france

Hermes Mahogany & Leather Valet Stand

The famed French luxury goods house of Hermès has come out with the ultimate accessory for the world's best-dressed gentlemen -- a valet stand in solid mahogany, fine leather and brass with ebony detailing.

The luxe piece, designed to accommodate a full suit of gentleman's clothing and accessories, is a limited edition re-issue of a classic item created for Hermès in 1930 by famed French decorator and designer Paul Dupré-Lafon. The original was sold by Sotheby's at its Art Nouveau & Art Deco Design sale in Paris in 2007 for about $65,000.

Tags: Art Deco, bespoke, cufflinks, France, gentlemens accessories, Hermès, Hermes, hermes valet stand, hermes+valet+stand, hermesvaletstand, leather, luxury goods, mahogany, mahogany+mens+valet+stand, mahoganymensvaletstand, mens accessories, mens clothing, mens Hermes, mens style, suit, valet stand, vintage Hermes

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Chocolatier Michel Cluizel Debuts Latest Creations in New York

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

With two generations of haute French chocolate making in the house (founder Michel Cluizel and son/CEO Marc), Chocolat Michel Cluizel unveiled its latest confections in New York. An animated Marc Cluizel welcomed the rain-soaked group to the family's Fifth Avenue shop, the only other Chocolat Michel Cluizel retail location other than the Parisian original.

Tags: chocolate, france, michel cluizel, new york city, park avenue

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1930s Bespoke Gentleman's Spirits Case from Goyard

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Men's Style, The Classicist

An elegant 1930s bespoke gentleman's spirits case from Goyard, the luxurious Parisian luggage maker founded in 1853, is being offered for sale by New York's Mantiques Modern for $2,800. Custom made for a connoisseur who wanted to be sure of always having his favorite tipple ready to hand while gallivanting around the globe, the handmade monogrammed case is crafted of fine pigskin with brass hardware. Inside it features two sizable silver plated flasks and a set of four silver tumblers in fitted compartments. When fastened it resembles a briefcase. Goyard has long had a devoted clientele of celebrities and royalty. Aristocrats such as the Grand Duke of Russia, the Maharajah of Kapurthala and the Duke of Windsor all traveled with Goyard luggage.

Gallery: 1930s Goyard Spirits Case

Tags: 1930s, antiques, bespoke, briefcase, flasks, France, Goyard, leather luggage, luggage, Mantiques Modern, mens style, New York, Paris, silver, spirits, vintage luggage

Art, Style & Culture: Paris Between the Wars

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Books

Paris Between the Wars: A Cultural Crucible

A brilliant new book, Paris Between the Wars, 1919-1939: Art, Life & Culture by Vincent Bouvet and Gérard Durozoi from The Vendome Press explores the myriad cultural forces which collided in the City of Light during the two decades between World Wars I and II. Over those 20 years artists and intellectuals flocked to Paris from around the world, resulting in a crucible of creativity that wrought great achievements in fashion, graphic design, architecture, literature, fine arts, theater and more. Illustrated with hundreds of paintings, drawings, archival photographs, advertising posters, film stills, and plans, the book travels between the bohemian charms of Montparnasse, which attracted artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Giacometti, and the vibrant café culture which provided a forum and hunting ground for Dadaists, Surrealists and expatriate writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald.

Gallery: Paris Between the Wars

Tags: architecture, art, books, coffee table books, culture, fashion, France, Hemingway, literature, Paris, paris+between+the+wars, parisbetweenthewars, photographs, Picasso

One-Of-A-Kind Remy Martin Louis XIII Decanter for Sale at $70,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

One-Of-a-Kind Remy Martin Louis XIII Decanter for Sale at $70,000

On March 12 in Singapore the renowned House of Rémy Martin will offer a unique decanter of its famed Louis XIII cognac (above) from the 1930s for sale at about $70,000. The precious elixir will be on offer at the Master of Spirits event organized by DFS, one of the world's leading travel retailers, in partnership with Changi Airport. The Baccarat crystal decanter contains Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu cognac dating back to the mid-19th Century, a crown jewel of the House of Rémy Martin.

The decanter, certified by the Rémy Martin's cellar master Pierrette Trichet, was created from a series of carafes that were served as part of a royal banquet in 1938 at the château de Versailles in the presence of His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. It comes presented in a unique seamless full-grain leather and rare wood box set. In addition, Rémy Martin will offer for sale two of the last remaining carafes of Louis XIII Rare Cask and one magnum decanter of Louis XIII Black Pearl at the prestigious event.

Tags: Asia, Baccarat, brandy, cognac, decanter, France, Louis XIII, Louis XIII Black Pearl, Louis XIII cognac, Queen Elizabeth, rare spirits, Rémy Martin, Remy Martin Black Pearl, Remy Martin Louis XIII, royalty, Singapore, spirits, Versailles

EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Lauren to Exhibit Car Collection Classics for the First Time

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, The Classicist, Architecture & Design

Ralph Lauren to Exhibit Car Collection Classics for the First Time

Images exclusive to Luxist, courtesy of Ralph Lauren; click for high-res gallery

Some of the most precious gems in famed fashion designer Ralph Lauren's incredible car collection will be exhibited for the the first time ever in Paris this spring. Lauren's collection, in our opinion the finest one in private hands on the planet, features impeccable examples of the rarest and most valuable vehicles in the world. We can reveal exclusively that four of his exquisite automotive works of art, which have never before been seen in public, will be on view at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from April 28 – August 28: a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM; a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti; a 1956/1958 Jaguar XKSS; and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300.

13 other Lauren cars will also be on display during the exhibit, entitled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection, including an amazing 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (above), a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupé. The last two alone are worth about $30 – $40 million each, and are among the world's most expensive cars. The Paris exhibit will focus on European models created between the 1930s and the 1990s, "illustrating the evolution of car design in the 20th Century." They were selected by curator Rodolphe Rapetti and will be arranged by scenographer Jean-Michel Wilmotte, with the "kinetics" and sound of the vehicles conveyed by means of various films and recordings. The museum will also be producing a luxe book to celebrate the occasion.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren's Cars Headed to Paris

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Bentley, billionaire, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Bugatti, car collection, car design, celebrity cars, classic cars, designer, exclusive, exhibit, exhibition, fashion design, fashion designer, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GTO, ferrari+250+gt, ferrari250gt, France, Jaguar, McLaren, mens style, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, museum, museum show, Paris, Porsche, Ralph Lauren, ralph+lauren+car+collection, ralph+lauren+cars, ralph+laurens+car+collection, ralphlaurencarcollection, ralphlaurencars, ralphlaurenscarcollection, supercars, The Classicist, worlds most expensive, worlds most expensive car, worlds most expensive cars

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France's Faconnable Launches Jeans Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

France's Faconnable Launches Jeans Collection

French fashion label Façonnable, born from a tailor's atelier in Nice in the 1950s, has always been one of our favorite men's style staples. Now the company, which is committed to innovation, quality fabrics, impeccable cuts and singular details, is launching a new line called Façonnable Jeans, adding a contemporary spin to its portfolio. Inspired by the relaxed lifestyle of the Côte d'Azur, Façonnable Jeans offers the best of the world of denim while adhering to the principles of fine tailoring the brand is known for.

Refined stitching; the finest materials such as Japanese chambray; and contemporary fits distinguish the new collection, while prewashing and hand finishing guarantee a soft feel and unique patina. The new collection encompasses more than just jeans to round out the wardrobe, including khakis, washed cotton polos and T-shirts, and various styles of jackets, along with stylish accessories such as pocket squares and handmade ties, shoes, bags, belts, scarves, caps and boxer shorts.

Gallery: Faconnable Jeans Collection

Tags: Apparel, Denim, Façonnable, Faconnable, Fashion, France, Jeans, Mens Clothing, Mens Style, Nice, Shoes, Tailoring, Ties

The $40,000 Lobster Press at the Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets, Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's never too early to start thinking about outfitting your beach house, so might I suggest that The Regent Grand Hotel in Bordeaux, France, offers an idea worth copying.

If you love to eat those delightful sea crustaceans, and who doesn't, you will want to do like the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Pressoir d'Argent, and acquire a lobster press.

There aren't very many of these devices in the world -- it's 90 pounds, made of silver, and looks like a cross between something Willy Wonka might dream up and a torture device -- but it's also shiny and adorned with lovely lobster sculptures as it's meant to be used tableside.

The idea is similar to a duck press -- after removing tail and claws, the rest of the lobster is inserted into the press, where a two-person team works the device to press out the lobster juices. (See the gallery for an action shot.) The result: lobster jus, much stronger in flavor than you'd get from the most developed lobster stock. At The Regent, the chef adds the jus to bearnaise sauce, and serves that on top of roasted lobster meat.

The lobster press is are custom made by Christofle, and take 150 hours of labor by ten master craftsmen to create -- they cost 30,000 Euro, just or around $40,700.

Or you can just book a table at the restaurant, and after such grand meal, you'll certainly require a room. It's hard to beat the view at the Royale Suite, which has a terrace jacuzzi -- but I like the Prestige Suites, which come with their own private wine bar within rolling distance of (the very comfy) bed.

Which, come to think of it, is another fine idea for your beach house.

Gallery: The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux, France

The Lobster Press in Action at Le Pressoir d'Argent

Lounge Area at Le Pressoir d'Argent, Bordeaux

Dining at Le Pressoir d'Argent: The colors are a bit more subtle at night

Another View of the Dining Room at the Michelin Starred Le Pressoir d'Argent

Tags: bordeaux, bordeaux hotel, france, kitchen gadgets, lobster, travel

Killy, Luxe Ski Wear from a Stylish Olympic Champion

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style

Killy, Luxe Ski Wear from a Stylish Olympic Champion

Jean-Claude Killy won all three ski events at the 1968 Winter Olympics, worked as a stuntman in James Bond films, appeared in Rolex ads, raced sports cars and was tapped as one of GQ's 50 most stylish men of the last 50 years. Until now we didn't know that he also has an eponymous line of luxe ski wear. Born in the French Alps, elegance, comfort and performance are the key focuses of the Killy brand. French designers, cutting edge fabrics, sporty laser cuts and color hits adorn what are otherwise very practical weatherproof garments for both men and women. The quality and style of each Killy ski piece is designed to "embody the exacting demands and spirit of Killy, the man himself." Recently merged with the leading French outdoor group Lafuma, which also owns the famed Le Chameau boot brand, look for Killy to make even more of an impression in the future.

Gallery: Killy Ski Wear

Tags: clothing, France, GQ, Jean-Claude Killy, Killy, Le Chameau, Olympics, Rolex, ski, skiing, sports, winter sports

Mini Cooper Mat Edition Exclusive to France

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Mini Cooper Mat Edition exclusive to France

If you're a fan of the Mini Cooper but don't care much for glossy paint jobs, and happen to live in France, your chariot may well have arrived. Mini has unveiled a special, limited edition of the premium hatchback called the Mat Edition. It can be ordered with any of three different engines (standard, turbo or diesel) and features a matte black vinyl wrap, along with special side vents and checkerboard wing mirrors for a unique look. Only 250 examples will be offered exclusively in France, carrying a €2,800 ($3,800) premium over the existing model.

Tags: cooper, france, mini, mini cooper, Mini Cooper Mat Edition, Mini Mat Edition

Gwyneth's Favorite Female Chef Snags a Second Michelin Star

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Hélène Darroze (above), who runs the chic eatery in her name at London's posh Connaught hotel, has just been awarded a second Michelin star making her the only female chef in the UK with two of the coveted étoiles under her toque. Gwyneth Paltrow, who lived at the Connaught for a month and was a regular visitor to the restaurant while renovating her house in London, is one of Darroze's biggest fans. Reinforcing the legendary Mayfair hotel's 114 year old legacy of fine dining, Darroze, a protegé of Alain Ducasse, has established a loyal following among other notables and gourmets as well with traditional dishes from her native Southwest France combined with the best seasonal ingredients from the British Isles.

Gallery: Helene Darroze at The Connaught

Tags: Alain Ducasse, chef, Connaught, France, Gordon Ramsay, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hélène Darroze, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, London, luxury hotel, Mayfair, Michelin, UK

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Paris Celeb Haunt Le Bristol to Unveil One of World's Most Expensive Suites

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Paris' luxurious Hotel Le Bristol (above), opened in 1925 on the famed rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré, is a favorite of celebs including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Natalia Vodianova. Now, the elegant property is getting ready to to unveil a $33 million revamp that includes an ultra-luxe penthouse suite occupying the top floor, poised to become one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world. The 2,583-square-foot, two bedroom suite encompassing the entire eighth story will feature incredible views of the rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré and the Le Bristol's famed private gardens – the largest of any Parisian hotel. In May, the French-style Le Bristol Spa will double in size to include ten treatment rooms as well as a separate fitness center, while the property's signature Michelin three-star Gastronomic Restaurant will move into a new space featuring expansive views of the hotel's garden, a chef's table and fireplace.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Hotel Le Bristol

Tags: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, France, George Clooney, hotel, Hotel Le Bristol, hotel suites, Le Bristol, Leonardo DiCaprio, luxury hotels, Natalia Vodianova, Paris, penthouse, rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré, Spa, worlds most expensive

The Classicist: Inside the Embassies & Historic Mansions of Paris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books, The Classicist, Wealth, Architecture & Design

Very rarely do any of Paris' remaining private palaces come on the market; when they do the properties invariably rank among the world's most expensive, such as the 1912 mansion built for the Duchesse de Montmorency recently listed at $140 million that we told you about back in November. The reason there is so little movement among these magnificent monuments to wealth lining the famed city's storied avenues is that most are occupied as embassies and ambassadorial residences. An equally magnificent new book, Historic Houses of Paris: Residences of the Ambassadors from Flammarion by Alain Stella with photography by Francis Hammond offers a guided tour of 22 of these amazing edifices, some seen for the first time, most originally built for members of the aristocracy and now the setting for lavish diplomatic entertainments and intrigues.

Gilded halls, formal sitting rooms, stately dining rooms, paneled libraries, perfectly landscaped gardens, chambers filled with rare antiques, luxurious wallcoverings and private living quarters are all examined in delectable detail, in mansions ranging from a 17th-century hôtel particulier to a Belle Epoque palace and even a couple more contemporary examples, now occupied by the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, China, India and more. The cover (above) depicts the Sicilian theater of the incredible Italian Ambassador 's residence, aka the Hotel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville, built in 1732. Some, like the Indian Ambassador's residence, aka the Hotel de Marlborough built in 1910 by architect René Sergent, who also designed Claridge's in London and Rome's Grand Hotel, are named for famous former owners; in this case the Duchess of Marlborough, aka Consuelo Vanderbilt, one of the world's richest and most beautiful women at the time.

Gallery: Historic Houses of Paris

Hotel d'Avaray (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Tags: antiques, architecture, aristocrats, Belle Epoque, books, coffee table books, decor, embassy, estates, France, historic houses, mansion, Paris, politics, real estate, wealth

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France, Germany, UK & Switzerland to Battle for Snow Polo Cup in St. Moritz

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK will battle it out for the top prize at the 27th St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow on January 27–30 in the posh Swiss ski resort. Apparently due to some sort of snafu over sponsorship, unlike previous years when teams competed for the world-famous polo trophy on the frozen Lake St. Moritz under famous names like Cartier, Maserati and Brioni, this year's tournament will be a Nations Cup in which each team represents its patron's country of origin. This year's team patrons are Philipp Maeder for Switzerland, Vivek Rawal for Great Britain, Thomas Wolfensberger representing Germany and François Le Barazer, playing for France. The 2011 St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow will be staged as a high-goal polo tournament, ensuring the action is as fast-paced as ever. We're sure the big brand names will be back next year.

Tags: equestrian, France, Germany, horses, polo, ski resort, snow polo, sports, St. Moritz, Switzerland, UK

The Classicist: Inside a Hundred Legendary Louis Vuitton Trunks

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books, The Classicist

Since 1854, when Monsieur Louis Vuitton opened his first store in Paris, his name has been synonymous with the ultimate in luxurious luggage. His incredible trunks with their now iconic canvas coverings, introduced that same year, combined pragmatism and elegance and were "perfectly adapted to the current means of transport and changes in the lives of his clients." That's the basis of the best luxury book of the year, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks, just published by Abrams, Illustrated with 600 images taken from the Louis Vuitton archives in France and new, specially-commissioned photographs. From trains and ocean liners to the earliest automobiles and even hot air balloons, on journeys to all corners of the globe, the Vuitton trunk has crossed time and borders and remains an icon of the golden age of travel, epitomizing the glamour and elegant decadence of an era when journeying to a foreign land involved adventure, romance and style.

The trunks featured in the incredible book are "extraordinary in every way, for a hundred reasons," writes Patrick-Louis Vuitton, the fifth-generation descendant of Monsieur Vuitton who is now in charge of bespoke orders for the firm, "as much for what they carried as for the work, the care, the inventiveness and the ingenuity required to make them." The 100 featured trunks are divided into five sections according to the people who owned them: Explorers & Adventurers, Crowned Heads & Aristocrats, Dandies & Fashionable Ladies, Artists & Scholars, and Hedonists & Eccentrics. Many a Maharaja, actors from Douglas Fairbanks to Sharon Stone, couturiers from Jeanne Lanvin to Karl Lagerfeld, as well as the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Leopold Stokowski, and Damien Hirst have all traveled with Louis Vuitton trunks, often customized in various ways.

Gallery: Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks