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Ralph Lauren's Cars, Private Parrot Cay Villa & More in Bid to Save the Earth Auction - Part 2

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Charity, Celebrity Design

Parrot Cay Villa for auction in Bid to Save the Earth

Last week we reported on the host of international celebrities, creative icons, industry leaders and conservationists joining together with famed auction house Christie's to support the 2011 Green Auction, a momentous live event and companion online auction raising funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of the planet.

Christie's has partnered with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz.com to put more than 200 coveted auction packages online from now through April 7 to raise funds for Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and the Central Park Conservancy. Supporters can make a Bid to Save the Earth at www.charitybuzz.com/BidtoSavetheEarth.

A companion invite-only event and live fantasy auction hosted by Seth Meyers will be held at Christie's New York on March 29 in partnership with Vogue's Runway to Green. The event will feature a fashion show sponsored by Tiffany & Co. on the night of the live auction, with designer collection selections available online through Net-A-Porter.com.

In part one of our report on the incredible experiences on offer, we focused on the big ticket items estimated at over $100,000 apiece, including a ride with Harrison Ford on his private plane. Now we're selecting some of our favorite lots across a range of expected prices (N.B.: Lagerfeld and Ducasse are being auctioned off live tonight):

Tags: Alain Ducasse, auctions, bid to save the earth, celebrity auctions, Chanel, charity, Charity Buzz, Christies, christies+bid+to+save+the+earth, christiesbidtosavetheearth, environment, Ferrari, Girard-Perregaux, green+auction, greenauction, Karl Lagerfeld, luxury travel, Paris, Parrot Cay, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren car collection, Robert F. Kennedy, Turks and Caicos

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Photographer Jimmy Cohrssen's Gorgeous Retail Shots

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Shopping

Photographer Jimmy Cohrssen just might have our dream job. His 20-year career as a celebrated architectural and design photographers has taken him to some of the world's most beautiful hotels and boutiques. His portfolio is full of names familiar to anyone who reads this blog, the image shown above is from the chic Louis Vuitton store in Vancouver. His architecture and interior design portfolio includes Christian Dior, Helmut Lang, Kenzo, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Viktor & Rolf as well as long list of the world's preeminent architectural and design firms.

Gallery: Jimmy Cohrssen For eight by ten

Tags: chanel, jimmy cohrssen, louis vuitton, retail photography

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The Fashion Statement: Haute Couture's Lightness of Being

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The Haute Couture Spring 2011 shows have yet to wrap up in Paris this week and, already, we know the end of the story. Designers are walking the tightrope between pale blush, pinks and nudes on the one side, and bright saturated jewel tones on the other. Similarly, styles are either soft, feminine and ethereal or dramatic and rich.

"There's a sense of lightness that we're seeing, particularly in the materials," says Joanna Manganaro, an editor specializing in womenswear at trend forecasting firm Stylesight. "Chiffon, tulle--everything is done in a light-handed way. It feels featherweight. It's something more modern, more uplifting."

That was clearly the case with Givenchy. Riccardo Tisci, a designer better known for being dark and severe, delivered a collection of gowns in pale yellows, barely-there pinks and light nudes as a tribute to Butoh dander Kazuo Ohno. In the end, he remained true to his reputation for boldness. When the models turned, they revealed the backs of the gowns that were embroidered in neon orange, chartreuse and fuchsia.

Christian Dior (pictured above) had a more traditional view of things. John Galliano paid tribute to René Gruau, an illustrator who created the house's iconic images from the '40s and '50s. Remember Dior's New Look from the '40s? Galliano (who has a new look himself--a shag haircut) reinterpreted the New Look in in electric blue, fuchsia, brown, emerald green and red taffeta and satin. One of the highlights was a flaring white skirt topped with a burnt-orange jacket with shoulders out-to-there.

Gallery: Full Bloom

Tags: armani prive, Chanel, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Haute Couture Shows, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Kazuo Ohno, Lady, Rene Gruau, RiccardoTisci, Stylesight

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Chanel Wins Luxist's Editors' Choice Award for Best in Beauty

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Chanel wins Luxist's Editors Choice Award for Best in Beauty

For a beauty and fashion conglomerate whose founder distained fragrances, Chanel has had quite a run. "Women perfume themselves only to hide bad smells," said Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, shortly after founding her eponymous company.

That was 1909. A century later the iconic Chanel No. 5 is not only Chanel's flagship fragrance, but one of the most recognizable products in the world. Today, the Chanel empire (LINK: www.chanel.com ) spans cosmetics, haute couture, jewelry and swimwear. The company boasts more than 160 boutiques and seven ateliers (through subsidiary Paraffection) across the globe, from Paris and New York to Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Though Coco herself has long since passed on, the company's creative vision comes from head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld. Billionaires Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, grandsons of Coco's original business partner Pierre Wertheimer, continue to control the corporate side of Chanel, which takes in an estimated $3 billion or so in annual revenue.

Gallery: Chanel

Tags: Awards-main, Chanel, Chanel No. 5, cosmetics, Luxist-Awards, perfume, winners-beauty, winners-editors-choice

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Vanity Fair's SunHee Grinnell's Ten Favorite Essential Items on Display at The Surrey

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Shopping

Vanity Fair's Beauty Director SunHee Grinnell has selected her top 10 favorite essential Upper East Side items.

Vanity Fair's Beauty Director SunHee Grinnell personally curated The Surrey hotel's latest "Top 10 New York" collection, which is now on display at the boutique hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Grinnell's top ten favorite essential Upper East Side items are displayed inside a Jimmie Martin graffitied armoire in the hotel's lobby. After viewing a sneak peak at some of Vanity Fair's insider's preferred Upper East Side retail offerings, guests of The Surrey may venture a just few blocks to purchase their favorite items in the armoire from the boutiques – or may purchase them directly through the concierge.

SunHee's curated collection for The Surrey's "Top 10 New York" features:

Chanel's stud embroidered flap bag
Yves Saint Laurent's Bell De Jour wallet in turquoise
Dior's Red Silhouette belt
Jimmy Choo's JAVA peep toe ankle boot with handcrafted leather 'ricamo' embroidery in black
Gucci's Guilty Eau de Toilette
Tom Ford's Whitey B5 sunglasses
Valentino's black bow leather gloves
Barneys New York's Simon Doonan Witticism stationary
Pucci's Foulard scarf
Michael Kors' Allover Glitz Watch in black.

Tags: awards-main, barneys new york, Chanel, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, luxist-awards, Pucci, SunHee Grinnell, The Surrey, The Surrey Hotel, Vanity Fair

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Twenty Years of Claudia Schiffer by Karl Lagerfeld

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books

Quirky Chanel kingpin Karl Lagerfeld has been photographing his muse, supermodel Claudia Schiffer, for the past 20 years. To celebrate their "anniversary", teNeues has published a special oversized portfolio under the auspices of Germany's Stern magazine compiling the best of the Kaiser's images of the famed beauty from his archives. Claudia & Karl features six different covers, capturing Schiffer's personas ranging from studious to sexy. Also included for the first time are some new self-portraits taken in Paris earlier this year of Lagerfeld posing with Schiffer, whom he first met when she was 19. "Right from the start, Claudia was a personality and not just a model," Lagerfeld notes. "That is something completely different."

Tags: books, Chanel, Claudia Schiffer, coffee table books, fashion, Karl Lagerfeld, photography, style, supermodel, teNeues

The Fashion Statement: Paris Wraps It Up

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Last but definitely not least. Paris provided the grand finale this week to a string of fashion weeks around the globe that began in New York early September.

While not quite as colorful as their Italian counterparts, Parisian designers delivered collections consistent their houses' heritages. In other words, each brands' fans will be happy. Some of the highlights:

Alexander McQueen was one of the most anticipated shows of the season. It was the first full collection for Sarah Burton who was thrust into the head designer role when the designer committed suicide earlier this year. The verdict? There were stunners such as the ombrè gown pictured above as well as white low-rise pants with two buckles on each hip and sculptural dresses. It's not quite the same anger, beauty or arty story that has always defined the label. But how can it be? I would hate to be Burton who must be burdened with endless comparisons to the late genius.

Chanel's show was darker and more deconstructed than usual. Black dresses looked they had been eaten by moths, edges were tattered, and there were much less fussy versions of the signature Chanel suit. Ines de la Fressange modeled my favorite piece-a black sheer floor-length gown with a cutaway skirt that revealed a slimmer skirt underneath. The gown's blouson featured heavy black stripes reminiscent of Maori tribal tattoos.

Tags: alexander mcqueen, chanel, ines de la fressange, Louis Vuitton, marc jacobs, paris fashion week, sarah burton, valentino, valenton gharavani

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Keira Knightley Straddles a Classic Ducati for Chanel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos

Gorgeous British actress Keira Knightley is starring in a sexy new ad campaign for famed French fashion house Chanel shot in Paris the other day. Knightley, clad in a skintight, full-length bespoke beige leather bodysuit specially designed for her by Karl Lagerfeld, sat astride a classic 1970s Ducati Super Sport painted to match. She also wore a custom helmet from Les Ateliers Ruby, the French luxury brand which collaborated with Lagerfeld on a series of haute couture motorcycle helmets for Chanel a few seasons back. Of course, Knightley also sported a bespoke pair of riding boots and gloves to match, the whole a nod to Emma Peel of Avengers fame. The ad campaign was shot at Paris' famed Place de la Concorde, stopping traffic in the process.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: actress, ad campaign, celebrity, Chanel, Ducati, fashion, Karl Lagerfeld, Keira Knightley, Les Ateliers Ruby, motorcycle, Paris

RSVIP: Starry Karl Lagerfeld Relaunch of the Chanel Boutique in Soho

by Jeffrey Slonim (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Events, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping

The economy didn't appear to be an issue when Chanel reopened their boutique at 98 Wooster Street in Soho on Thursday night with an effervescent Euro budget. Champagne and trays brimming with bits of foie gras just kept coming on the wide black walkway built around the side of the building with louvered walls open to the cobbled street.

Also served to celebrities on trays were black cans marked Chanel that looked as if they held spray paint. Instead, the device shot infrared to create graffiti on slick black wall monitors. "All right," said Claire Danes, aiming her can. "We need to do some graffiti!"

Graffiti has never looked quite so elegant.

With a bejeweled, shimmering black jacket over her shoulders, Sarah Jessica Parker mentioned that only her shoes and the bag were not Chanel.

Peter Marino, in head-to-toe black-leather, said that he had designed the new Chanel Boutique with Karl Lagerfeld. He described the interior as "only black-and-white, no beige."

"Beige is the color of Chanel," said Marino. "But this is strikingly youthful. And there is a lot of artwork by up-and-coming artists: works by Robert Green, Gregor Hildebrandt-- he melted old 45 records into cake pans. Richard Woods did the black-and-white faux-brick columns." Up high, fluorescent lights wrapped in rubber were also art.

Tags: blake lively, chanel, Diane Kruger, karl lagerfeld, peter marino, rsvip

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Martin Scorsese & The Rolling Stones Rock Chanel's New Men's Fragrance [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Men's Style, Video

Famed French fashion and luxury goods house Chanel has brought on legendary director Martin Scorsese to help promote its new men's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel. Scorcese has made a sexy new commercial for the scent starring actor Gaspard Ulliel with a soundtrack by the Rolling Stones, firmly positioning it as a cologne for the young, cool, rich and beautiful – or those who think all that can be found in a perfume bottle in any case. Marked by notes of citrus, vetiver, pink pepper, grapefruit, dry cedar, labdanum, frankincense, ginger and sandalwood, Chanel says Bleu "embodies that greatness of a man when he chooses to be free". To be specific, it smells "enigmatically seductive", reeking of "bold masculinity" and an "untameable, rebellious spirit." The collaboration follows other high-profile director–fashion label matchups, including David Lynch for Dior, Frank Miller for Gucci and Zoe Cassavetes for Louis Vuitton.

Tags: Bleu de Chanel, Chanel, cologne, commercials, directors, fragrance, French fashion, Gaspard Ulliel, Martin Scorsese, mens style, Rolling Stones

Lagerfeld Photography Exhibition to Open in Paris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Art

An exhibition of photographs by Chanel kingpin Karl Lagerfeld is opening in Paris this September in time for the city's Fashion Week. The show at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in the historic heart of Paris will feature a mix of fashion photos, portraits, landscapes, architectural images and personal shots, including several of his longtime muse, Claudia Schiffer. Lagerfeld, who shoots all of Chanel's ad campaigns himself, has published several books of his photographs, and has his own art book publishing imprint and book shop in Paris called 7L.

"What I admire most is the photographers who have gone down to posterity with a single image," the designer tells La Parisienne. "An image - I prefer this word to the word picture - which went down in the collective memory of the civilized world [... ]. Today the picture is part of my life. It closes the circle of my artistic and professional lives. I look at the fashion world with the eye of the camera. This gives my work a basic critical detachment that helps more than I would have suspected." The exhibition runs from September 10 to October 15.

Source

Tags: ad campaigns, Chanel, Claudia Schiffer, exhibition, fashion, Fashion Week, France, French fashion, Karl Lagerfeld, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, museum, Paris, photographer, photography, style

Angelina Jolie Enjoying Her Chanel Premiere Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Celebrity Shopping

Angelina Jolie has been photographed on numerous occasions wearing a curious looking watch. Is was brought to my attention by reader Gabriella (and I thank her), in a serious of different photographs. With her help, I discovered that it was Chanel Premiere lady's watch. it appears as though Jolie has favored this timepiece for a while. Chanel has more than just the J12 up their sleeves. The Premiere collection predates the J12 by a long time I believe, but had recently adopted traits from the J12, just as ceramic materials. Here, the black inner link on the bracelet is ceramic. The watch itself comes in various styles and materials. On her wrist the watch is in 18k gold and ceramic, but the pictured model is in steel and ceramic. The faceted sapphire crystal over the gem cut like case and dial give it the appearance of being like a precious stone. The bezel is lined with diamonds, while the dial is a simple black (also comes in white) with small baton hands. Inside the watch is a Swiss quartz movement. This is a very elegant and classy timepiece, which Angelina pulls off quite well. Prices for this style of Chanel Premiere watches start in the 4,000 euro range, and go up from there.

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

Tags: angelina jolie, chanel, premiere, watch, watchspotting, wear, what

Chanel Agrees To Record Amount For Retail Space On Bond Street

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

The Financial Times recently reported that Chanel broke records in securing a 25 year lease for retail space and a building on London's famous Bond Street. A popular location for luxury retail, the record price seems to defy angst that the luxury industry is quite painfully hurting. While that is true, the negative effect hasn't been the same for all brands. Chanel's popularity has been high, as well as the sales of its signature J12 watches, and other luxury goods.

Located in London's West End, the new retail space is due to be a flagship store for the luxury brand. While I am not clear on all the facts, it appears as though Chanel paid 4 million British Pounds in cast to rent the store, along with possible other costs as well. Not only is the amount incredible, but the price given the size of the property is also outstanding. The space was previously occupied by Nicole Fahri - which was apparently paid millions by the landlord to surrender their lease so that Chanel could take over.

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

Tags: bond, bond street, chanel, london, store, street

The Fashion Statement: Bouffants are Back

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The bouffant, the piled-high hairstyle popularized in the late '50s and early '60s, is back!

Amy Winehouse has been rockin' a beehive for years. But, this year, bouffants kicked into high gear and were seen on the runways of Chanel, Dior, Oscar de la Renta (above) and Vera Wang. On the celeb front Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson and Kate Beckinsale have all given it a whirl.

Bouffant. Pompadour. Whatever you call it, it was born in France, reportedly first introduced by Madame de Pompadour who was a mistress of Louis XV. But the real bouffant as we know it today was created for Marie Antoinette, who apparently wanted to mask her thin hair. Closer to the truth, it was the fashion. And, as we know, Antoinette was not exactly known for her restraint.

According to Daring 'Dos: A History of Extraordinary Hair, by Mary Trasko, both Pompadour and Antoinette wore their hair high on the forehead, either brushed over a pad or "frizzed." Some estimated the towering styles stretched three feet high. Hair was such a production back then, women slept propped up on pillows. Our quips today that animals could live in those things was more than partly right-the pomades back then were made of lard and attracted vermin.

By the '60s, the style had become so commonplace in the West, it spread to American suburbs. Throngs of women made their weekly trips to the hair salon, usually Fridays. Wash. Set. Tease. And use lots of industrial strength hair spray. Teachers complained about girls whose hair was so big that they blocked other students from seeing the blackboard.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: Bouffants are Back

Tags: Amy Winehouse, bouffant, Chanel, HairStyles, Lady Gaga, Madame de Pompadour, Marie Antoinette, Vidal Sasson

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The Fashion Statement: Paris Couture Pares Back

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The haute couture shows in Paris are in full swing, but rather than enjoy the spectacle, fashion watchers have the nagging suspicion they are witnessing the end of an era.

Sure, clothing that can cost as much as a house, have little relevance in today's world-only a handful of women in the world can afford the custom-made pieces. And fashion houses like Jean Paul Gaultier, pictured above, create the looks mostly for press and to promote brand awareness and maintain an image. (Dita Von Teese guest strutted in black wire and stockings.) But the Great Recession has sped up the decline of an institution of fashion, the highest level a designer can achieve, the crème de la crème of the biz. It's sad!

Signs of decline are all there. Shows have been reduced to six spanning three days. Sets have been pared back. Givenchy eschewed a show altogether to stage "presentations," or museum like display on dress forms-a sure sign of financial conservatism.

"Why not just hang a sign on the door that says, 'Shut?'" wrote Cathy Horyn yesterday in The New York Times.

Tags: Chanel, Christian Dior, Dita Von Teese, Elie Saab Couture, Givenchy, haute couture, jean paul gaultier, Paris Fashion Week, Paris haute couture, runway, runway fashion, runway models, runway shows, RunwayFashion, RunwayShow, Valentino