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John Lobb's Luxe New Shoes and Boots for Fall

The fall line from John Lobb, bootmaker to British royalty since the 1860s and fashioner of what is arguably the world's finest men's footwear, isn't due to arrive in stores for another couple of weeks - but we have an exclusive preview for you. 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.

Handmade from the finest quality full grain leathers, Lobb shoes "combine heritage, tradition and modernity" with distinction and elegance. The new ready-to-wear line features classic oxfords and monk straps, jodphur boots, riding boots (like the Hellesdon model in tan brown shire calf pictured here) and suede chukka boots, some available in a striking crimson red. Of course if money is no object, the company (which is now owned by Hermes) also offers bespoke services. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: John Lobb's Fall Line

Ashill in black Oxford calf.Watton in dark brown suede.Romsey in red suede.Terrefort riding boot in black and tan calf.The Lobb shop in London.

Hermes, Dior & Louis Vuitton vs. eBay

In recent fashion news a French court ruled in favor of Hermes in a case they brought against eBay that involved the sales of fake handbags. This case set precedent and although the punitive fines involved are relatively small, the outcome of the case undoubtedly has eBay a little worried. The verdict directly challenges eBay's argument that it is not directly responsible for what is sold on its web site. Did I mention Tiffany & Co., Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton all have similar cases in the works against eBay! In response, eBay has said it takes counterfeiting very seriously and points to the steps it has taken since the case was first launched to improve its anti-counterfeiting measures. I'm interested to see the outcome of all this and I wonder if consumers will notice any changes in online auction policies as a result.

Hermes to Open First Ever Men's-Only Store in NYC


French luxury powerhouse Hermes will open a men's-only store, the first of its kind in the world, across from its Madison Avenue flagship in NYC this fall. The 6,000-sq.-ft. space, designed by Rena Dumas of the architectural firm RDAI in Paris, will carry the brand's entire range of men's leather goods, watches, clothing, sportswear and accessories, and will have a full floor devoted to custom and made-to-measure merchandise, DNR reports. As my colleague Deidre Woollard related earlier this month, Hermes recently announced that first-quarter sales increased 13.4 percent to 415.1 million euros, or approx. $621.7 million. Sales in the Americas were up 23 percent. Men's merchandise accounts for 45 percent of the luxury brand's total sales, DNR notes. Last June, the company opened a 5,000-square-foot shop in New York's financial district with an emphasis on menswear, catering to the Wall St. crowd.

Gallery: The World of Hermes

An Hermes window display in NY.Classic orange Hermes boxes.The Bugatti Veyron Hermes edition.An Hermes ad campaign.A men's runway look.

Hermes Reports Strong First Quarter Sales


Gucci may have hit a bump in the road but luxury French leather goods retailer Hermes is still going strong. The company has announced that first-quarter sales accelerated 13.4 percent to 415.1 million euros, or $621.7 million at average exchange rates. The company has seen strong performances in all categories and area. Sales in the Americas are up 23 percent, partially due to the new Wall Street location that opened last June. Sales in Japan are up 4.2 percent. The firm has maintained its guidance of 10 percent organic sales growth for the full year. Hermes plans to open or expand 25 branches this year with their first location opening in New Delhi's Oberoi hotel next week.

The numbers from Hermes echo similar strong numbers from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Compagnie Financiere Richemont, Burberry and Swatch which seems to indicate that the upper end of the luxury market is still fairly secure. Hermes has, for the most part, kept their product range small and pricey which seems to be a good strategy in this market where the rich are still spending but the upper middle class are starting to watch their money more carefully.

Ostrea Marine Ltd. Edition "Le Nantucket" Luxury Boat


The luxe motorboat designed by Ostrea Marine with Parisian luxury leathergoods maker Lancel, which debuted at the recent Paris Boat Show, has gone on sale in a limited edition of 25 with a $236,000 pricetag. The 25-foot "Le Nantucket" is designed to adapt the amenities of a classically-designed luxury yacht to a craft suitable for use on rivers and lakes.

The 120-h.p. diesel engine enables the vessel to hit 25 knots, and it comes equipped with a canopy, chemical toilet and the usual nautical knickknacks. The real beauty of the boat however lies in its interior and detailing, including the kind of leatherwork usually only found on an Hermès bag. Complimenting the abundance of wood, leather and chrome are LCD displays, a Bose sound system, and an integrated iPod so you can cruise to your favorite tunes.

[via Goldarth's]

Gallery: Le Nantucket Luxury Canoe

Le NantucketTop downHandsome sternCabin interiorLeatherwork detail

Checking Out The Wings of Hermes


Luxury retailer Hermes has launched their new online magazine. Les Ailes d'Hermes (the Wings of Hermes) is a new interactive experience that showcases the product range in a bunch of different ways. I played around with it recently and while some of the windows are intriguing (looking at coral-emblazoned accessories set in water through a porthole like window is a charming touch) the site is not for those with short attention spans. If you know what you are looking for and want to see it quickly this is probably not the part of Hermes you are looking for. But if you are in a browsing mood and interested in seeing some of the more unique products in the line this is a fun place to explore. Click on a ripe apple and you are led to a bright green bag, the perfect shape to hold one apple, with a paring knife set into the strap.

Other sections of the site are illustrated with classic drawings and invite you to explore iconic objects in the Hermes history. It's an attractive site but the quality of the photography and illustrations leads to some slow loading time and the menu isn't exactly intuitive. The site manages to be both modern and old-fashioned at the same time, which is sort of the essence of Hermes, a brand that has fought very hard to maintain their traditional past and still appeal to today's customer.

[via Vogue UK]

Bugatti Veyron Fbg by Hermes


Bugatti -- the name alone conjures luxurious dreams but when paired with Hermes it just might make your head spin! Together they make a beautiful couple in one sexy car -- the Bugatti Veyron Fbg by Hermes. With the "H" logo on all four wheels and "Hermes" engraved on the fuel door it might sound a bit ostentatious but when it costs more than $2 million what kind of harm do a couple of extra labels really do. Seen at the Geneva 2008 Motor Show I'm sure it turned plenty of heads... for more ogling see the photos below.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Fbg by Hermes

Hermes Makes Carbon Fiber Fabulous


Hermes is known for their beautiful items from scarves to handbags, gloves to clothing, and this briefcase is no different. With a carbon fiber outercase, leather lined interior and handle, and 18K gold plated locks and classic styling, this is a case with a certain air of sophistication. Two sizes to choose from and an option for engraving your initials it is a sure way to arrive at the office with style in hand. Priced at $16,000 with only 500 cases made, the Hermes Carbon Fiber Briefcase is a chic career carrying case for CEO's and cardiologists alike.

Designers Bet Big On Pricey Scents


If you are anything like me, you may have found yourself completely burned out on perfume. Lately I've found that many fragrances have seemed to be too synthetic and sweet, bubblegum scents that hit the skin and quickly dissipate. It turns out that I am not alone, the Wall Street Journal has a great piece on the changing fragrance world. Many high-end brands who have, in the past few years, been catering to the masstige market by creating fragrances at the lower price point are now taking a different approach because the sales of the perfumes have been dropping off. Instead, companies like Chanel and Prada have launched ultra-exclusive scents that use pricey ingredients and have richer, more evocative fragrance profiles.

A quick sampling:
--Tom Ford created his Private Blend, a line of 12 fragrances that run from the frankly floral to more masculine smells like tobacco and cedar.
--Chanel created their Les Exclusifs line of six signature scents that had perfume lovers raving.
--Hermès has a new line of unique perfumes called Hermessence, like the other designer lines, this one moves into new ground with scents like the lavender-and-licorice-smelling Brin de Réglisse.
--Giorgio Armani's Privé line costs $185 a bottle and lures purchasers not just with ingredients bergamot, neroli and vetiver but with those sexy bottles made of African kotibe wood and caps that look jade, moonstone, amethyst and other gemstones.

These scents aren't exactly making big profits yet but the companies are hopeful that they will have more staying power with consumers than some of the cheaper, more forgettable designer brands. One thing that the WSJ article doesn't mention but which I would guess is also a factor is that each of these lines isn't just one signature fragrance, but a set. And the idea of owning a complete set, especially that looks as pretty as the Armani line shone above, may lure scent lovers to collect the whole line rather than just one bottle.

Just How Much Does Victoria Beckham Spend on Handbags?

England's The Daily Mail has a fun piece on just how much some top celebs are spending on handbags. There aren't any Americans on the list but one recent transplant to the U.S., our favorite free-spending Spice Girl tops the list. According to the piece Victoria Beckham has been spotted this year toting around an astounding £23,625 in purses. And that's just seven bags, I am pretty certain Posh Spice has a lot more bags than that in her closet. The number shown at right, a little purple Hermes clutch to match the purple and silver dress she wore to the Marc Jacobs show in September cost a cool £3,000.

By comparison, Kate Moss came in with just £11,390 in pricey bags. I'd love to see a list of American celebs with a bag addiction. Who would top the list? Now that Lindsay Lohan is reportedly broke I would guess that either Paris Hilton or perhaps one of the Olsen twins with their endless parade of giant Balenciega bags might top that list.

Hermes Dressage Quantieme Annuel Watch


This classic beauty is the Hermes Dressage Quantieme Annuel. The watch is being issued to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the company famous for its orange boxes, extravagant scarves and iconic must-haves like the Birkin bag. The watch has a 40mm case in 18K rose or white gold with front and back sapphire crystals. The movement is the automatic Vaucher Fleurier caliber H1930 with 32 jewels, beating at 28,800 bph and a power reserve of 55 hours.

Leiber Voted Most Prestigious Handbag Brand


Since 1953, every American First Lady has carried a custom-made Leiber handbag to the Presidential Inauguration. Over the years, Judith Leiber's hand-crafted bejeweled creations have found their way into the permanent collections of The Smithsonian Institute, the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as the hands of discriminating women everywhere. It is therefore no surprise that Leiber handbags were named the most prestigious handbag brand in the Luxury Institute's 2007 Luxury Brand Status Index survey. The index surveys 783 high-net worth consumers with an average income of $305,000 per year and an average net worth of $2.2 million. In particular, women over 45 with a net worth greater than $5 million gave high marks to the elegant Leiber handbag. In the survey, which included 26 high-end labels, Hermès and Prada also rose to the top, coming in second and third, respectively.

The Hermes Helicopter


If the black-and-white Versace helicopter wasn't your color scheme check out l'Hélicoptère par Hermès, a Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter designed by the French luxury brand in rich brown with classic Hermes orange accents. The EC135 is a twin engined multimission helicopter which can hold five passengers plus a pilot and luggage. The gorgeous interior has Hermès calf leather seats and leather trimmed controls and the entire cabin is enclosed in Hermès canvas and comes with binoculars so the passengers can view the scenery from above. I particularly love the neat little cubbies for your reading material. Certification is expected by next summer and there are already several interested buyers but they will have to wait until next October for their new toy.

[via Sybarites]

Gallery: Hermes Helicopter

Hermes Garden Party Tote, Handbag of the Day

Everyone needs a basic black anything - whether a dress, pair of shoes, or a coat. And of course every woman needs a basic black handbag. Whether it is for work, play or travel. Or, if you can find a black handbag that is functional and stylish for all three areas of your life, that is an added bonus. Seen here is Hermes Garden Party Tote made of sturdy canvas and accented with grain leather. Although minimal in its wow factor, the Garden Party Tote makes that up with its functionality. It's lightweight, yet strong enough to use daily for work and travel without the worry of wear and tear. The rolled leather double handles are comfortable when carrying and will not dig into the palm of your hands. This is one item you should not do without. Bag dimensions: 17" W x 16" H x 5 1/2" D. Handle drop: 4 1/2". Price $1575

Marcela Calvet Honoré II, Handbag of the Day


There isn't a trendy our outrageous bag in Marcela Calvet's entire collection. Instead, her bags stand out for the obvious quality craftsmanship and their French-inspired beauty. The Honoré II is her homage to Hermès Paris, combining elegant design with exotic skins. Made from South American Ostrich in a rich Pampas Saddle color, this hand-made bag features gold-plated solid brass hardware, a simple flap closure and brass feet. Lined in Argentine calf with an adjustable shoulder strap, the bag measures 10"W by 8"H x 4"D. $3,200.

[thanks, Lara]

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