paris

The Classicist: Inside a Hundred Legendary Louis Vuitton Trunks

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

The Complete Wardrobe made for Sacha Guitry, 1913

The volume of a Louis Vuitton trunk can be defined by the nature of its contents, the means of transport, its handling, etc.

The Mail Trunk made for Paul Poiret 1911

Tags: Abrams, Aristocrats, bespoke, books, coffee table books, exotic leather, France, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, luxury travel, LVMH, Maharaja, Paris, travel, trunks

Continue reading “The Classicist: Inside a Hundred Legendary Louis Vuitton Trunks”

Bulgari Opens Jeweled Retrospective In Paris

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

On December 9, Nicola Bulgari, Chairman of the Bulgari Group, and Francesco Trapani, CEO of Bulgari, hosted a private cocktail celebration at the Grand Palais in Paris to celebrate the opening of its jewelry retrospective. It's the first exhibition in the 110-year-old hall that is entirely dedicated to jewelry. This is Bulgari's second retrospective exhibition ever and it runs through January 12, 2011.

Tags: bulgari, bvlgari, grand palais, jewelry, paris

Continue reading “Bulgari Opens Jeweled Retrospective In Paris”

The $1.5 Million Macallan Ultimate Single Malt Experience

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

If you missed out on the world's most expensive bottle of whisky – the 64-year-old Macallan in Lalique Cire Perdue which was just auctioned off at Sotheby's for a record breaking $460,000 – not to worry: for $1.5 million you can make that look like a mere bagatelle. Glossy chronicle of the filthy rich Robb Report is offering the ultimate single malt experience in conjunction with The Macallan as part of this year's Ultimate Gifts offerings, featuring a journey to the the Macallan estate in Scotland to select eight extremely rare single malt Macallan whiskies barreled during each of the last eight decades for your personal collection. The experience begins with a first-class flight to Paris and a two-night stay in the Presidential Suite at the ultra-luxe Four Seasons George V, during which you'll take a chauffeured Bentley to meet with the crystal artisans at Lalique to create the custom decanters that will house the whiskies.

A private jet and helicopter will then take you to the Macallan estate for a two-day consultation to select the whiskies from barrels dating back to the 1930s. Once the decanters are completed they'll be filled with the precious elixir and delivered in a bespoke cabinet from royal furniture maker Viscount David Linley. David Cox, Macallan's director of fine and rare whiskies, calls it nothing short of "a liquid history of Macallan," noting, "You'll be drinking whiskies distilled by The Macallan before the Second World War, each with quite a distinctive style."

Tags: Bentley, David Linley, Four Seasons George V, gifts, Holiday 2010, Lalique, Macallan, Paris, private jet, Robb Report, Scotland, single malt, The Macallan, whisky

An Inside Look at Paris' Famed Flea Markets

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art, Books

Forget the Louvre and the Champs Elysées – compulsive collectors, experienced bargain hunters, bewildered tourists, timid first-timers, specialists in the one-of-a-kind item, treasure seekers, Japanese fashionistas, incognito celebrities and couturiers from countries around the globe all travel to Paris' famed flea markets of St. Ouen for inspiration and fabulous finds. Antiquaires: Paris Flea Markets by Laure Verchere with gorgeous photographs by Laziz Hamani, new from Assouline, showcases highlights from the hundreds of diverse dealers there that make up the largest marketplace of secondhand furniture, clothing, books, housewares, curiosities, antiques and art objects in the world. The stalls outside the city's Porte de Clignancourt which once played host to farmers and ragpickers today house highly curated collections and attract up to 150,000 visitors each weekend. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Antiquaires: Paris Flea Markets

Tags: antiques, Assouline, books, coffee table books, Decor, France, furniture, Interior design, Louvre, Paris, photography, travel

Lagerfeld Launches 2011 Pirelli Calendar with Julianne Moore

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Actress Juliane Moore and several naked supermodels, including serial nudist Daria Werbowy, Isabeli Fontana, Lara Stone, Erin Wasson, Natasha Poly and more appear in the just-unveiled 2011 Pirelli calendar photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. For the first time, thanks to Lagerfeld's influence and the Greek and Roman Mythology-theme of the shoot, which took place at Lagerfeld's studio in Paris, male models appear in the famed flesh fantasia as well this year. "It's my favourite religion: a god for everything," Lagerfeld tells Vogue UK regarding the calendar's theme. "I am a polytheist. I prefer mythology without hell, no sin – an obstacle to happiness – without forgiveness. I love goddesses because they were the first liberated women, who were entitled to everything. The goddesses and the muses are feminists!"

Tags: Daria Werbowy, Erin Wasson, Isabeli Fontana, Italy, Juliane Moore, Karl Lagerfeld, Lara Stone, nude, nudity, Paris, photography, Pirelli, pirelli calendar, supermodels

Private Palace in Paris Listed for Sale at $140 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Clocking in at just behind the $150 Spelling Manor in Beverly Hills and snagging the title of the second most expensive estate in the world is this private palace in Paris just listed by an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates for about $140 million. Located on the city's famed Avenue Foch, one of the world's most expensive and prestigious addresses, home to many mansions including those of the Onassis and Rothschild families, the ultra-exclusive estate was built in 1912 for the Duchesse de Montmorency. The nearly 28,000 sq. ft. interior houses 12 bedrooms and 12 baths along with four staff apartments. Many elements of its incredibly rich décor come from older mansions and are of historical importance including 18th century wood paneling, dozens of marble fireplaces and a museum-quality ceiling in the enormous dining room by the great French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau. The lavish interior also boasts massive crystal chandeliers, huge Corinthian columns, gilded moldings and marble floors.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: $140 Million on Avenue Foch

Tags: Beverly Hills, Christies Great Estates, estate, mansion, Paris, Spelling Manor

Cire Trudon Opens In New York City

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The world's oldest candle company, Cire Trudon, has finally gotten around to opening a second store... after 126 years.

The Parisian wax purveyor opened its doors in the 6th Arrondissement in 1884 and held off on expansion plans until recently, when a Bond Street location became its US home (perhaps they were waiting to see how the Sino-French war would turn out). Cire Trudon's history stretches even further back than the Belle Époque though, as founder Claude Trudon started his candle business in 1643 and was providing wax to the French royal family by the beginning of the 18th century. Modeled after the Galerie des Glaces at Versailles, the boutique's hand-aged mirrors, stucco walls and Amish furniture are meant to evoke a centuries old Paris shop, one that mixes antiques with new pieces dedicated to all things melted wax.

Cire Trudon's Bowery location offers a playful selection of candelabras, snuffers and wax busts of Napoleon, along with their signature candles, and will surely satisfy stateside fans of the brand who have been waiting, for a while.

Tags: Bowery, candles, cire trudon, france, new york city, paris

Hotel de Crillion Bought by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wealth

As my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported the other day, Paris' famed Hotel de Crillion (above), one of the world's most luxurious hotels with a clientele of celebs and royalty, is being sold to unnamed Saudi investors with ties to the country's royal family for about $354 million. Now an insider tells us that Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, one of the world's richest men with a fortune of $19.4 billion, has a big stake in the deal. The Prince already has significant luxury hotel holdings including an interest in the Four Seasons and Fairmont groups. Back in January 2009 Deirdre reported that the Prince was preparing to embark on a major spending spree via his company Kingdom Holdings to acquire more hotel assets. Earlier this year he also sold off the Raffles Hotel in Singapore for $275 million.

The Crillon acquisition is part of the Prince's new plan for diversification, we're told. Constructed in 1758 as a government building commissioned by Louis XV, the palatial edifice near the Champs Elysées on Place de la Concorde was converted into a hotel 100 years ago. Its Leonard Bernstein suite, on the top floor with a wrap-around terrace, features one of the late maestro's pianos. Other luminaries past and present who have patronized the Crillon include Marie Antoinette, King George V, the Shah of Iran, Winston Churchill, FDR, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O, Mariah Carey, Madonna and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Starwood Capital, the property's sellers, took over the Crillon in 2005 as part of its €2 billion acquisition of Taittinger's hotel and champagne empire.

Tags: billionaire, hotel, Hotel de Crillion, luxury hotels, Paris, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, royalty, Saudi Arabia, UAE, wealth

Avedon Nude of Stephanie Seymour Expected to Fetch $210,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

A racy nude portrait of supermodel Stephanie Seymour (detail above) taken by the late, great Richard Avedon in 1992 is expected to fetch up to $210,000 at Sotheby's' Photographies sale in Paris on November 19. Part of a private European collection, the image will bolster the strength of the photography market if it achieves its price. Though most of the lots date from the early 1900s, the stunning sale also includes an Albert Watson portrait of Naomi Campbell from 1989 and a David LaChapelle portait of Andy Warhol from 1987 taken shortly before the artist's death, both estimated at up to $21,000; and a Herb Ritts portrait of Madonna from 1986, expected to fetch up to $10,000. Notable works by Irving Penn, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and more round out the offerings.

Tags: Albert Watson, Andy Warhol, auction, David LaChapelle, Irving Penn, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, nude, Paris, Phtography, Richard Avedon, Sothebys, Stephanie Seymour, supermodel

Ltd. Edition Champagne Mumm Sabre Gift Box

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Architecture & Design

Famed French champagne house G.H. Mumm, founded in 1827 and now owned by Pernod Ricard, has unveiled a chic new gift box in time for the holidays. The limited edition Sabre G.H. Mumm was designed by renowned Paris-based architect / designer Patrick Jouin. He very cleverly re-interpreted the iconic Mumm Cordon Rouge ribbon that adorns the bubbly's label as the handle of a modernistic sword for slicing the top off the bottle. The curled handle is covered in luxurious red hand-stitched leather while the blade is made of stainless steel with a blunt square end. The set, priced at about $850, is presented in a white lacquered wood and leather box with a pull-out drawer specially designed to hold ice and keep a bottle of Cordon Rouge at the ideal temperature for serving – after you perform the ceremony of sabre-ing off the cork.

Gallery: Sabre G.H. Mumm by Patrick Jouin

Source

Tags: champagne, design, France, G.H. Mumm, leather, Paris, Patrick Jouin, Pernod Ricard, sword

Hunt with Eagles on Dunhill's Luxury Adventure Tour

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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

Famed London luxury goods firm Dunhill is collaborating with UK adventure travel firm Black Tomato on a new series of excursions replicating a famed Dunhill journey in 1930. In that year Dunhill's Clement Court traveled overland from Paris to Japan to secure the very finest Japanese lacquered goods for the firm. Dunhill and Black Tomato are now offering modern versions of Court's epic journey, with appropriately luxurious accommodations and adventuresome activities along the way. The excursions are designed to demonstrate that "luxury is something more discerning, more elusive and more unique than just a price tag", as they put it.

The concept of discovery and exploration has been a hallmark of the Dunhill brand since 1893, as reflected in its most recent collections. The luxury packages are priced from about $4,500 and include destinations such as Paris, Moscow, Mongolia and Japan. Experiences include a private tour of the Louvre in Paris while the museum is closed, a flight in a Russian fighter jet above Moscow, learning eagle hunting in Mongolia (above) and bathing in Japan's oldest mineral hot springs. Guests can also opt to recreate Court's entire journey, including 10 days in a private cabin on the Golden Eagle Trans Siberian railway, starting at about $44,000.

Source

Tags: Black Tomato, Dunhill, hunting, Japan, London, Louvre, luxury goods, luxury travel, Mongolia, Moscow, Paris, Russia, train, travel, UK

The Classicist: Win a Private Tour of Ralph Lauren's Car Collection & More

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events, Charity, Sports, Big Givers, Men's Style, The Classicist, Luxury Shopping

From now through Oct. 21, Ralph Lauren is auctioning off a number of extraordinary items and experiences to mark the 10th anniversary of Pink Pony, the designer's global initiative to raise awareness and funds in support of the fight against cancer. The online auction, the first of its kind for the Pink Pony cause, is being produced in partnership with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz. Highlights of the incredible event include several once-in-a-lifetime forays into the private world of the famed fashion designer and his luxury empire, including classic cars, polo, chauffeured Bentleys, sexy models and shopping sprees. You check out full details and register to place bids at www.charitybuzz.com/RalphLauren; meanwhile, here are The Classicist's top picks:

1. A private tour of Lauren's incredible car collection, estimated at $150,000: You and a friend will be shown the cars, including the ultra-rare 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic (above), worth an estimated $40 million, a $28 million Ferrari 250 GTO, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, McLaren F1LM and more, by Lauren himself at his lavish estate in Bedford, New York. You'll also get a ride in one of these world-class driving machines and take home a signed copy of Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars from the Ralph Lauren Collection.

2. A weekend at Lauren's private Round Hill Villa in Jamaica, estimated at $150,000: A priceless opportunity to spend four days and three nights for you and up to three guests at the designer's personal Jamaican paradise. The fully staffed villa, which sits on a magnificent, picturesque cliff over the crystal blue Caribbean Sea, has been featured on the covers of House & Garden and Architectural Digest. Enjoy a swim in the villa's infinity pool and private beach access, as well as complimentary tennis lessons and a yoga session.

3. Play polo with Nacho Figueras and stay at The Breakers in Palm Beach, estimated at $15,000: Take a lesson from Nacho Figueras, world class polo player and Ralph Lauren model. You and a guest will refuel afterward during lunch with Nacho, and you'll also spend three nights at the exclusive Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, including a spa treatment for two at the Breakers Spa; a round of golf for two; a $1,000 private shopping experience at the Ralph Lauren store at the Breakers; and VIP access to the U.S. Open at the International Polo Club.

4. Front row seats to the Ralph Lauren fashion show and an outfit from the runway, estimated at $25,000: Bring along a friend when you meet the designer and sit in the elite front row at his Fall 2011 Fashion Show in New York. Then, select your favorite look from the runway to add to your own personal collection. Enjoy two nights at a penthouse suite at The Setai Fifth Avenue hotel, including breakfast for two and one signature spa treatments. [continued]

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Auction

Tags: ad campaign, auction, Bedford, Bentley, bespoke, Boris Becker, Bugatti, car collection, Caribbean, Carlyle Hotel, charity, charitybuzz, classic cars, designer, fashion show, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GTO, Jamaica, London, mens style, Mercedes-Benz, Nacho Figueras, Palm Beach, Paris, Pink Pony, polo, Ralph Lauren, Rhinelander Mansion, Setai, tennis, The Breakers, The Savoy, villa, Wimbledon

Continue reading “The Classicist: Win a Private Tour of Ralph Lauren's Car Collection & More”

Luxist Guest Post: Summer Thornton at the Biennale Des Antiquaires

by Unknown (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

We couldn't be at the 25th Biennale Des Antiquaires in Paris during September but luckily we had a friend on the scene to tell us all about it. Summer Thornton is the founder of Summer Thornton Design, a Chicago based interior design firm. Under her creative leadership, the firm has created work which has been featured in numerous design publications and websites. Primarily focused on residential and boutique design, clients seek her out for her innate ability to combine elements of contrast - new and old, rough and polished, high and low into a look that feels unpretentious fun and fresh.

Guest Post by Interior Designer Summer Thornton

Put diamonds, antiques, and french architecture in the same building and I'll be there. Actually I was there, in September at the 25th Biennale Des Antiquaires. Talk about an interior designer dying and going to heaven! Set under the beautiful architecture of the Grand Palais in Paris, eighty of the world's top antique galleries and seven of the world's top jewelers showcased their best collections.

With so many gorgeous showrooms, the thing that really stood out was the way in which many pieces were displayed. It seemed to be all about presentation, which varied so much by gallery that entering each gallery was like entering a different little world. The jewelers did an amazing job merchandising. Paris-based Van Cleef and Arpels pulled out all the stops on their showroom to include a fabulous 20,000 leagues under the sea themed room and display cases complete with submarine and a hot air observation balloon.

Tags: Biennale des Antiquaires, decorations, design, designers, grand palais, paris, summer thornton

Continue reading “Luxist Guest Post: Summer Thornton at the Biennale Des Antiquaires”

Assouline Fields Polo Team at the Ambassador's Cup

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Books

Last fall luxury imprint Assouline published the ultimate book on the aristocratic sport of polo. This season they went one step further and fielded a polo team of their own at the 71st Annual Ambassador's Cup at the Mashomack Polo Club near Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York. The imprint's founders Prosper Assouline and wife Martine (above) flew in from Paris to cheer on their players, dressed in matching Assouline polo team shirts. Matches took place Sept. 24 – 26 with representation from countries including Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Peru, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. In addition to Assouline, other well known firms fielding teams in the event, run under the auspices of the Federation of International Polo (FIP), included Berluti shoes, Hunter boots, Hermes, Beretta, The Carlyle Hotel and Moncler, with the Hunter team emerging triumphant.

Gallery: Assouline Polo at the Ambassador's Cup

Tags: Assouline, Beretta, Berluti, books, Carlyle Hotel, coffee table books, equestrian, France, Hermes, horses, Hunter, Mashomack Polo Club, Moncler, New York, Paris, polo, Prosper Assouline, Rhinebeck, sports

Exagon Motors Unveils the Furtive e-GT in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

While most of the new cars we see making their debuts at major auto shows – like the one currently going on at the Port de Versailles in Paris – come from recognized, established automakers, a new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles has been coming from new start-ups fresh to the game. Names like Tesla and Fisker come to mind, and now Exagon Motors joins their ranks with the Furtive e-GT.

Built by an experienced racing-car manufacturer, the Furtive e-GT is a sleek 2+2 electric sportscar powered by a pair of Siemens electric motors producing 340 horsepower. That's enough to propel the e-GT to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, or cruising up to 250 miles on a single charge.

Source

Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, Exagon, Exagon Furtive e-GT, Exagon Motors, Exagon Motors Furtive e-GT, Furtive e-GT, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

← Previous Page|Next Page →

paris

Featured Galleries

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Also on AOL