luxury goods

Louis Vuitton Takes London With Massive New Flagship

In a bold recession-defying move, Louis Vuitton just opened a massive new flagship store in London, it most luxurious yet rivaling its famed Paris property on the Champs Elysées. Designed by New York-based architect Peter Marino, who also worked on the Paris store, its most eye-catching feature is a two-story wall of trunks from various decades showcasing the Vuitton tradition of working in leather, alongside a glass and LED staircase. The 15,000-sq.-ft. store is designed to reflect the 21st century mood of London and bring together innovation, heritage and fashion - "all values that are important to Louis Vuitton," Yves Carcelle, Vuitton's chairman and CEO, told the London Telegraph.

Marino conceived the store as the home of a world-class Vuitton collector and connoisseur. The ground floor is devoted to Vuitton accessories and features original artworks from artists like Richard Prince and Takashi Murakami who have collaborated with the famed French luxury goods house in the past. The first floor is devoted to womenswear and shoes, and also houses a library of coffee table books. The store's second floor is a private client suite accessible only by invitation, for celebrities and VIPs, while menswear is located on the lower ground floor. Celebs attending the star-studded opening of the new store included Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Macpherson, Gemma Arterton and Thandie Newton.

Gallery: Louis Vuitton's New London Flagship

Tags: architecture, boutiqe, coffee table books, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst, London, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, LVMH, Peter Marino, Richard Prince, store, Takashi Murakami, trunk

The Classicist: The Mystery of Out of Africa Author Karen Blixen's Hermès Luggage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

Hermès has uncovered a couple of remarkable pieces of bespoke luggage in its archives, made for famed Danish Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dineson, in the 1930s. The Art Deco tobacco-colored crocodile skin cases, one ordered in 1930 and the other in 1935, contain every conceivable article an aristocratic author could need on an arduous journey to Africa. The famed Parisian luxury goods house notes that the more complex of the two took its craftsmen 368 hours to make; both feature fine inlays and engraving, with most pieces adorned with a baroness' crown and the author's DBF monogram for Dineson Blixen-Finecke, a combination of her maiden and married names (her full title was Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke).

The cases feature myriad compartments and leather boxes for spirits, smoking accessories, writing instruments, notepaper, perfume bottles, cosmetics, playing cards, jewelry, small tools, sewing items, brushes and more, with some items finished in sterling silver and tortoiseshell. However, Hermès notes the the items appear to be unused and probably never made it to Kenya, where Blixen established a coffee plantation at the foot of the N'gong Hills; and therein lies something of a mystery. Noting that by December of 1930, when the first case was ordered, Blixen was somewhat down on her luck and preparing to leave Africa, Hermès thinks it unlikely she ordered it for herself and the archives are unclear. Could it perhaps have been intended as a gift from her lover, dashing big game hunter and pilot Denys Finch Hatton?

Gallery: Karen Blixen's Crocodile Hermes Suitcases

Tags: Africa, Art Deco, author, bespoke, crocodile, Denmark, Hermes, Isak Dineson, Karen Blixen, Kenya, luggage, luxury goods, Out of Africa, Paris, suitcase, travel, vintage luggage

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British Reality Show Focuses On The Darker Side of Luxury

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Blood, Sweat, and Tears is the name of a new reality show on the BBC where six rich British teenagers are sent off to the third world countries to see and experience the truth that lurks behind the production of their favorite luxury goods. Off they go to Madagascar to head into the sapphire mines, where they toil away a shovel-ful at a time in an enormous open mine/pit in the desert for £1/day in wages. And there's no whining your way out of it, either -- those that can't hack the blisters, burns, and backaches are sent down into the closed mine, to search for gems in the dark where oxygen has to be pumped in by hand via plastic bag. Yuck.

I haven't been able to watch an episode yet (if you live in the UK you can watch them online here) but I like it -- educational for the kids, viewers, and consumers alike. It could really be eye opening, what do you think?

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Tags: luxury goods, reality tv, television, tv

China's Growing Appetite for Luxury Labels

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

The luxury market in China is booming, so much so it's now the second largest in the world (behind only the United States) and growing 15% more every year. The shoppers in China can't seem to get enough designer labels and premium goods despite high luxury taxes and piracy driving prices up. Shanghai has been particularly indulgent, as have some smaller towns like Shenyang and Harbin, although you might not know it by walking through the mall or visiting a boutique as many high-end shoppers prefer to have the merchandise brought to them from the store. It's not unusual for a single customer to spend upwards of $129,000 in a single sitting.

Although the market is so good that many retailers can't afford not to be there, the Chinese definitely have their favorites and not all brands are faring equally. Among the most successful are Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Calvin Klein, and Cartier.

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Tags: asia, asian markets, china, economy, luxury goods, luxury market, luxury spending china, spending

Luxury Vet to Head JamesList's New Advisory Board

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Stockholm-based global online luxury marketplace JamesList - the place to go when you're in the market for a couple dozen Lamborghini Reventons - has appointed luxury industry veteran Rob Hersov (right) as the chairman of its newly-formed advisory board, consisting of leading figures from the world of private aviation, yachting, luxury cars and high-end watches.

Hersov previously served as vice chairman of NetJets and as a main board member for the Richemont group of world class luxury brands. "JamesList has redefined the global luxury marketplace," he notes. "It offers a unique way to buy and sell the very best luxury products. I am excited about what has been achieved so far and what can be achieved as we grow the business further over the coming months."

JamesList CEO and founder Noam Perski, profiled in our 10 Luxuries feature last month, is equally optimistic. "I am delighted with Rob's appointment," he declares. "His impeccable flare for the luxury market place will be instrumental in growing the JamesList phenomenon. JamesList succeeds because it provides something unique for buyers who are simply interested in owning the best."

Tags: JamesList, luxury goods, Noam Perski, Richemont, Rob Hersov, Sweden

Salon Privé Set for End of July

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Wealth

The Salon Privé, Europe's finest and largest dedicated display of supercars, exotics, classics and luxury goods set up English garden party style, will return to the refined lawns of London's famed Hurlingham Club (above) on 21st – 23rd July 2010. An exclusive selection of jewelry, watches, boats and more will be on offer alongside a seven-category Concours d' Elégance, to be sponsored by Chubb Insurance. Organizers say 2010 promises to be Salon Privé's most popular year yet and a motoring and social occasion unlike any other. Entry to the event is by advance ticket purchase only. Individual tickets as well as private hospitality marquees are available to reserve now; visit www.salonprivelondon.com for more info.

Tags: auto show, AutoShow, Hurlingham, Hurlingham Club, HurlinghamClub, London, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Salon Prive, SalonPrive

Stock up on Jewelry: Hyperinflation on the Way

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Lux Tips

If the fears of hyperinflation are realized, you'll look back with pride on your luxury purchases. All that money you've sunk into custom jewelry and top-of-the-line stones will make you look like an absolute genius. Well, that's the position of South African billionaire Johann Rupert, and I'd take the advice of a guy who can be described that way.

According to Bloomberg News, the told investors, "If we enter hyperinflation, you're going to be so glad that you bought that stuff two months or six months ago." He added, "If inflation picks up, you're going to see people running into your stores, buying high jewelry."

Will inflation cause a mob to form outside the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue? Well, I don't think I'd worry too much about the pushing and shoving, but being ready to throw an elbow probably isn't a bad idea.

Of course, Rupert has something to gain – his company, Richemont, is the world's second largest luxury goods maker (behind LVMH). In his talk with investors in the company controlled by his family, he forecasted "normal growth" with luxury sales showing signs of recovery this month and next.

Tags: billionaire, billionaires, cartier, Fifth Avenue, FifthAvenue, hyperinflation, inflation, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, lvmh, LvmhMoetHennessyLouisVuitton, Richemont, wealthy

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William & Son Granted Royal Warrant

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Celebrity Shopping

William & Son, the luxury goods emporium located in London's elegant Mayfair district founded by William Asprey after his family's business, Asprey of London, was sold off back in the '90s, was recently granted a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II. The firm (which we wrote about last year), offers high-end jewelry, silver, watches, leathergoods, china and crystal, as well as custom-made shotguns and other bespoke services. The Royal Warrant is awarded as a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for at least five years to members of the Royal Family. Warrants have always been regarded as a mark of excellence and quality, and are highly prized. Other firms holding the Royal Warrant include Asprey, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Barbour and Laphroaig.

Tags: alligator, Asprey, Barbour, jewelry, Laphroaig, London, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England, QueenElizabeth, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, shotgun

$3 Million Supercar Stars in UAE Mega Luxury Show

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Men's Style, Wealth

Things may not be going as swimmingly as they once were in the oil rich nations of the UAE, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of people there with disposable incomes the size of some countries' GDPs. In April, Abu Dhabi will host its first Big Boys Toys Super Show, showcasing the world's top luxury products for men, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). So far the star of the show looks like the $3 million Maxximus G-Force supercar (above), a 1600 hp beast billed as the world's fastest street legal automobile capable of 0 - 60 mph in 2.1 seconds. The Big Boy Toys show will be divided into seven "hi-octane zones designed to appeal to anyone with a Y chromosome": Drive, Ride, Off Road, Marine, Aviation, Lifestyle and Wired. It's expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Dubai, Luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Maxximus, Maxximus G-Force, MaxximusG-force, Show, Supercar, UAE

Vogue India Fashion Spread Stirs Controversy

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels

For Vogue India's latest issue, editors decided to shoot some of the country's poorest citizens modeling such luxury goods as a Hermes Birkin bag and a Burberry umbrella. An older woman -- missing her upper teeth -- held a baby wearing a Fendi bib which cost as much as she might earn over a several month period. (Remember most of India still lives on little more than a dollar a day.) The juxtaposition has a number of Vogue readers (and non-readers) astir.

In a place polarized by caste and an exceptionally apparent disparity of wealth, one would think Vogue might have been a little more discreet. Perhaps most infuriating about the photo spread is that Vogue didn't even get the names of the men, women and children posing. They are simply referred to as "lady" or "man" while the cutline goes into great detail about the various objects they model -- people as props, handbags as the main story.

The real shame? That somehow poverty never quite goes out of fashion.

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Tags: bib, burberry, caste system, CasteSystem, fendi, hermes, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, models, poverty, vogue, vogue india, VogueIndia

Asprey Shifts Focus, Ditches Clothing Line

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Asprey, the 200-year-old London luxury goods firm, is dropping its clothing and footwear lines to concentrate on core businesses like jewelry, silver and leathergoods. WWD reports the move is part of an initiative by the company's new President and CEO Robert Procop to shore up the historic brand. As we reported previously, Asprey changed direction in 1996 when the company was sold to Prince Jefri of Brunei. Its gunrooms were shuttered and additional clothing and accessory lines launched in an attempt to make the firm more fashionable. Gorgeous actress Keira Knightley (above, in Asprey designs) was subsequently hired on as spokesmodel.

Gallery: Asprey of London

Tags: Asprey, Brunei, keira knightley, KeiraKnightley, London, Luxury goods, LuxuryGoods

Richemont Group Reports Strong Sales

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The global economic picture may be grim but Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, the luxury goods group behind Cartier, Piaget, IWC, Panerai and many other luxury brands had a pretty good fiscal year. They reported that for their year ending March 31, the company had an 18 percent rise in net profits to 1.57 billion euros, or $2.22 billion, on a 10 percent increase in sales to 5.3 billion euros, or $7.51 billion. The strong brands included the group's watch and jewelry businesses while Chloé, its main women's wear business was relatively flat. Obviously this is good news but these days no company spokesperson can comment on earnings without a bit of gloom and doom. WWD reports that Johann Rupert, Richemont's chairman delivered the same cautious but hopeful line that we've seen from other luxury companies. Many including LVMH and Hermes have predicted that even in these tough times their profits will continue to rise.

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Tags: cartier, expire-images2009-5-23, luxury, luxury goods, lvmh, richemont

Will the Real Asprey Please Stand Up?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry, Sports, Men's Style

It's one of the economic vagaries of the business that storied British luxury goods firm Asprey of London no longer has any connection (save an historical one) with the actual Asprey family. After the 200-year-old company was sold to Prince Jeffri of Brunei in the '90s, family scion William Asprey decided to start his own firm catering to the aristocratic trade (Asprey had long held royal warrants). However, he discovered to his dismay that he was no longer entitled to the use of his own last name; while Prince Jefri subsequently unloaded Asprey to a hedge fund, William opened a beautiful shop in London's Mayfair under the name William & Son.

Under its new owners Asprey has gone in an increasingly fashionable direction, and while producing some beautiful things it has suffered financial setbacks from over-enthusiastic expansion. William & Son by contrast hearkens back to Asprey's traditional roots, and still maintains an air of clubby exclusivity in its Mayfair premises (pictured above), which stocks high-end jewelry, silver, watches, leathergoods, china and crystal. A key facet of the business is its bespoke service, which will basically fashion anything you like in whatever precious material strikes your fancy as long as you can afford it. More recently William added an adjacent gun room, where beautiful silver-inlaid shotguns can now be had for $100,000 and up. He is certainly following through on his promise to "maintain his family's reputation in the historic splendour of No. 10 Mount Street." And what's in a name, after all?

Gallery: William & Son, London

20 bore William & Son Sidelock Ejector shotgun.

A selection of sporting attire and accessories.

Tags: Asprey, Brunei, Leathergoods, London, Luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Sporting guns, SportingGuns, Wiliiam Asprey, WiliiamAsprey, William Son, WilliamSon

Tom Ford Takes On Moscow

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

It's a match made in commerce heaven: Russians on the quest for the latest in expensive goods and a man who lives to provide old-fashioned luxury updated with modern kinks. Tom Ford, the designer who sexed up Gucci and then moved on to his own line of luxury goods for men, is planning to open two new stores in Moscow next year. Bloomberg reports that Ford and franchisee Mercury Group plan to offer Ford's line of $5,000 custom- made men's suits as well as items for the local market such as sable hats. The stores will be located in Tretyakovsky Passage, a city-center lane of boutiques, and Barvikha Village on the capital's fringe. The Bloomberg article contains some classic Tom quotes including his assertion that Russians have been denied nice things for years. Only Tom Ford could make selling high-priced luxury goods sound like an altruistic gesture.

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Tags: designer, gucci, luxury goods, moscow, tom ford, TomFord

Are Luxury Funds The Hot New Investment Trend?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

When I began writing for Luxist back in 2004 one of the first things I did was pick up a copy of the Robb Report, the magazine for the ultra-rich is one of the standard sources for information on the luxury market. Now the magazine has its own stock index, the Claymore /Robb Report Global Luxury Index ROB. CNN Money reports that Claymore Securities launched an exchange-traded fund on Monday based on an index created by CurtCo Robb Media, publisher of the Robb Report.

The financial reasoning behind this is that companies catering to the luxury market may be a safer bet because spending by the rich is less affected by gas prices or mortgage rates, things that may throw off other consumers. And with luxury spending on the rise in countries like Russia, China and India many of these companies are looking at continue growth. The 42-stock portfolio includes many brands you might expect such as Porsche, BMW, and LVMH.

This follows the news that came out last month that Dominion Group had launched the Chic investment fund which cover 61 designer names and 2,300 brands such as Stella McCartney and Ralph Lauren. After all, if you are going to buy the luxury brands, why not also invest in the companies that make them?

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Tags: curtco, dominion, investing, investment, luxury goods, money, robb report, RobbReport

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