elizabeth taylor

The Classicist: London's Famed Savoy Hotel Back After $350 Million Revamp

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Architecture & Design

London's renowned Savoy hotel has just reopened following a massive $350 million revamp encompassing one of the most ambitious restorations in British history. The world famous landmark, built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, originally opened in August 1889. Originally managed by Swiss hotelier César Ritz and Maitre Chef Auguste Escoffier, the hotel quickly became known for impeccable service and cuisine as well as glittering parties and famous patrons. Over the decades George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Noel Coward entertained there, while famous guests included King Edward VII, Harry Truman, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and numerous others. The property, now managed by Fairmont, has been closed for nearly three years while the impressive restoration project took shape.

120 years later the hotel's two main design aesthetics, Edwardian and Art Deco, have been carefully revitalized under the direction of world-renowned designer Pierre Yves Rochon. More than 1000 craftspeople, artists and artisans worked tirelessly to create interiors that are in keeping with the hotel's original and much-loved spirit. 38 new River Suites and guestrooms have been added, offering the same stunning views over the River Thames that inspired Whistler and Monet. Nine Personality Suites pay tribute to a few of the artists and well known figures who made the legendary hotel their London home away from home including Sinatra, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich. The suites contain art, literature, photographs and artifacts that evoke the time and spirit of the stars including the 12 pink roses in the Marlene Dietrich Suite that the actress always requested upon arrival.

The reopening also includes the addition of a stately $16,000-per-night, 325-square meter Royal Suite featuring two bedrooms, a study, sitting room, dining room, master bathroom, dressing room (with a specially ventilated shoe closet) and a master bedroom with a bespoke Savoir bed. The suite has been specially designed so that all the rooms enjoy one of the finest views of London. The legendary River Restaurant meanwhile gets a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco décor, and the famed cocktail mecca the American Bar is back in business while Savoy Grill returns under the operation of Gordon Ramsay Holdings with Chef Patron, Stuart Gillies and Head Chef, Andy Cook. [continued]

Gallery: The Savoy Reborn

Tags: Art Deco, bar, cocktails, Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, Fairmont, Fairmont hotels, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gordon Ramsay, hotel, hotel suites, London, luxury hotels, Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Monet, Ritz, Savoy, Savoy hotel, tea, Thames, The Beatles, UK

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Elizabeth Taylor Misses House of Taylor Opening Due To Illness

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Design

The flu kept Elizabeth Taylor from attending the opening of a Beverly Hills jewelry boutique which features her House of Taylor jewelry. Taylor was expected to be at the opening of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills and the AFP reports that guests waited three hours for her until her spokesman announced she would not be arriving.

It's been a rough few years for both Taylor and her eponymous brand of couture jewelry. Taylor has suffered several health crises and the loss of beloved friends including Michael Jackson. Her jewelry line began in 2005 when Mirabelle Luxury Concepts and Techline Jewelry merged with entities owned by Kathy Ireland and Elizabeth Taylor to form House of Taylor Jewelry. The new company struggled to gain footing and eventually was delisted from the Nasdaq in 2008. In November 2008, House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles.

The House of Taylor opening was attended by Marilu Henner, Maria Conchita Alonso, Kevin Sorbo and Frances Fisher among others. The jewelry remains on display at the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store.

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Tags: beverly hills, BeverlyHills, elizabeth taylor, ElizabethTaylor, house of taylor, house of taylor jewelry, HouseOfTaylor, HouseOfTaylorJewelry

Paris' Famed Hotel de Crillon for Sale at $420 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wealth

Paris' famed Hôtel de Crillon, one of the world's most luxurious hotels with a clientele of celebs and royalty, has been put up for sale by its American owner Starwood Capital for about $420 million. Constructed in 1758 as a government building commissioned by Louis XV, the palatial edifice (above) near the Champs Elysées on Place de la Concorde was converted into a hotel 100 years ago. Its Leonard Bernstein suite, on the top floor with a wrap-around terrace, features one of the late maestro's pianos.

Other luminaries past and present who have patronized the Crillon include Marie Antoinette, King George V, the Shah of Iran, Winston Churchill, FDR, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O, Mariah Carey, Madonna and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The hotel is more likely to be sold to a high net-worth individual or a property investor rather than one of the large hotel chains, the Times of London reports. Starwood took over the Crillon in 2005 as part of its €2 billion acquisition of Taittinger's hotel and champagne empire.

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Tags: Elizabeth Taylor, ElizabethTaylor, hotel, Hotel de Crillon, HotelDeCrillon, Leonard Bernstein, LeonardBernstein, Paris, Taittinger, Winston Churchill, WinstonChurchill

Elizabeth Taylor and Kathy Ireland Leave House of Taylor

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Dame Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry company has been in bad shape for a while now but now that she and Kathy Ireland have terminated their licensing agreements with House of Taylor it looks like the company is officially over. The company is reportedly insolvent and the loan company is threatening to take possession of all inventory. Both Ireland and Taylor were major shareholders in the company along with Jack Abramov, the former chairman, president, and chief executive officer, and Monty Abramov, former secretary and vice president, both of whom resigned from their positions in April.

In May the company was delisted from Nasdaq and it will be forced to lose the Taylor name. Also, Lyle M. Rose, House of Taylor president and chief executive officer, left the company when they did not pay his salary, but is still hoping for a severance payment of around $150,00. Five other employees were terminated at the same time. The business will likely be liquidated. The company was in business for over three years and did create some lovely pieces such as the "Daisy" necklace shown above.

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Tags: diamonds, elizabeth taylor, ElizabethTaylor, house of taylor jewelry, HouseOfTaylorJewelry, jewelry, kathy ireland

Elizabeth Taylor Promotes Her Holiday Jewels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Events, Celebrity Shopping

Elizabeth Taylor may not have acted in a movie in a while but she still attracts attention wherever she goes. Diamond-loving Liz will be dazzling them in Beverly Hills this weekend when she makes an appearance on Saturday at Geary's on Beverly Drive to promote her jewelry line, House of Taylor. The appearance is billed as "Something wonderful is about to happen" and will be an opportunity for Taylor to present her holiday baubles. Plenty of celebrities do the legwork to promote their own lines but few have the star power of Elizabeth Taylor. Unfortunately, the news on Taylor's young company isn't entirely sparkly. House of Taylor Jewelry did secure additional financing in October but the Nasdaq traded stock (HOTJ) has fallen to under a dollar a share (last time I checked it was at $0.56) and has received formal Nasdaq notification for not being in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing. Hopefully, Taylor's appearance will help boost the company's bottom line.

[Thanks, fabjewels]

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Tags: beverly hills, elizabeth taylor, ElizabethTaylor, expire-images:2008-11-8, geary's, house of taylor, jewelry, jewels

Hugh Grant Set To Make Big Bucks By Selling His Liz

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Art

Auction house Christie's big contemporary art sale in New York isn't until November 13 but the art world is already buzzing about the fact that one of Andy Warhol's iconic Liz Taylor portraits will be on the auction block. The turquoise Liz was created in 1963 and is part of Warhol's celebrity portraits that also include Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. This work also has a celebrity owner. Actor Hugh Grant bought the painting six years ago for $3.5 million at Sotheby's in New York. He now could realize anywhere from $25 million to $35 million on his investment.

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Tags: andy warhol, art, auction, christies, elizabeth taylor, hugh grant, HughGrant, liz taylor

House of Taylor Jewels Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

More beautiful pieces have come out of the House of Taylor Jewelry collection. Three couture jewelry pieces from the Elizabeth Collection inspired by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, will be featured in Christie's Magnificent Jewels
auction on April 25 in New York. The three Elizabeth Collection pieces include a four strand, diamond and golden pearl necklace estimated at $25,000-$35,000, a pair of diamond encrusted ear pendants with four large cultured golden pearls, set in 18 karat white gold and estimated to sell for $6,000-$8,000, and a double-strand ruby and diamond necklace, with a long ruby and diamond tassel designs set to sell for $180,000-$250,000. The ruby necklace is after the jump.

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Tags: auction, christie's, diamonds, elizabeth taylor, ElizabethTaylor, jewels, pearls, rubies

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New House of Taylor Jewels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

The latest designs from House of Taylor Jewelry, the company that features the designs of Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Kathy Ireland has displayed some new designs in advance of the Academy Awards. The Elizabeth Red Carpet Collection is composed of seven distinct jewelry suites including Masquerade, a diamond, ruby and blue sapphire necklace with matching chandelier earrings; the Moon and Stars Suite, a necklace with matching bracelet in diamonds and pearls and the piece shown here Daisy, a necklace set with yellow sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. We'll be looking to see if any Elizabeth jewels end up on the red carpet on Sunday.

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Tags: diamonds, elizabeth taylor, ElizabethTaylor, jewels, red carpet

What's in a Name?

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

A rose by any other name would still be a rose, but if you called it Elvis, you could certainly charge a lot more for it. Celebrity names and images have a lot of selling power because they provide instant recognizability; they are their own brands. Business Week determined the worth of the names of 13 celebrities. Two on the list have sold the rights to their names almost entirely, three are deceased, but still making a large amount of money annually, and the rest of the people are still building up their price tags.