cashmere

Luxe Style Staple: Christopher Fischer Cashmere Scarf

After searching for a cashmere scarf in just the right shade of olive green for some time, we recently came across this natty number from Christopher Fischer.

Paired here with a classic and well-worn Barbour Bedale jacket and fleece Connaught sweater jacket from Private Stock, it's finished in a good mid-season weight with enough length to double over for the "Euro" knot when extra insulation is called for.

Fischer, a self-described cashmere addict, has product ranges including men's, women's, home and travel, with boutiques in New York City, Southampton, East Hampton and Greenwich, CT. He founded the company 25 years ago in the town of Hawick in the borders of Scotland, the birthplace of the Scottish cashmere industry.

Tags: Barbour, cashmere, Christopher Fischer, Christopher Fischer Cashmere Scarf, East Hampton, mens style, Private Stock, scarf, Scotland

How to Care For and Store Cashmere (video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Video

Sharon Haver, fashion guru and founder of FocusOnStyle.com, shares tips on the best ways to care for your How to care and store cashmere cashmere sweaters and other cashmere pieces. Dry clean or handwash? "Unless it is something you really got very dirty, the longer you can go without cleaning it, it seems to work better with cashmere," says Haver. "You can handwash it or use a very gentle cycle in a good washing machine that won't beat it up. Use cold water and a delicate laundry detergent, or even shampoo."

Haver recommends putting the cashmere piece in a dryer for a minute or two to air fluff it. "Then lay it down on a towel and let it dry naturally," she adds.

Watch the video above to learn more about cleaning your cashmere as well as how to properly store cashmere and protect cashmere from moths.

Check out Haver's related video to learn more about cashmere and how to shop for it.

If you haven't yet met the StyleList Network, a group of first-rate fashion bloggers, please do. And then introduce them to your friends!

Tags: awards-main, cashmere, cashmere sweaters, how to care for cashmere, how to care for cashmere sweaters, luxist-awards, sharon haver, SharonHaver, video

What is Cashmere and How to Shop for it (video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Video, Luxury Shopping

Where does cashmere come from? Why is it so expensive? Is all cashmere created equally? How to care and store cashmere
Not all cashmere is of equal quality, says Sharon Haver, fashion guru and founder of FocusOnStyle.com (see video above).

"Fine cashmere comes from a longer fiber," she says. "What you want to look for in better cashmere is that it has a longer fiber. It will be more sturdy and will have a better drape to it. Cheaper cashmere usually has a shorter fiber and can break or pill and won't last as long."

Check out the Sharon Haver's related video on how to care for and store your cashmere.

If you haven't yet met the StyleList Network, a group of first-rate fashion bloggers, please do. And then introduce them to your friends! http://aol.it/g7SCdC

Tags: awards-main, cashmere, how to shop for cashmere, luxist-awards, Sharon Haver, video, what is cashmere

Alexander West Custom Cashmere Blend Shirts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Alexander West Custom Cashmere Blend Shirts

Alexander West, a Manhattan-based clothier specializing in the finest custom-tailored shirts, ties and cufflinks for stylish swells, has debuted an ultra-luxurious new cashmere blend collection. With an extremely soft hand, the weight of the luxe fabric transitions perfectly from winter to spring. The bespoke shirts, available in three colors – stone (above), granite, and solid eggshell – feature a button-down collar and flap pocket, and retail for $295 apiece. Other West designs, available online and by appointment in New York City, are woven from premium cottons and feature luxe mother of pearl buttons, personal monogramming, and precise, detail-conscious craftsmanship. The company also offers a "Send Your Shirt" program, in which they will replicate the fit of a favorite worn-out shirt in the fabric of your choice.

Tags: Alexander West, apparel, bespoke, cashmere, clothing, custom, mens style, New York City, shirts

EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery and full credit info

Some people look at the colder weather as an excuse to head south for the winter; we like to think of it as an opportunity to wear lots of new clothes and find fun ways of keeping warm. In the spirit of getting ready for the season in style we took the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, some classic country clothing and ruggedly handsome accouterments on a tour through the glorious autumnal landscape of northern New England, documenting our excursion with the cool new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. We let the foliage flaunt the bright colors, keeping the clothing to an elegant, understated palette of greens, grays and earthy tones with rich leather, suede and alligator skin details and subtle tortoiseshells and tartans for contrast. Warm textures of wool, cashmere, tweed, moleskin and waxed cotton combined with equestrian and hunting elements guard against the elements and the hazards of the terrain (and local fauna), handling any activity without sacrificing anything in the way of style.

That's also an apt description of the new Cayenne Turbo, hands-down the sportiest SUV around. For 2011 it gets a sleeker and more aggressive appearance, better performance and fuel economy, garnering it the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title (they noted that "the Cayenne's driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender"). Powered by a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine generating 500 hp, it can do 0–60 mph in just 4.4 seconds if you're so inclined. Equipped with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel-drive system it can do just about anything else. Fitted with Porsche's new eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a luxurious leather interior influenced by the Panamera, it features a state-of-the-art navigation system with real-time traffic updates, a surround sound system with iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, 18-way adaptive sport seats and more – in short, all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a $105,000 SUV with a Porsche pedigree.

Gallery: Rugged Fall Style - Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Grousa sweater jacket by Fjallraven; tumbled leather boots by Ralph Lauren

Moto jacket by LINCS by David Chu; shirt, tie and pants by Ralph Lauren; boots by Hunter

Cashmere sweater by Brooks Brothers; shirt and pants by Ralph Lauren; cap by Locke & Co., London

Gentry Russell boots by Wolverine 1000 Mile; scarf by Hermes

Tags: alligator, Barbour, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, camera, cashmere, cognac, David Chu, equestrian, Fjallraven, Hunter, Hunter boots, hunting, LINCS, mens style, New England, Olympus, Panamera, Panerai, Persol, Pierre Ferrand, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SUV, tweed, UK, watches, Wolverine, Wolverine 1000 Mile

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Kelly Van Halen Launches Cashmere Travel Blanket with Fred Segal

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Given that we live in a time when we are all busy reinventing ourselves, perhaps it's not such a stretch that interior designer Kelly Van Halen is launching a line of cashmere travel blankets. Van Halen, who went from being hard rock drummer Alex Van Halen's second ex-wife to being a real estate developer, house flipper, interior designer, and now blanket designer, will be selling her soft-as-can-be cashmere travel blankets exclusively at Fred Segal.

The blankets are the first product in the new line designed by KellyBaron -- the company named after Van Halen and her partner Baron Rogers -- that will be carried by the up-end Fred Segal stores.. The 4"x6" blankets come in matching 8"x10" silk-lined cases that look like pillows. The cashmere used is of superior quality and is 287 grams, or two-ply cashmere. The label is crafted in cashmere as well. Retail price is $425.

Tags: alex van halen, cashmere, fred segal, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, kelly van halen, kellybaron, travel blanket, van halen

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Loro Piana's Lotus Flower Fabric

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Italian luxury label Loro Piana is known for their world class cashmere, especially the incredibly soft and hard-to-come-by baby cashmere, but soon they'll be adding a new type of luxury textile to the lineup: Loro Piano Lotus Flower fabric. Exactly what it sounds like, the fabric is made from fibers that are pulled by hand out of lotus flower stems before being carefully spun into threads and then handwoven on looms into a fabric that resembles a cross between silk and linen. It takes 32,000 lotus stems to make just 1.09 yards of fabric, which has historically been used to make robes for high-ranking Buddhist monks.

Loro Piana has secured a trademark and plans to offer a small line of Loro Piana Lotus Flower items this Christmas. Consisting of scarves and approximately 20 jackets prices for the line have yet to be finalized (as does availability in the U.S.) but the jackets are expected to go for about $5,600 each.

Source

Tags: cashmere, loro piana, lotus fabric

$10,000 Skull Cufflinks & More from Ralph Lauren for the Holidays

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Ralph Lauren is offering a number of exclusive, ultra-luxurious gifts this holiday season, starring an eye-popping pair of skull cufflinks for $10,995. The luxe links, with a skull in a top hat motif, are finished in white gold with diamond eyes. The designer's new Holiday Collection encompasses chic decorative accents, entertaining accoutrements and luxurious travel accessories. Iconic tartans, a signature palette of cashmere cable-knits and rich velvets have a classic appeal, while items like the cufflinks and crystal barware appeal to a more modern sense of sophistication.

The skull motif also appears on a velvet throw pillow for $195 and even a cashmere dog sweater at $115. Other items of note include tartan leather bags and accessories for both men and women, including a men's Cooper Bag at $3,995; a women's Tiffin Bag in black alligator for $16,995; retro style sunglasses finished in red tartan for $375; and exclusive timepieces priced from $17,500 – $32,000. In addition, RalphLauren.com will be offering multiple programs under the RL Custom Boutique for the ultimate in personalization, while the designer's Gift Vault site features a collection of rare and one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from $650 - $55,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Holiday 2010

Tags: cashmere, cufflinks, diamond, gifts, gold, Holiday 2010, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, holidays, mens style, Ralph Lauren, sunglasses, timepieces

12 Chic Capes for the Fall

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Capes seem to be everywhere this season. They serve well as chic transitional outwear for chilly weather without unnecessarily committing to a bulky, blizzard-ready winter jacket.

After browsing through an abundance of styles, it was a pleasant surprise to find capes that are laid back and casual as well as super luxurious and elegant. The choices are endless matching whatever occasion you may encounter.

Given a cape's voluminous silhouette, add balance by pairing with slim fitting trousers or even jeans and viola - you have yourself a stylish and on trend outfit with little effort.

Initially, I would suggest wearing heels to add height and avoid looking frumpy, but when I came across Gryphon's Sherlock Cape ($595) - featured to the right - I was actually surprised how well it works even with the most casual of outfits. What a great look for cool fall days while you're out and about.

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Tags: capes, cashmere, gryphon, Halston Heritage, HalstonHeritage, John Smedley, juicy couture, Maison Martin Margiela, MaisonMartinMargiela, Malene Birger, MaleneBirger, paul and joe, PaulAndJoe, poncho, rabbit, rag and bone, RagAndBone, Schumacher, see by chloe, theory, tory burch, ToryBurch, wool, zucca

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Ralph Lauren Films at Astor Courts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Estates, Men's Style, Video

It seems Ralph Lauren recently took over Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, New York, designed by Stanford White in 1904 for John Jacob Astor IV, to film videos for his new fall collections. We recognized the beautiful Beaux-Arts treasure, inspired by Louis XIV's Grand Trianon at Versailles, which was originally part of the Astor family's Ferncliff estate; Astor Courts (also known as the "Astor Casino" or "Ferncliff Casino") was designed as a guest lodge and sporting pavilion. Over the summer Astor Courts was in the news as the setting for Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and is currently up for auction having previously been listed for sale at $12 million. The structure's stunning details including grand fireplaces, elaborate moldings, an indoor clay tennis court framed by Gothic arches and a white marble swimming pool surrounded by Corinthian columns make a perfect backdrop for Lauren's luxurious designs in cashmere, wool, leather and silk. A couple of scenes were also shot at The Elms in Newport. The video for his Fall 2010 Purple Label collection (above) shows a stylish fellow driving off from the Astor estate in a vintage Aston Martin DB6 for a rendezvous with a beautiful woman. We think Stanford White would have approved.

Tags: Aston Martin, Astor Courts, Beaux-Arts, cashmere, estates, Hudson River, Hudson River Valley, Hudson Valley, mens style, New York, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Rhinebeck, Stanford White

The Story of the World's Most Luxurious Fabric from Loro Piana

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books, Men's Style

Baby Cashmere may well be the world's most luxurious fabric. As The Classicist noted when it debuted in 2008 courtesy of Italian luxury label Loro Piana, to make it the company first had to spend several years convincing Mongolian tribesmen to comb the fine underfleece of the Hyrcus goat kid when it is 3-12 months old. Each combing yields no more than 30 grams of the rare, precious and incredibly soft fiber and is only done once in the well-cared for animal's life. It takes the fleece of nineteen kids to make just one Baby Cashmere sweater. Now Loro Piana has documented the painstaking process in a lavish new volume from Skira called Baby Cashmere: The Long Journey of Excellence. Traveling through the remote and unspoiled lands where the goats are raised, the epic journey is revealed in over a hundred vibrant full-color photographs, presented in large-scale format.

Tags: animals, baby cashmere, books, cashmere, coffee table books, fabric, Italian fashion, Italy, Loro Piana, Mongolia, Skira

Oscar de la Renta Sweater Jacket

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

One of our many favorite things about the dressing for Fall, aside from sexy boots, gorgeous handbags, luxurious jackets and scarves, are sweaters. As the Fall approaches, sweaters quickly become a go-to staple. They're a stylish alternative in providing warmth and coziness for days when a jacket would be overkill.

Given its winter white shade, Oscar de la Renta's Sweater Jacket ($1490) may seem like an unlikely choice for a great Fall sweater, but don't let the color dissuade you. It's the color that actually makes this such an attention grabber.

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Tags: apperal, cashmere, clothing, jacket, mohair, oscar de la renta, sweater

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Rain Cashmere - Allegri's Collection of Luxury Waterproof Cashmere Coats

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

We love cashmere sweaters and we certainly know better than to get them wet -- until now. Allegri Milano has a collection of rainproof cashmere coats made of Rain Cashmere. Believe it or not, you can wear soft, luscious cashmere as outerwear. Allegri is the only company in North America making garments like this.

This textile innovation from the "Architects of Cashmere" (Allegri) is earning kudos and applause from the entire industry. Rain Cashmere is a 100% cashmere material; the waterproofing treatment is done at the thread level, allowing the cashmere knit to still feel like cashmere when it's woven together. We felt it ourselves, and can verify that the texture is soft and wispy, just as a tightly-knit cashmere should be.

Allegri's Rain Cashmere collection includes a five-pocket blazer, single-breasted coat with double lacing and a sporty blazer with a removable hood. The prices range from $995 to $1,595. "Affordable modern luxury is very important for the Allegri consumer in today's market, which explains our steady market position," says General Manager Gian Maria Argentini.

Allegri has created over 2,000 fabrics since the 1960s, including Gabardine and Neomax. You can find Allegri products in Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Gallery: Allegri Rain Cashmere Coats

Tags: Allegri, Allegri Milano, Cashmere, outerwear, Rain, Raincoat, rainproof, Rainwear, waterproof

Parabellum Bison and Kevlar Laptop and iPad Cases

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

Parabellum, makers of hand-crafted leather goods with a military flair in Los Angeles, have come out with a new line of bison hide and Kevlar laptop and iPad cases. The CPU Portfolio for $980 is designed for safe and luxurious storage and transit of either a 15" or 17" laptop. That's not just hype - the case is lined in pure cashmere – vintage 1940s dead stock cashmere from the UK, to be precise. It's made of deep textured Reservation Bison with leather and Kevlar reinforcements and features a carrying strap, super smooth zipper and a ceramic covered snap lock. Each piece is individually numbered for authenticity.

The iPad case for $600 is also made of deep textured Reservation Bison with a lambskin liner, dual ceramic covered snap locks, Kevlar reinforcements and reinforced, elastic and leather corner holders on the back. Each one is also individually numbered for authenticity. Prabellum's deep textured Bison hide comes from free-range American ranches, and is tanned domestically in small batches using age old techniques. Their ceramic hardware is military grade for the ultimate in durability. The cases are available at Maxfield and Union in Los Angeles, The Webster in Miami and Colette in Paris.

Gallery: Parabellum Laptop and iPad Cases

Tags: bison, briefcase, cashmere, ceramic, iPad, iPad case, Kevlar, laptop, leather, Los Angeles, luggage, military, Parabellum

The Classicist: E. Tautz, A Sartorial Star Reborn on Savile Row

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

E. Tautz & Sons, the venerable fine men's tailoring firm founded by Edward Tautz in London in 1867, has been resurrected by Savile Row's Norton & Sons to carry on its impeccable sartorial standards in a new century. Tautz began as a sporting tailor and introduced many innovations such as waterproof tweeds and knickerbocker breeches for the hunting set. By 1897 Tautz had been granted a Royal Warrant from the King of Italy, The King and Queen of Spain and The Emperor of Austria. Winston Churchill placed his first order with the firm in 1895 and continued to be a valued customer for the next 20 years; later on Tautz dressed such natty notables as David Niven and Cary Grant, and in 1968 the company was incorporated into the larger Savile Row firm of Norton & Sons and ceased to be a standalone label.

As Norton's owner Patrick Grant explained to Style Salvage, though quality on the level of Tautz's offerings doesn't come cheap, fine tailoring in the bespoke tradition pays for itself in the long run. "Tailoring is an incredibly efficient way of buying clothes cost wise and you really get what you pay for," he notes. "You are getting tremendous value for money if you go to a tailor and it just so happens that [Tautz is] in the middle of a community of the best tailors in the world. 'The only name in your suit should be your own' is the old adage and that is a nice way of thinking about it." Of course, custom made isn't for everyone, but Tautz is the next best thing as it shares many of the same tailoring methods with Norton's Savile Row workshops.

"We champion the notion of dressing properly and of men taking pride in what they wear," reads Tautz's mission statement. "We adhere to the age old belief that how you dress reflects your respect for the event and for your host. Edward VIII said it best. 'Be always well and suitably dressed for every conceivable occasion." FIne fabrics including the world's best wools and cashmere are a cornerstone of the Tautz style. Prices for Tautz's new ready-to-wear collection start at $300 for cotton sport shirts, $600 for knitwear, $1,500 for outerwear and $1,700 for sport coats. To begin with the collection will be sold in the U.S. exclusively through Barneys New York.

Gallery: The Return of E. Tautz