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A Look Inside Ralph Lauren's Billion-Dollar Garage

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth


We've written before about the automotive treasures in Ralph Lauren's car collection; now Vanity Fair has gotten an inside look at the lavish garage / gallery the designer recently built near his posh Westchester, NY estate to house them. Lauren transformed a former car dealership's storage facility into a shrine to the best in automotive design, with rooms dedicated to famous marques; the Ferrari room is pictured above, with a rare 1958 Testa Rossa taking center stage. The 60-plus ultra-valuable vehicles are all kept registered and ready to drive anytime the designer feels like going for a spin.

The eye-popping collection includes a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic worth an estimated $40 million alone – the world's most expensive car – a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia roadster, the world's only 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" roadster, a 1957 Jaguar XKSS, a McLaren F1, a 1929 "Blower" Bentley, a Ferrari 250 GT, and the only Lamborghini Reventon Roadster in the U.S. All have been maintained carefully since new, or restored to perfection – and "sometimes beyond perfection," the magazine notes, as some have been painted in colors that the billionaire decided were better than the originals.

The Classicist: Celebrating the Season in Style with Range Rover at Wheatleigh

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for high-res image gallery. Photos exclusive to Luxist.

Winter can be a long, cold interlude verging on a test of endurance in the Northeast, and it's all too easy to get bogged down by the doldrums. Plenty of people either hibernate by their hearths or hit the beach until the mercury makes its ascent, but there are myriad ways to keep warm with style, verve and panache. We recently gathered some of our favorite accessories of the season at Wheatleigh, the majestic mansion-turned-luxury hotel in the heart of the Berkshires' winter wonderland. Getting us there in style and comfort through anything the weather cared to concoct was the 2011 Range Rover Sport, a luxurious way to see the landscape safe in the knowledge that the elements have met their match. The pedigreed SUV's smooth, refined, performance and rugged good looks mark it as a thoroughbred in all respects, a suitably stylish conveyance for arriving at a desirable destination like Wheatleigh. And we had the great new Olympus PEN E-PL1 compact, versatile digital camera on hand to record it all for your vicarious enjoyment.

Wheatleigh, located in Lenox, Mass. next door to Edith Wharton's famed country manor The Mount, is a grand estate based on a 16th century Florentine palazzo built in 1893 by New York financier Henry H. Cook for his daughter who married a Spanish count. Many of the materials and over 150 artisans were brought from Italy to produce intricate carvings and design flourishes for the grand interiors and facades. Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, was responsible for creating "Wheatleigh Park" on the land surrounding the palazzo. Following a four year multimillion dollar renovation it was transformed into one of the most unique luxurious small hotels in the world. The nineteen suites, guest rooms and baths artfully combine antiques and custom furnishings with original museum quality contemporary art. The baths are finished with English limestone, marble and hand-blown glass fixtures, and most rooms feature fireplaces and Bang & Olufsen TVs. Check out the gallery to see the perfect accoutrements for a stylish seasonal sojourn – from books to watches, champagne to cashmere sweaters, and boots to bags – no matter where your journey takes you.

The Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches



Ralph Lauren is easily one of the most accomplished fashion designers of our time. But what he can't design, he acquires: the American icon of style has one of the most coveted car collections in the world, and from his exceptionally rare (and exceedingly valuable)r Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic he has drawn the inspiration for the timepiece you see here.

The latest in Lauren's Sporting Watch collection is styled after the interior of the Atlantic, with an elm burl wood ring emulating the car's dashboard, galvanized matte black dial with white Arabic numerals like the Bugatti's gauges, and visible screws around the case front recalling the rivets along the Atlantic's spine. The movement is crafted by the Richemont group – the same company that makes Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai and IWC, to name just a few – and features a 45-hour power reserve. And like a Bugatti, it commands a suitably high price of $13,200.

EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery and full credit info

Some people look at the colder weather as an excuse to head south for the winter; we like to think of it as an opportunity to wear lots of new clothes and find fun ways of keeping warm. In the spirit of getting ready for the season in style we took the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, some classic country clothing and ruggedly handsome accouterments on a tour through the glorious autumnal landscape of northern New England, documenting our excursion with the cool new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. We let the foliage flaunt the bright colors, keeping the clothing to an elegant, understated palette of greens, grays and earthy tones with rich leather, suede and alligator skin details and subtle tortoiseshells and tartans for contrast. Warm textures of wool, cashmere, tweed, moleskin and waxed cotton combined with equestrian and hunting elements guard against the elements and the hazards of the terrain (and local fauna), handling any activity without sacrificing anything in the way of style.

That's also an apt description of the new Cayenne Turbo, hands-down the sportiest SUV around. For 2011 it gets a sleeker and more aggressive appearance, better performance and fuel economy, garnering it the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title (they noted that "the Cayenne's driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender"). Powered by a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine generating 500 hp, it can do 0–60 mph in just 4.4 seconds if you're so inclined. Equipped with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel-drive system it can do just about anything else. Fitted with Porsche's new eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a luxurious leather interior influenced by the Panamera, it features a state-of-the-art navigation system with real-time traffic updates, a surround sound system with iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, 18-way adaptive sport seats and more – in short, all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a $105,000 SUV with a Porsche pedigree.

Inside the Homes of American Fashion Designers

Filed under: Apparel, Decor, Books, Celebrity Design, Architecture & Design

Assouline has released the latest luxe edition in its American Fashion series, dedicated to the top-drawer designers who are members of the prestigious CFDA. American Fashion Designers at Home showcases the personal spaces of more than 100 fashionistas, including Diane von Furstenburg, Oscar de la Renta, Cynthia Rowley and Kate Spade. While some designer dwellings are extensions of the sensibilities embodied by their apparel collections, others exhibit a marked contrast. The domiciles range from studio apartments to sprawling estates, but all are linked by a keen aesthetic sense. Included are Carolina Herrera's grand Louis XV–influenced New York apartment; Betsey Johnson's girly glamourpuss garret; Ralph Lauren's luxuriously rustic Colorado ranch; Donna Karan's tranquil Turks & Caicos getaway; Tommy Hilfiger's over-the-top Greenwich mansion; Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa's ultra-modern Manhattan aerie; and Johann Lindeberg's converted Greenwich Village factory (on the book's cover, above). Check out the gallery for a preview of Randolph Duke's Hollywood spread (which he recently sold for $5.3 million), David Chu's chic digs and more.

VIDEO: Ralph Lauren 4D: Fashion Meets Art & Technology

Filed under: Apparel, Video, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping



On November 10 Ralph Lauren used advanced video mapping technology projected onto the façade of the designer's flagships in New York and London to create an enormous "four dimensional" display celebrating the 10th anniversary of RalphLauren.com. The groundbreaking Ralph Lauren 4D extravaganza, which mesmerized thousands of onlookers, combined technology, art, fashion, music and fragrance into a truly innovative experience, and also celebrated the launch of Ralph Lauren e-commerce in the UK. Fifteen vignettes unfolded into a seven minute visual journey through the world of Ralph Lauren.

Viewers experienced a montage of flashing larger-than-life sized images including four-story tall models and polo players, and iconic Ralph Lauren fashion accessories such as the Ricky Bag, ties and belts that wrapped the length of the new women's flagship on Madison Avenue. The projection gave the illusion that images were extending beyond the building and floating out into space toward the audience. Music, illusions of blowing breezes, and even light mists of the new Big Pony Collection Fragrances were infused into the night's air creating a truly extra-sensory adventure.

$10,000 Skull Cufflinks & More from Ralph Lauren for the Holidays

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style


Ralph Lauren is offering a number of exclusive, ultra-luxurious gifts this holiday season, starring an eye-popping pair of skull cufflinks for $10,995. The luxe links, with a skull in a top hat motif, are finished in white gold with diamond eyes. The designer's new Holiday Collection encompasses chic decorative accents, entertaining accoutrements and luxurious travel accessories. Iconic tartans, a signature palette of cashmere cable-knits and rich velvets have a classic appeal, while items like the cufflinks and crystal barware appeal to a more modern sense of sophistication.

The skull motif also appears on a velvet throw pillow for $195 and even a cashmere dog sweater at $115. Other items of note include tartan leather bags and accessories for both men and women, including a men's Cooper Bag at $3,995; a women's Tiffin Bag in black alligator for $16,995; retro style sunglasses finished in red tartan for $375; and exclusive timepieces priced from $17,500 – $32,000. In addition, RalphLauren.com will be offering multiple programs under the RL Custom Boutique for the ultimate in personalization, while the designer's Gift Vault site features a collection of rare and one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from $650 - $55,000.

[via JustLuxe]

The Classicist: The Ultimate Guide to Savile Row Style

Filed under: Apparel, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist, Luxury Shopping


When James Sherwood's brilliant book on bespoke tailoring called The London Cut came out in 2007, to accompany a Savile Row exhibition at Palazzo Pitti in Florence, we regretted only that it was in softcover and such a small format. Now Rizzoli has rectified that with a suitably statuesque volume by Sherwood expanding on the subject, lavishly illustrated and encyclopedic in scope. Bespoke: The Men's Style of Savile Row begins with the opening of Henry Poole & Co. in 1806 and follows the illustrious history of London's custom tailoring tradition. Famous adherents of 'The Row' through the years from Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, the Duke of Windsor and Winston Churchill to latter-day dandies like Prince Charles, Mick Jagger and David Beckham are also discussed.

From its rather humble beginnings Sherwood discusses Savile Row's role in tailoring for the sporting set, the military and Royalty, the phenomenal influence the houses have had in the sartorial style of the silver screen - where else would James Bond get his threads? - the Row's evolution as "bespoke" was challenged by the mod rock & roll fashion revolution, and its embrace of fashion-forward newcomers like Tommy Nutter, Richard James and Ozwald Boateng, leading a revival of an art form that looked at one time to be doomed to obsolescence, now flourishing in its 200th year.

The style of each of the street's premier tailors is presented in detail along with the immeasurable impact Savile Row style has had on the work of international designers like Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, and Tom Ford, who contributed a foreword to the book. "English gentlemen's tailoring, and in particular the tailoring of Savile Row, really set the standard for the way the stylish 20th-century man dressed," Ford writes. "This English style, in fact, became the international style for well-dressed men all over the world, and this influence has not waned even in today's more casual world. I suppose that when it comes to men's clothes I am an Anglophile and if I did not design my own men's collection, I would have virtually my entire wardrobe made on Savile Row."

Ralph Lauren Films at Astor Courts

Filed under: Apparel, Estates, Men's Style, Video



It seems Ralph Lauren recently took over Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, New York, designed by Stanford White in 1904 for John Jacob Astor IV, to film videos for his new fall collections. We recognized the beautiful Beaux-Arts treasure, inspired by Louis XIV's Grand Trianon at Versailles, which was originally part of the Astor family's Ferncliff estate; Astor Courts (also known as the "Astor Casino" or "Ferncliff Casino") was designed as a guest lodge and sporting pavilion. Over the summer Astor Courts was in the news as the setting for Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and is currently up for auction having previously been listed for sale at $12 million. The structure's stunning details including grand fireplaces, elaborate moldings, an indoor clay tennis court framed by Gothic arches and a white marble swimming pool surrounded by Corinthian columns make a perfect backdrop for Lauren's luxurious designs in cashmere, wool, leather and silk. A couple of scenes were also shot at The Elms in Newport. The video for his Fall 2010 Purple Label collection (above) shows a stylish fellow driving off from the Astor estate in a vintage Aston Martin DB6 for a rendezvous with a beautiful woman. We think Stanford White would have approved.

Ralph Lauren Women's Flagship Opens on Madison Avenue

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Shopping


Ralph Lauren has just opened his luxurious new women's flagship store (above) in New York at 888 Madison Avenue, which now stands as the feminine counterpart to the company's redesigned men's flagship in the historic Rhinelander Mansion across the street, which The Classicist covered in detail a few weeks back. The 22,000-sq-.ft. store, reminiscent of the grand Beaux-Arts architecture of the early 20th Century, is dedicated to Lauren's Women's and Home collections and also features the designer's first domestic Watch & Jewelry Salon. The stately four-story building offers Ralph Lauren Collection, Women's Black Label, Blue Label, Double RL, RLX Ralph Lauren and Home merchandise, along with a range of exclusive products including fine jewelry, made-to-measure women's suiting and Collection sleepwear. While nothing equals the magnificence of the Rhinelander Mansion, the new women's store is a graceful companion to be sure, not to mention larger than its sibling by some 6,000-sq.-ft. At the boutique's official opening the other night Lauren was given the Key to the City by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in recognition of his contributions as a designer, business leader and philanthropist.

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

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]

RSVIP: Book Bash For "Dylan's Candy Bar: Unwrap Your Sweet Life"

Filed under: Dining, Events, Books


Charlie and his chocolate factory have nothing on new author, candy expert, and sweets purveyor par excellence Dylan Lauren (above, left).

Scarlet balloons hugged the ceiling of Dylan's Candy Bar, her sugary eponymous department store in Manhattan. Lilanne Becker, an adult dressed as a fairy princess with a satin gown, white gloves and tiara, stood beside a table stacked with books and brandished a colorful copy of Dylan Lauren's new coffee-table tome, "Dylan's Candy Bar: Unwrap Your Sweet Life" (Clarkson Potter). Downstairs, Aundre Seals, a Halloween Dracula with some white face paint skewered Rice Krispie treats and marshmallows shaped like ghosts, drenched them in a triple-tier chocolate fountain, and handed them to salivating onlookers.

For adults, cocktails with lime rock-sugar swizzle sticks and gummy spider garnishes were spiked with VeeV, an açai-based spirit and tonic water. Red licorice decorated yet another cocktail made with raspberry liqueur.

In a basement brimming with vintage candy, including a bathtub filled with gumballs, a line of adoring fans snaked towards a cheery Dylan Lauren, wearing an acid green shirt with candy-tone Rep tie and signing books.

Sure I'm proud," said designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan's famous dad (above, right), wearing a blue-and-gold bomber jacket. "I'm so happy for her. She created something she loves and is happy to share it with many people who love candy!"

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Comes to Los Angeles

Filed under: Events, Sports


Famed French champagne house Veuve Clicquot will re-introduce professional polo to Los Angeles when it hosts the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles on October 10 at the Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. Nacho Figueras, captain of the Black Watch team and Ralph Lauren model, will go head-to-head against some of the world's best polo players for the inaugural event. In homage to the golden era of polo in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s, guests are being encouraged to wear fashions inspired by that era, with help from Cameron Silver, super-stylish owner of Los Angeles and London-based vintage couture boutiques decadestwo and DECADES. Silver will offer on-site styling advice and sessions with guests and is consulting on the overall design of the event and its vintage inspiration.

In addition to the exclusive VIP Marquee, one side of the field will be free and open to the public. Angelenos will be able to watch the match from bleachers overlooking the legendary polo grounds – the last of Los Angeles' original 22 polo fields – where Hollywood celebrity and polo connoisseur Will Rogers used to play the sport himself along with fellow polo enthusiasts including Clark Gable, Walt Disney, and Spencer Tracy. The site is located just outside Rogers' former estate, which still stands today. Spectators can also expect plenty of Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium snacks, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and California State Parks.

The Classicist: Ralph Lauren Re-Launches Famed Rhinelander Mansion in NYC

Filed under: Apparel, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style, The Classicist, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping


Ralph Lauren has relaunched his famed flagship in the historic Rhinelander Mansion on Madison Avenue in New York, transforming it into the world's foremost mecca of men's style. Spanning nearly 16,000 square feet, the Mansion, originally converted into an opulent retail palace by Lauren in 1986, now exclusively houses the designer's various men's collections with the company's first Women's and Home flagships due to open across the avenue later this fall. Originally designed in the 1890s by Kimball & Thompson, the the large French Renaissance Revival Mansion is an architectural treasure as well with a classic Beaux Arts façade exemplary of the the Upper East Side's grand architecture.

The new space showcases the Purple Label, Black Label, Polo, RRL and RLX Ralph Lauren collections of men's apparel and accessories, with an emphasis on the most luxurious elements. Service has been stepped up as well, with butlers to serve snacks and drinks on silver trays and a fleet of Mercedes-Benzes to chauffer important clients on shopping trips. The store features a full range of impeccably crafted made-to-measure suits, dress shirts, trousers, topcoats, sport coats and formalwear customized to exacting measurements, and made-to-order accessories and leather goods. Every room in the Mansion has been updated with cinematic decor in keeping with the neoclassical style of the original grand residence, from antiques and fixtures to furniture and art, including 18th- and 19th-century oil portraits and noteworthy photographs from Ralph Lauren's personal collection.

Ralph Lauren Small Stirrup Pink Pony Limited Edition Watch (Entirely) For Charity

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Ralph Lauren Small Stirrup Pink Pony Limited Edition Watch
The Pink Pony Fund is a charitable foundation by Ralph Lauren that is around to fund cancer research. Special Pink Pony collection Ralph Lauren watches and jewelry are released from time to time to benefit the charitable foundation. The newest "watch for charity" is this highly limited edition Ralph Lauren Small Stirrup watch in 18k rose gold with a row of diamonds around the bezel. 100% of the watch proceeds will go to the Pink Pony Fund. So Ralph Lauren isn't making any money off these watches, but at least they can claim a handsome tax write-off.

The Stirrup watch is a newer watch from the (also new) Ralph Lauren watch Co. You can read more about the Stirrup watch here when I first announced them. The Small Stirrup is a lady's version of the piece that is slightly smaller in diameter, and here in rose gold. Because of the Pink Pony connection, the watch has been fitted with a feminine pink colored alligator strap. There are 54 diamonds on the bezel. Inside the watch is a special mechanical manually-wound, movement (Caliber RL430) made for Ralph Lauren by Piaget.

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