $500 each. Venus and Serena will also each autograph and donate 10 K Factor gold limited edition rackets for auction by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Ralph Lauren Outfits Wimbledon

Filed under: Apparel

Ralph Lauren is the first official outfitter of Wimbledon, with a five year contract to design the outfits for all the on-court umpires, judges, ball boys and girls. The uniforms will certainly be more stylish than anything previously seen on the courts. The officials will wear navy blazers with cream piping and cream pants or skirts. The ball boys and girls outfit consists of a navy polo with navy shorts or skort and an optional navy warm-up suit. All of the clothing will feature a newly designed Ralph Lauren/Wimbledon crest.

Lauren will also be releasing a Wimbledon-inspired collection to be sold at company stores around the time of the tournament.

[Image Female First]

Borg Decides Not To Sell The Trophies After All

Filed under: Auctions

Bjorn Borg's Wimbledon trophies won't be for sale after all. We've been following the story of Borg's decision to sell his five Wimbledon trophies and two rackets in order to raise money for a while. Most recently Andre Agassi had said he was going to try and purchase the trophies so that they would wind up in a museum. Now Borg has released a statement saying that he will never sell the trophies and rackets and that the planned auction at Bonham's in London will not take place. The pleas of fellow tennis legends and his many fans has convinced Borg to give up what could have been a $525,000 payday.

Will Agassi Buy Borg's Old Trophies?

Filed under: Auctions

A while back we mentioned the sad fact that Bjorn Borg has decided to put his five Wimbledon trophies and two rackets up for auction at Bonham's in June. Now it is being reported that another tennis great, Andre Agassi, is hoping to buy them.  Agassi told reporters that he would like to put together a consortium to buy the sports memorabilia which could bring in around $520,000. Agassi wants to make sure that the trophies end up in a museum or some place that would honor their place in tennis history.

Bjorn Borg to sell his tennis trophies

Tennis great Bjorn Borg is selling off the best moments of his career. Borg, the only person to win five consecutive Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship titles will be selling all five Wimbledon trophies and two rackets from his 1976 and 1980 final matches. This is the first time a tennis player has sold a Wimbledon-winning trophy at auction. The trophies will be sold at Bonhams in London on June 21  and will go as one lot and are  expected to bring £200,000-300,000. The rackets will be sold as individual lots and should bring in  £10,000-15,000. Why the sale? Borg has cited the need for "some long-term financial security for those close to me" as the reason.

[via the Daily Press]

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