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Lanvin Ouloulou Satin Pouchette, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Lanvin Ouloulou Satin PouchThe Lanvin Ouloulou Satin Pouchette makes us say "Ooh la la!"

There's nothing like peach satin to give an outfit vintage appeal. This pretty pouchette has a hammered satin flap front, a delicate chain-link strap and a grosgrain pompom detail. The button covers a magnetic closure and adds shape to this lovely, peaches-and-cream purse.

Though it's a little pinker in person, this Italian-made bag exudes charm and innocence. The pouchette itself is 6" x 9.5" x 2" and lined in satin, ensuring only the very best treatment for the goodies you put inside it. While this would be difficult to pull off with a contrasting color, we'd love to see this with a little black dress, a little white dress or maybe, maybe a black-and-white pattern.

One extra thing to love about this purse: shiny satin transitions perfectly into the holiday season, and you'll definitely be able to carry this from now until the company holiday party.

The Lanvin Ouloulou Satin Pouchette is available from Barneys for $990.

Imported Rosé Continues its Roll

Filed under: Wine

photo of rose wine

I've always liked rosé, but up until a few years ago, its resemblance to wine coolers made people who weren't wine-confident feel uncertain about whether ordering it would make quite the right impression.

No more. Rosé seemed to be everywhere this past summer, and now The CIVP/Provence Wine Council has released statistics that adds weight to that perception. From mid September 2008 to mid September 2009, U.S. retail sales of imported rosé wines priced $12 and above grew 11 times faster by volume than total table wine sales.

The CIVP/Provence Wine Council is extra happy about this, first, because France accounts for more than a quarter of worldwide rosé wine by volume, and Provence is the leading rosé producing region in that country, and second, because consumers appear to be buying more expensive bottles. Sales of imported rosé wines at the $12 level and above grew by 28.4%, seven times faster than the 3.7% increase for total table wine dollar sales in the past year.

(Oh and in case you're wondering, CIVP stands for the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence, which is loosely French for "Provence Wine Council".)

Linde Werdelin SpidoLite SA Rose Gold Limited Edition Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

linde werdelin spidolite
Sport Luxury (or is it "luxury sport") watch maker Linde Werdelin will release a new version of its SpidoLite SA watch in 18k rose gold with a black DLC (diamond like carbon) coated dial. The watch is a stunning union of luxury and the unique merits that the SpidoLite watch line provides. Plus, I feel that the high contrast between the gold hands and the black dial make for improved legibility.

The SpidoLite SA line is known for its Svend Andersen ("SA") decorated vintage automatic mechanical movement (with a special blue gold automatic rotor), as well as the special skeletonized Biformeter case. All in all a great watch, further enhanced by the look and luxury of rose gold. Price for the gold version is not actually that much more than the standard titanium version. There is also a new version of the SpidoLite watch in all black DLC coated titanium, which is very nice (that version has metallic blued hands). Prices for the all DLC coated version are 9,800 euros, while the pictures rose gold version is 15,800 euros. Each is limited to just 88 pieces. Available very soon.

Ariel Adans publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Chiffon Rose Clutch, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Mary Norton's Chiffon Rose Clutch is not a bag that can probably go with you through all four seasons, but it's so darling it seems worthy as a late spring, summer, and perhaps early fall investment. It's flouncy, feminine energy would go perfectly with everything from jeans to summer evening gowns, and it seems especially appropriate for weddings. Made of "frothy silk chiffon" the bag features a clip closure, 7" chain strap, a single pocket on the inside and a silk lining. And it's probably smaller than you think, measuring only 7" x 6" x 2". $995

Small Splurge: A Selection of Summer Wines

Filed under: Dining, Wine


In times of prosperity many people like to splurge on fine wine. Discerning drinkers will find however that a tighter budget need not mean sacrificing the pleasures of enjoying the fruit of the vine. New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits, has put together a list of six great summer wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $20. Here's the rundown:

From Nederburg, the most award-winning name in South African wine, comes Lyric (above left), a new blend of Sauvignon blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Freshly cut grass and green peppers meet aromas of peach and apricot to create a wine that is crisp, fresh and beautifully acidic, perfect for pairing with anything from fresh fruit to seafood. SRP: $10.99

Château de Campuget's Tradition Rosé (center left) is a crisp and fruity rosé wine from the up-and-coming Costières de Nîmes region of France, made using roughly 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah. The color is obtained through a short maceration of two hours which gives it its distinctive shiny hue. Perfect with spicy and ethnic foods. SRP: $10.99

Enrique Foster is a top-flight operation with the objective of producing the best Malbec in Argentina, which is to say the best in the world. Ique (center right) is fresh and young with fruity characteristics and a ruby-red color. Its firm structure and soft tannins make it the perfect counterpart for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. SRP: $11.99

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is one of our all-time favorite wines. Geisen's bottling (above right) has all the ripe fruit and the crisp, green and lively components associated with the wine, aromatic, flavorful and genuinely refreshing. Perfect with a light fish with a citrusy sauce. SRP: $14.99

Martini & Rossi Launches Sparkling Rosé

Filed under: Wine

Martini & Rossi, the Italian winemaker founded in 1863 and famous for its iconic vermouth, has launched a new sparkling rosé in time for summer.

Cultivated in the finest growing areas of the Piedmont and Veneto regions in Italy, it's made with handpicked Moscato Bianco, Malvasia and Brachetto grapes.

Light, crisp and aromatic with hints of citrus, elderflower and soft peach, it's a relatively inexpensive way to add a touch of luxury to summer cocktails and al fresco dining.

Available in a 750 ml bottle and 187 ml 4-packs, the new rosé completes Martini & Rossi's "sparkling trio," which includes a naturally sweet Asti and an extra dry Prosecco.

The Armand de Brignac Champagne Experience

Filed under: Wine

Armand de Brignac Prestige CuveesWe were delighted when Armand de Brignac offered to send us one of their Prestige Cuvees (right).

Priced from $300 per bottle, these decadent champagnes come in three varieties: Champagne Rose, Champagne Blanc de Blanc, and the Brut Gold, which we tried. The bottles include pewter labels, and come in luxurious black cases. These would be an excellent gift for your Valentine; The Brut Gold for him, and the Rose for her (but we hope he or she will share it with you).

If you're not convinced, have a look at our gallery below to experience the excitement of opening the case and tasting the delicious champagne. We paired it with an appetizer of fresh strawberries, sweet pears, and tart apples, and an Organic Ceviche entree with scallops and ahi tuna.

We found the Brut Gold Champagne very delicate and subtle; a rosy scent with green apple and nutmeg. The flavor was not at all grassy, but earthy, with hints of white pepper and a smooth, long pomegranate finish. Because of it's shy complexity, we thought it would be excellently paired with a very mild cheese, and loved the way it was complimented by the pear and, eventually, the ceviche.

About half a glass and we were all saying how much we loved each other. Happy Valentine's Day indeed!

For more information and where to buy, visit armanddebrignac.com.

Rose 'n Roll by Roger Vivier

Filed under: Shoes


Sometimes shoes are an accent to an outfit and sometimes they make the outfit. The Rose 'n Roll shoe by Roger Vivier is definitely one of the latter, featuring wool tartan in a bright plaid print with a large attention-grabbing rosette perched on the toe and (my favorite part) a little black laquered thorn coming off the sky-high stiletto heel.

I like this shoe, but I think I'd love it if it weren't for that wobbly bobble of a rose. Find a pair in Roger Vivier stores this fall and winter as part of the 2008/2009 collection. £830

Via Book of Joe

Suntory's Blue Roses


Not this Valentine's Day, but next Valentine's Day, some lucky ladies will be getting not red but blue roses from loved ones looking to show their affection. 14 years in the making, Suntory Ltd. is already growing test batches of the new blooms here in the States and is anticipating big sales and premium prices when they launch them next year in Japan.

Blue roses are such a rare commodity because no blue pigment naturally exists in roses, which means serious genetic modification had to happen even to get this pretty shade of purple. But what I don't get is why do they insist on calling a purple rose blue? It strikes me as an impure form of blue (there's obviously still red in the mix) and it just begs for somebody else to come up with a slightly "bluer" color and call it better. Either way, they are really beautiful -- and no word yet on what this new blue rose will be called.

First Blush Varietal Grape Juice, Wine Varietals Without The Buzz

Filed under: Dining, Wine


I recently came across this product in Whole Foods and had to try it out. First Blush makes varietal grape juices: Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, and a rosé juice made from Zinfandel. Each juice is made from 100% wine grape varietal without any added sugar. The 16-ounce bottles sell for around $4 a bottle. What does it taste like? I bought the Merlot and basically, it's just really good grape juice, sweet and fruit-packed.

[via Wines and Vines]

Jaeger-LeCoultre The Rose and The Tulip

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches


Check out these two jeweled masterpieces from Jaeger-LeCoultre. These stunning pieces are known and the rose and the tulip. The rose, on the right, is made of a total of 75 carats of gemstones including 1,480 sapphires, 1,370 tsavorites, 120 rubies and 120 diamonds. The movement used in both watches is the manual-wind JLC caliber 846. The tulip is 85 carats of stones including 1,600 tsavorites, 1,900 sapphires and 30 diamonds.

Extreme Roses Are A Hot V-Day Gift

Filed under: Garden

When we first heard about the existence of the world's tallest roses, with lush blooms sitting on stems that tower well over five feet above the ground, we immediately knew that they would be an in-demand item for Valentine's day. It turns out that the Washington Post thinks so, too. According to their latest article on the subject, "extreme roses" are growing in popularity faster than the flowers are blooming. They are turning up in celebrity homes and some were featured in the Rose Bowl Parade earlier this year.

Be warned, though: as with most excessively large things (SUVs, for example), these roses aren't inexpensive. Organic Bouquet, a company that specializes in the larger than life roses, charges $250 per dozen. On the plus side, they'll make a huge impact on your Valentine and, because the breed of rose is known as "Forever Young," one dozen should last quite a while.

The Personalized Roses

A bouquet of roses on Valentine's Day sends a message, but that message could be anything from "let's be friends" to "I love you." The only sure way to make the message clear is by directly including it with the roses. And in this case, you can actually put the message directly on the long-stemmed Colombian roses directly. From Hammacher Schlemmer, these Personalized Roses are each embossed in gold with your choice of "I love you," "Happy Birthday," and "Happy Valentine's Day." They are sold by the dozen and packed with baby's breath and greens, in your choice of red, white, pink or yellow roses. Price: $80.

World's Tallest Roses

Filed under: Garden

Flowers seem to be a fairly standard Valentine's Day gift, one that is so expected that it is actually quite difficult to impress your Valentine with them without going to extremes. Filling up a room with roses could be prohibitively expensive, but the World's Tallest Roses, while still pricey, might make even more of an impression. Just look at how pleased the woman in the picture is to see the roses!

The roses are over five feet tall and are carried exclusively by Organic Bouquet. The roses are imported from Equador, where the combination of sun and volcanic soil allows them to reach such impressive heights. Price for 1 dozen: $250.

[via growabrain]

Steuben Everlasting Bouquet

Filed under: Art

Nothing says "I love you" like a big bouquet of roses - especially if you ask the florist's opinion before Valentine's Day. Instead of flowers with a relatively short shelf-life, Steuben's Everlasting Bouquet offers roses that will never stop blooming. Only 24 of the limited edition pieces have been created and all feature a pair of roses at the center of the multifaceted Steuben crystal. The crystal is cut in such away as to allow the roses to seem to multiply before your eyes as you gaze into it, as well. A small hidden compartment is included in the base. Price: $5,000..

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