Travel + Leisure has announced its collaboration with 18 prominent artists including Maya Lin, Manolo Blahnik and April Gornik, to create specially-commissioned pieces to be auctioned as part of its second annual Project Globe event. Following the auction, the magazine will donate all proceeds to Future Generations, a non-profit conservation and community development organization. The online auction starts today at tlprojectglobe.com, where bidders are swiftly staking their claims.

The diverse group of photographs, sculptures and jewelry, all of which aim to celebrate travel's positive impact, will be shown at GlassHouses in New York City on September 19 and 20. Photographs from the auctioned items will be featured in Travel + Leisure's October Style + Culture issue, on newsstands September 23. See the gallery for a selection of items at auction.

Nineteen to-covet designers including Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, Alberta Ferretti and Christian Louboutin are teaming up with Warner Brothers and Swarovski to reinvent Dorothy's ruby slippers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. This time, we're not in Kansas anymore. Based on some of the designer sketches we've seen, we're talking Swarovski-fied, ruby red protect-me-from-the-evil-witch stilettos. Basically what sweet little Anne Hathaway could have used in The Devil Wears Prada.

Each designer will craft a mere two pairs, and the shoes will make their debut September 4 during New York Fashion Week, posing in Saks Fifth Avenue's window before moving on to Miami's Art Basel and further appearances throughout 2009. The iconic slippers will then be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Brilliant British designer Sir Paul Smith recently celebrated an important milestone in his colorful career: the 10th anniversary of his incredible flagship store in London's Notting Hill, Westbourne House. The perfect realization of a long term dream of Sir Paul's, the shop is designed to feel like someone's tastefully, quirkily lavish London home, and features a unique range of men's and women's clothes and accessories, housewares and knickknacks alongside a cllection of jewellery, books, art and antiques.

The architecturally-significant establishment is also the center of his exclusive bespoke tailoring operation. Smith says he still gets a thrill every time he walks in the door. To commemorate the anniversary, Smith and friends like shoe maestro Manolo Blahnik have created of limited edition products, available exclusively at Westbourne House, including watercolors, hand-painted plates, jewelry and a retro radio.

Smith, whose known for his signature multicolored stripes, opened his first clothing shop in 1970 and showed his first menswear collection under the Paul Smith label in 1976. Today Westbourne House is one of 14 Paul Smith shops in England; there are also outlets in Paris, Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and others, as well as dozens in Japan, where Sir Paul is something of a cult figure. Today he has 12 different collections including Paul Smith, Paul Smith Women, Paul Smith Jeans, Paul Smith London, Paul Smith Bespoke, Paul Smith Shoes, Paul Smith Fragrance and Paul Smith Spectacles. The company's annual revenue as of 2006 exceeded $600 million.

Welcome to The Classicist, our new column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance....

Savile Row stalwart Anderson & Sheppard, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is steeped in tradition, to say the least. Yet while other old-fashioned bastions of upper-class masculine British taste have been sold off or hideously modernized, A&S has managed to adapt and survive -- thanks to a strong-willed woman.

Anda Rowland, daughter of the firm's longtime owner, natty British millionaire Roland "Tiny" Rowland, who took over the business a few years ago, has set about bringing it into the 21st century without sacrificing one whit in the way of elegance.

The firm not only outfitted the great Fred Astaire - perhaps the best dressed man the modern world has ever known - but also Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, authors Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham, Gary Cooper, Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Duke Ellington.

Manolo Blahnik is much beloved of the ladies but he hasn't done much for the men lately.That's about to change. Vogue UK reports that Manolo has created a six-piece collection for men. The designs that Vogue shows are not for the average man. Sure, the red Oxford isn't too far out there but it would take a special man to pull off the leopard-print sandal or the lace-up peep-toe slingback. The collection should be out in stores in February.

Think Manolo is the only one with daring designs for men's shoes? Check out more intriguing men's shoe options in the gallery below.

Fashion sites recently buzzed with the news that the illustrious Manolo Blahnik wasn't completely happy with the "Sex and the City" phenomenon that led to his shoes having increased name recognition. Apparently the fact that most people now know his name is somehow offensive to him as he has been quoted as saying that the show led to a vulgarization of his name. Manolo is not above using his own name for increased profit, now, for fans of the shoe there is a Manolo candle. What does Manolo smell like? It has notes of fig, ivy, violet, chocolate and musk. The candle which comes in a brushed glass holder with a big black Manolo logo on it. The mineral wax candle sells for $75. Ironically this type of lower-priced Manolo offering could be a big hit with the "vulgar" hordes he decries who can't spend a few hundred dollars on shoes but still want something with the Manolo name.

And the Oscar swagfest begins... Estee Lauder has announced their 2006 Estee Lauder Luxury Beauty Spa Experience for nominees to indulge, relax and prepare for their big night with a spa experience. The Estee Lauder "Dream Team" will travel to each nominee and let them choose a customized spa day. Those in need of a little boost can check out the Perfectionist Power Facial by Dr. Jay Calvert which includes a light laser procedure and then a Power Patch placed on the area around the eye for 20 minutes. And for sunless tan addicts (like Charlize Theron) there is new Winning Glow Tanning Treatment which provides a full face and body exfoliation and bronzing with Estee Lauder's sunless tanners. A Bentley Continental Flying Spur will transport nominees to and from their Spa appointments and chauffeur the Estee Lauder Dream Team to the nominees on location. And of course there is a swag bag which includes Estee Lauder products, Manolo Blahnik sandals, Michael Kors sunglasses, a tiger's eye necklace, a set of Harcourt black crystal wine goblets and La Grande Dame Veuve Clicquot champagne (very similar to last year's offering).

Forget long-stemmed roses which only wither and die. How about these roses for Valentine's Day. These black satin Manolo Blahnik shoes have three pink enamel roses along the T-strap. The shoe is a 3.5" heel and has an adjustable ankle strap and a matching rosy interior. At $815 they are pricier than the long-stemmed dozen but will last a lot longer.