exotic leather

Dunhill Alligator Skin Hiking Boots

Among the entrancing items on display at London luxury goods firm Dunhill's new temporary installation space in Manhattan's Meatpacking District is this pair of striking hiking boots finished in dark green genuine alligator skin. Perhaps not terribly practical for actual outdoor expeditions they're nonetheless extremely dashing. Designed to evoke Bourdon House, the Dunhill flagship in London set in a historic mansion that was formerly the residence of the Duke of Westminster, the installation features key pieces from the Dunhill archives alongside new items from the Autumn / Winter 2010 collection. The collection was inspired by a gentleman adventurer from the 1920s with exceedingly good taste, dubbed the "Radical Englishman Abroad." Just the sort of chap to sport a pair of green gator boots.

[via Style Salvage]

Tags: alligator, boots, Dunhill, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, London

The $50,000 Dunhill Gentleman's Games Chest

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

For a cool $50,0000 London luxury goods firm Dunhill will furnish the modern gentleman with an exquisite games set finished in exotic shagreen, made from the skin of male stingrays. The Shagreen Games Compendium is handmade by expert artisans exclusively for Alfred Dunhill and is inspired by pieces in the Dunhill archive. The games chest is formed using cedar wood and then covered in the very finest grey shagreen leather and elegantly trimmed with ebony with stainless steel hardware. The shagreen provides a protective element as it is remarkably durable. The Compendium contains shagreen-embellished chess, backgammon and noughts & crosses boards with all counters and pieces finished in sterling silver. A bottom tray houses two packs of Dunhill playing cards, poker dice, bridge score cards and Dunhill pencils.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: cards, Dunhill, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, games, London, shagreen

Alexander McQueen Ostrich Leather Skull Wallet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Bad boy British designer Alexander McQueen has come out with one of the most exclusive men's accessories he's ever produced, an exotic ostrich leather wallet with an embossed skull. Priced at about $500, the piece is finished in genuine brown ostrich skin with protective metal edging and a black leather interior. Inside are four credit card slots, a coin compartment and two banknote pockets. Ostrich leather is highly prized for its soft finish and recognizable pattern of quill sockets. McQueen, who often uses skulls in his designs, also offers the motif on shirts, sweaters, scarves, cufflinks, belts and rings, a macabre trend which New York magazine notes is on the rise.

Tags: Alexander McQueen, AlexanderMcqueen, British fashion, BritishFashion, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, ostrich, skull, UK

John Lobb Alligator Monk-Strap Shoes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style

John Lobb, bootmaker to British royalty since the 1860s and fashioner of what is arguably the world's finest men's footwear, is offering an ultra-luxurious pair of made-to-measure alligator double monk-strap shoes as part of its Spring 2010 collection. The shoes are made from naturally aged Australian salt water alligator yielding a thick, extremely durable hide that will age better than lesser skins. Glove leather lining, a hand-applied finish, leather soles plied together via a painstaking "sunk by stones, soaked in water" process, and hand-stitched boar fur threads distinguish this as footwear par excellence. A matching billfold is also available. Lobb, founded in 1849, received its first Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales in 1863. Aside from sovereigns and heads of state, Lobbs have long been the favored footwear of fops including Cole Porter, Cecil Beaton, Hugh Grant and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Tags: alligator, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, John Lobb, JohnLobb, UK

Brooks Brothers Crocodile Luggage & Accessories

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Classic clothier Brooks Brothers is making a foray into high-end luxury goods with its new line of genuine crocodile luggage and accessories for men. The ultra-luxe, elegant and understated collection consists of five pieces: a Crocodile Weekender duffel bag (above); matching Crocodile Flap Briefcase; a Crocodile Travel Bag; an Alligator Journal; and an Alligator Eyeglass Case. The last two are finished in fine alligator skin; all the bags feature brass hardware. The Weekender retails for $15,000; the Briefcase for $10,000; the Travel Bag for $3,000; the Journal for $3,000; and the Eyeglass Case for $1,000. Altogether the five pieces come to $32,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: alligator, briefcase, Brooks Brothers, BrooksBrothers, crocodile, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, luggage

$157,000 Bottega Veneta Alligator Luggage Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you travel by private jet, there's no need to worry about your luggage getting beaten up in transit. Hence you can use a set of beautifully handmade cases crafted from the world's finest exotic leather. At least, we assume that's the rationale behind Bottega Veneta's outrageously opulent set of alligator skin luggage. The six piece set, which includes three suitcases (small, medium and large), a beauty case and a duffle bag, costs $157,000; the pieces are also available individually, ranging from $23,000 to $47,000. All are finished in noce fume rich brown soft-finished alligator skin and feature burnished metal hardware with reinforced corners and locking mechanisms. And of course if you're traveling by private jet you can afford it.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: alligator, Bottega Veneta, BottegaVeneta, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, luggage, private jet, PrivateJet, suitcase

Cole Haan Ostrich Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Cole Haan handbags have been a longtime favorite of mine. Especially after being able to work there for a year and gain intimate knowledge on their line, construction and craftsmanship. Of their entire collection, the Cole Haan Collection line encompasses their most impressive, sophisticated and fashion forward handbags, shoes, coats and accessories. Featured here is their Ostrich Tote. It has a simple silhouette yet the exotic leather and punchy orange color adds an air of uniqueness that makes you look twice. It features double leather handles, very minimal gold accents, interior pockets and suede lining. Bag dimensions: 19"L x 13"H x 5"D. Price: $2700.

Source

Tags: Cole Haan Ostrich Tote, ColeHaanOstrichTote, double handles, DoubleHandles, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, orange

Louis Vuitton Alligator Officer's Jacket

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Every season it seems the European fashion houses try to outdo each other with one incredibly decadent item of men's clothing; despite the recession it seems this year is no different. We've seen Salvatore Ferragamo's $250,000 crocodile trench coat and Hermès' $150,000 crocodile pea coat; now here's an alligator officer's jacket from Louis Vuitton's Fall/Winter 2009/10 collection recently shown in Paris. Louis Vuitton mens design director Paul Helbers described the collection as inspired by "the traveling wardrobe of an African king." The jacket has not been priced yet is expected to sell for somewhere in the $50,000 - $75,000 range, and will probably only be available by special order.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: alligator, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, LouisVuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, SalvatoreFerragamo

Ralph Lauren Alligator Driving Loafers

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style

Ralph Lauren is continuing his theme of ultra-luxe accessories in go-to-hell colors with his latest offering for men, the Garda Alligator Driver (above). The classic Italian driving shoe is given a stylish twist in brilliantly-hued genuine alligator skin with equestrian hardware. The loafers come in five colors: Emerald Green, Cherry Red, Marine Blue, Purple, and Black, and are priced at $3,800 a pair. For an additional $920, you can also get a matching alligator skin belt (available in most of the same colors) with an engravable sterling silver buckle. Lauren has also made belts and boots in vivid alligator for women, but it's in the men's items that these colors really pop.

Tags: Alligator, Exotic leather, ExoticLeather, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren

Men's Exotic Skin Items, From Luxury Accessories Intl.

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

New York City-based Luxury Accessories International (LAI) began as a leather importer in New York in 1953, importing crocodile skins from South America and selling them to makers of shoes, handbags, and other leather goods. In 1971 the company expanded the range of skins to include python from Indonesia, ostrich from South Africa, and lizard from South America. Today, the company makes a variety of high-end products for men and women, but I'm going to focus on the men. Where to begin? Belts, bags, a flask, a watch box, portfolios, wallets ... all custom dyed all over the world and made with skins selected by hand for cutting at the LAI manufacturing house in Long Island City, N.Y. Orders are individually cut and sewn, and often customized, but the LAI boutique at 35 E. 65th St., NYC, offers custom pieces.

You know something's expensive when every piece on the Web site is followed by: "To purchase, please contact the LAI Boutique: 212-794-3874." So I can't help you with pricing, but if you see something you like, give LAI a ring. See the gallery for a few of the beautiful pieces.

Gallery: Luxury Accessories for Men

Tags: animal skins, AnimalSkins, bag, bags, belt, belts, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, flask, flasks, leather, mens accessories, mens fashion, MensAccessories, MensFashion

Eels, Ostriches, Stingrays Oh My!, Handbag of the Day

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Handbag lovers know that it doesn't get any more luxurious and chic than exotic skins. There is a certain quality, natural texture and unique beauty that one finds in exotic leathers. Elison Pickett and Chad Ypon, the husband and wife design team of The Divine Tribe, are able to capture this natural beauty while manipulating skins from eels, ostriches, lamb and stingrays, to create a line of handbags that are truly one of a kind. Ranging in price of $200 to $1600, each wallet, clutch, tote and shoulder bag are handcrafted and fashionably styled to go above and beyond trends. Featured here is the Bulsa Bag. Made from eel and ostrich with hand stitched detail, hidden magnetic closure and multiple interior and exterior pockets, The Divine Tribe shows us how form, function and high fashion is one amazing combination. Dimensions: 16" x 10" x 3". Price: $715 and $915.

Gallery: Eels, Ostriches, Bears Oh My!