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The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athenee: Rejuvenate in the City of Lights

Filed under: Spas

The Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée is a luxurious spa ensconced in a sumptuous hotel located in one of the most splendid cities in the world – Paris. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Institut is a nominee for a Luxist award in the best day spa category.

The connection between the Plaza Athénée and Christian Dior dates back to 1947, when the fashion house's namesake and founder chose the hotel as a place to photograph and showcase his models. Soon he began to invite his best customers there for lunch, or eat by himself in a private dining room. Dior even named a couple of his designs "Plaza" and "Athénée."

Gallery: Dior Institute Plaza Athenee

The Dior Institut was established to promote Christian Dior's goal to make women "prettier and happier," with a focus on reversing the effects of aging. The spa boasts five individual treatment rooms, including a VIP couples' room. There is also a fitness center, a sauna and a steam bath on the premises for clients to relax in after receiving treatments.

The typical treatment at Dior begins with a "Lifting 3D" massage, designed to raise energy levels and transform the guest's posture. Next, micro-abrasion revitalizes tissues and skin. Finally, Dior's anti-aging potions are applied to stimulate, reoxygenate and decongest skin. What better way to prepare for a night on the town in the City of Lights?

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Tags: awards-main, best day spa, christian dior, ChristianDior, day spa, dior institute, dior institute at the plaza athenee, luxist-awards, paris, paris spas, plaza athenee, spa, spa-main

Backstage Dior, An Eye-Popping All-Access Pass

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books

Renowned photographer Roxanne Lowit has been chronicling the fashion scene for the past 30 years; early on she staked out the backstage areas at fashion shows, where the really interesting action takes place, as her prime hunting ground for capturing the most beautiful people in their natural habitat. Now Lowit, whose work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum and others, has an incredible new book just published by teNeues, focusing on brilliant, flamboyant Dior deigner John Galliano's couture concoctions which she chronicled for over a decade. Backstage Dior, with a foreword by Galliano, mixes black-and-white and color images, candids and close-ups, delving into the fascinating details behind the scenes. The book is a must for any devotée of fashion, spectacle, photography, or all three.

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Dior, fashion show, Fashion Week, FashionShow, FashionWeek, French fashion, FrenchFashion, John Galliano, JohnGalliano, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MetropolitanMuseumOfArt, models, photographer, photography, Roxanne Lowit, RoxanneLowit

Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag is a terrific holiday purse for merry days of shopping and candlelight dinners alike.

This Italian patent lambskin bag is ravishingly quilted in Dior's Cannage pattern, and not over-designed -- the shiny red is enough. While this would look great with black, we'd love to see this on the arm of a lady bundled up in a pretty white coat.

The bag features bright silvery chain links and a push-lock closure, and will be available in ecru with goldtone hardware in 2010. We love the leather detail at the top of the strap to protect your shoulders, hands and clothes from having to touch the hard metal -- how very considerate.

The Dior Cannage Shoulder Bag is available from Neiman Marcus for $1,750.00.

Tags: cannage, christian dior, ChristianDior, dior, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, purse, red, shoulder bag, ShoulderBag

Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag is an unmistakably luxe choice for your spring wardrobe.

This fresh new design in a bright poppy rouge features generous silver chain links, oversized diamond stitching and dainty, only-from-a-French-design-house ruffle trim. The bag and logo hangtag are crafted from the finest lambskin, and the flap-top closes with an engraved silver push lock.

This spring, expect to see lots of silver, khaki, white and pale neutrals ... and this, as it will surely stand out if you see it coming down the street.

The Dior Ruffled Flap Shoulder Bag is available for pre-order from Neiman Marcus for $2,050.00 and is expected to ship no later than January 6.

Tags: christian dior, ChristianDior, dior, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, purse, red, shoulder bag, ShoulderBag

EXCLUSIVE: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

Maurice-Richard Hennessy spent his childhood years in France's famed Cognac region. A direct descendant of the founder of the Hennessy company, he belongs to the eighth generation of the prestigious family that came to France from Ireland in 1765. The cognac gene is firmly established in his DNA, along with his love for the Charente countryside, vine-growing and fine gastronomy. He joined the family firm, now a cornerstone of the LVMH luxury goods empire, in 1975 and was given an in-depth training in all the Hennessy professions, from distillation to bottling, as well as commercial and marketing activities.

He began by traveling for Hennessy and then in 1979 settled in London for five years to work on the promotion of the brand in England and Ireland. At that time he also travelled regularly to the United States and Canada. So it is natural that Monsieur Hennessy, with his famous name, became the incarnation of the brand and its global ambassador. As familiar with the history of the company as he is with cognac, he owns vineyards himself, distilling and selling his eaux-de-vie to the Hennessy firm, and is an expert on all facets of cognac production. In the gallery, Hennessy reveals his 10 essential luxuries and explains what makes them a must.

Gallery: Cognac King Maurice Hennessy's 10 Luxuries

A seat at Bayreuth Festspielhaus for the Wagner Festival

Proper ice cubes made of non-chlorinated water

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Cognac, France, Hennessy, LVMH, Ruinart

M. Sturman Jewelry on the Set of the New Sex and the City Movie

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

M. Sturman Jewelry may not yet be a household name, however should the pieces that were sent to the set of the newest Sex in the City movie make final cut that should change. Nothing seems to stamp an item as a "must have" faster then when it is seen adorning Carrie or one of her closest friends on their glamorous romp through life . The fictitious foursome have become a hallmark of what constitutes high end fashion.

It was exciting to learn that not all the pieces selected for the movie, and possibly destined for stardom themselves, are already part of the fashion elite's wardrobe. This New York City based jewelry designer uses a collection of unique pearls, stones, beads and vintage pieces, including Swarovski cabochons and blown glass to create the unusual items in her collection. A stand out piece features Swarovski stones ordered by Christian Dior prior to World War II. Inspired by the colors, shapes and textures of the raw materials the designer painstaking crochets or weaves each piece in her New York City Studio.

The designer Peggy Sturman has a background in art history and floral design which is easily seen in her work. Will she be the next "it" girl of the fashion industry? Only time will tell, but Carrie and the girls could certainly give her a leg up. All the pieces featured above and in the gallery are currently on the set of the new movie.

Gallery: M Sturman Jewelry

Tags: Christian Dior, ChristianDior, jewelry, sex and the city, SexAndTheCity, swarovski, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystals

Claridge's Debuts Exclusive Dior Dressing Table

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services, Spirits, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Famed French fashion house Dior has created a bespoke, Art Deco-inspired dressing table service for guests of Claridge's, the landmark London hotel (above) whose devotees include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, Mick Jagger, Madonna and Victoria Beckham. Designed as the ultimate luxury amenity for glamorous occupants of the hotel's Viscount David Linley-designed suites, the service offers all the essentials necessary for a glamorous night out on the town. The Dior Dressing Table includes a carefully curated range of timeless accessories, including an elegant silk Claridge's dressing gown and slippers; a cashmere eye mask; a selection of classic Dior fragrances and beauty products; cocktails from a special 1930s menu; and era-appropriate books and music for entertainment.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Angelina Jolie, AngelinaJolie, Art Deco, ArtDeco, beauty, Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Claridges, David Linley, DavidLinley, Dior, hotel, London

The Fashion Statement: Stripes Have a Checkered Past

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Several years ago, designer Andrae Gonzalo (of Project Runway fame) sent me a terrific little book on the history of stripes called The Devil's Cloth. I fished out the book recently and inside the jacket found Gonzalo's personal note: "From one zebra to another. Now you're really ready for spring 2002!" Back then, I was reporting for Women's Wear Daily and I had been talking to Gonzalo-at that time a buyer for the American Rag boutique in Los Angeles-about the chicest look of the season: stripes.

Cut to fall 2009. Little has changed. From Christian Dior Haute Couture in Paris to New York It boy Prabal Gurung, designers continue to send stripes down the runway. Whether zebra or nautical, it seems there's always demand for the clean and crisp, yin-yang pattern. A classic.

So it might shock you, as it did me, to learn that striped cloth was once a controversial religious garment not unlike the burqa today. According to the book, a few striped-clad monks called the Carmelites moved from Palestine to Paris where they were ridiculed and jeered. They were accused of greed, hypocrisy and treachery and even seen as the henchmen for the devil and the Antichrist. All because of their stripes.

The scandal got so out of hand, a Pope stepped in to ban all monks from wearing striped habits. Here's the kicker: Some 19th Century scholars believe Western Europeans had such a fit because the cloaks–probably resembling something like striped djellabas–had Asian or Middle Eastern origins.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: Stripes

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Tags: Black and white, BlackAndWhite, Christian Dior, ChristianDior, Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture, ParisFashionWeekHauteCouture, Stripes, Zebra prints, ZebraPrints

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Christian Dior's French Chateau For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Sometimes it helps for have friends who speak Russian. That's how I found this article which indicates that Christian Dior's French castle is up for sale. A little digging led me to what looks to be the listing for Chateau de la Colle Noire, Dior's home in the south of France.

Dior bought the property in 1950 and spent considerable time and money restoring it. After his death in 1957 it passed through various hands and as of late has been available to rent for weddings. The band Oasis even recorded there in 1999. The castle has 30 rooms with 18 bedrooms and several outbuildings as well as a chapel, tennis court and swimming pool.

[Thanks, Lana]

Gallery: Chateau de la Colle Noire

Tags: chateau, christian dior, ChristianDior, france, real estate, RealEstate

Dior Pulls Out Of Palm Beach

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

It's hard not to wonder if closing of the Christian Dior boutique on Palm Beach, Florida's elite Worth Avenue has something to do with the fallout from the Bernard Madoff scheme. Some of his wealthy Palm Beach neighbors were among his victims. Whatever the reason, the Dior store quickly pulled up stakes right after Christmas. The Palm Beach Daily News says that the windows are covered in black paper and just the shadow of the former Dior signage remains. There's no dearth of elite boutiques on Worth Avenue but the defection of Dior may send ripples of dismay around the luxury shopping destination.

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Tags: christian dior, ChristianDior, florida, palm beach, PalmBeach, worth avenue, WorthAvenue

Rosamond Bernier Sells Vintage Couture on Yoox

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Famous art lecturer and socialite Rosamond Bernier is cleaning out her closet, and on Thursday her vintage couture castoffs will be available on Yoox.com. Included in the sale is a rare piece from Yves Saint Laurent's reign at Christian Dior, a waterprint taffeta gown with matching evening bag. (Bernier donated a 1949 Dior, at right, to the Met.)

Bernier gave her last art lecture at the Met in March, but could probably tell a number of stories about the clothes she recently handed over -- Zandra Rhodes frocks and Chanel suits she's been collecting for decades. Considering Bernier's been named to the International Best Dressed List -- for life -- the selection on Yoox is worth a look.

[via The Stylephile]

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Tags: christian dior, ChristianDior, rosamond bernier, RosamondBernier, vintage, yoox

Christian Dior Cell Phones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

We are late to the party on this one, the Engadget gang covered it way back in May and seemed quite unimpressed but the latest designer in the cellphone game is Christian Dior. The Dior phone is aimed at the Chinese and Russian luxury markets and will sell for around $5,000. The slim phone has a touch-screen, camera and Swarovski crystals on the faceplate. The most unique feature is that Dior phone is so posh it comes with its own phone. The phone has a mini mobile phone that resembles a USB key so that you can put the main phone in your Dior purse and use the mini phone to make calls. Why? I have no idea.

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Tags: cell phone, christian dior, ChristianDior, telephone

Extreme Cutout Sandals by Christian Dior

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

The name of a product is an important indicator in predicting it's success, take the cleverly named Gucci Hysteria Purse that lived up to its title quite nicely by causing shopping madness. I'm crazy about the new Extreme Cutout Sandals by Christian Dior. However after staring at them for awhile I've realized I don't actually like them, per se, then it hit me, I 've been duped by some marketing gurus into thinking I like them based on their awesome name ( I'm a sucker for all things "extreme"). Oh well! These extreme-ly high (almost 5 inches) and equally sexy sandals kick off the summer shoe shopping season with a bang. Available in silver or black Nappa leather, they feature and open peep toe and trendy stud detailing. Available for $780 at Neimans!

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Tags: christian dior, christian dior couture, christian dior shoes, ChristianDior, ChristianDiorCouture, ChristianDiorShoes, dior sandals, DiorSandals, extreme cutout sandals, ExtremeCutoutSandals, high heels, HighHeels, shoes, shoeshopping, shopping, stillettos

33-pound Swarvoski encrusted Christian Dior gown

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Art

The always charming Blake Lively from the hit series Gossip Girl had her work cut out for her at a recent Vanity Fair photo shoot. Her day included prancing around in a 33-pound Christian Dior gown! The yellow satin gown dazzled with Swarovski crystals detailing, 6,000 sequins (I counted), and detailed hand stitching. Lively, always a star, rose to the occasion and truly owned the dress, the photos are effortless and pretty. I wonder how much a gown like that would cost, any guesses?

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Tags: blake lively, BlakeLively, christian dior, christian dior couture, Christian Dior gown, ChristianDior, ChristianDiorCouture, ChristianDiorGown, fashion week, FashionWeek, gossip girl, GossipGirl, gossipgirlfashion

The Dior Jazzclub Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Straight off the runway comes the Dior Jazzclub Handbag Collection. I don't love these bags, but they are definitely unique and worth taking a peek at. Made of lambskin and available in black, beige, white, zebra and leopard, the jazzclub collection is recognizable by its unique large logo-engraved toggle closure and slouchy shape. The hardware is polished silver, which is refreshing after a few seasons of gold. Available on eluxury.com for $1,950.

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Tags: christian dior, ChristianDior, Dior, Dior Jazzclub Handbags, DiorJazzclubHandbags, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, shopping

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