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Birth of an Icon: Mercedes-Benz Releases Special-Edition CL550

Some logos are a dime a dozen, but some stand the test of time. Mercedes-Benz' iconic three-pointed star definitely falls in the latter category, standing out as one of the most highly recognized emblems in the world, inside or outside the automotive industry. As well it should be: it's been around for a hundred years. Back in 1909, Daimler registered the patent on the logo, and a few weeks later in the same year, Benz did the same with theirs. A century later, Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the only way it knows how: with an even more exclusive edition of one of its most high-end luxury coupes.

The "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" is a special package that can be ordered, in limited quantities, on the V8-powered CL coupe. Sold overseas as the CL500, in North America it's labeled the CL550 and comes standard with the company's proprietary 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Special touches for the special edition include a custom interior featuring tan leather with contrasting dark grey touches, from the top-stitching to the carpeting and headliner. The exterior is painted a special dark grey as well, and comes with unique five-spoke 20-inch wheels and a new ground-effects aerodynamics package. Pricing hasn't been announced for the United States, but in its home market, Mercedes is charging a substantial €17,850 ($23k) premium for the special edition, on top of the €132 base price.

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Lacoste Loses To Dental Firm Over the Croc

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Bad news for Lacoste this week. It recently lost a lawsuit to a dental group it had sued for using a crocodile logo it said was said too similar to the clothing firm's famous croc. Who knows how the large French company even found out about the The Dental Practice in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England? But the UK Intellectual Property Office dismissed the claim that its use of the logo could potentially harm Lacoste's business. Lacoste must pay £1,450 towards the dentist's legal costs. One has to wonder why the large company took on the small dentist firm, especially when there is a world of counterfeit merchandise to battle against.

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Tags: crocodile, england, lacoste, logo

Rebadging Adds a Luxe Look to Cars

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Naming your Porsche is one thing, but the line must be drawn somewhere, since more and more car buyers want to pass their cars off as something they're not. We're not talking about body kits and fresh paint, but about buying the manufacturer's emblems from more expensive cars to try to make their own seem more impressive. This isn't necessarily a new concept, but apparently automakers don't have a problem selling the parts. Mercedes dealers sell the lettering and logos that indicate "cars are the high-end AMG version for about $65" and the GM of the country's top-selling dealership says that 1-2% of all buyers "ask to have their car rebadged." High performance companies, like Shelby Automobiles and Saleen, on the other hand, aren't about to risk their reputations by selling their various indicators of authenticity, so not every brand is available for purchase.

No one who knows their wheels is going to blink twice at an obviously mis-branded vehicle, so the question remains as to who these buyers think they're fooling? Most likely, the answer is themselves.

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Tags: brand, car, cars, dealers, emblem, logo, logos, mercedes

Dior St. Germain Mini Flap Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The huge Dior logo plaque on the front of the St. Germain Mini Flap Bag reminds me of the large-buckled logo belts that we started to see a few months ago. The belts seemed to be primarily for men, so perhaps bags like this one are just fashion's way of keeping things even. This bag measures only 10" x 4.5" x 3" and is made of smooth, supple leather in either black or a golden tan. All the hardware, including the logo shield, is silver. The bag has a logo fabric lining, one zipped pocket and is secured with a magnetic snap that is hidden by the front flap. Price: $795.

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Tags: bag, christian dior, dior, flap bag, handbag, handbag of the day, logo, mini

Prada Logo Belts

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

At one point, belts were a necessary, but understated, part of a man's wardrobe. This season, it looks like designers are trying to call more attention to them by adding logo buckles that could almost rival champion rodeo buckles. Dsquared2 seems to have the most visually arresting "status belts," but Prada's Logo Belts ($295)are a bit more refined, with large oval buckles that feature a tastefully engraved rendition of the designer's logo. A better choice, for those who want to stay with the trend in a more subtle way, is Prada's Plaque Buckle Belt ($260), which has a rectangular silver buckle with a small black logo.

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Tags: accessories, belt, belts, logo, men, men's apparel, plaque, prada, status belt

SoHo Optic Applique Lunch Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

This bag is from the same spring line that produced the Mattie Wedge Sandal and I just can't get enough of that adorable appliqued bee! He is again featured on this beautiful Coach tote. The SoHo Optic Applique Lunch Tote has a metallic, summery sheen to its white, logo-print fabric and the leather trim is lightweight, so it won't weight the bag down as you are out in the heat. The tote also comes in a lilac fabric, with a purple bug detail instead of a bee. Price: $348.