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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.

Gallery: Range Rover at Wheatleigh Dec. 2010

Graf & Lantz wool felt Boat Bag, personalized Tumi Alpha wheeled case.

Tumi Alpha case; Dom Perignon Tribute to Andy Warhol edition; Private Stock jeans; Graf & Lantz Quiver wine carrier w/ Robert Mo

Tags: Bang Olufsen, Berkshires, Brooks Brothers, Central Park, champagne, Dom Perignon, Edith Wharton, estates, Frederick Law Olmsted, gardens, Holiday 2010, L.L. Bean, Lenox, luggage, luxury hote, mansion, Massachusetts, mens style, New England, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, palazzo, Persol, Ralph Lauren, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, spirits, stolichnaya, sunglasses, SUV, teNeues, The Mount, Tumi, vodka, Wheatleigh, winter

Russian Billionaire Makes A Deal With Stoli And The Nets

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

The new owner of the New Jerset Nets, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, has big plans for his team. Prokhorov is bringing Russian style to his team and to the area, first with his Russian-language luxury magazine Snob and also with a five-year sponsorship deal with Stolichnaya, the Russian vodka producer. The NY Times reports that the deal is worth about $2 million a year and will include Stoli-branded bars at the Barclays Center, the Nets arena being built in Brooklyn. The Nets are overseas right now, first in Moscow and in China. It's all part of Prokhorov's strategy to create what he calls a global team. He's hoping to have the entire country of Russia cheer for the Nets by bringing them to his home country. As the NY Times article points out the Houston Rockets are popular in China because of Yao Ming, an interest that has led to endorsement deals with Chinese companies. Many NBA teams play preseason games overseas increasing worldwide interest in basketball and the NBA.

Tags: Mikhail Prokhorov, new jersey nets, stoli, stoli vodka, stolichnaya

Stoli Launches Nationwide Casting Call For Next Stoli Original

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Stoli Vodka has already asked "Stoli Originals" Hugh Hefner and Julia Stiles the magic question: "Would you have a drink with you?" Now the brand is launching a casting call to find the next Stoli Original. The Stoli Facebook page is your audition spot where you can submit answers to questions and upload a headshot. In November, Stoli will select 30 finalists for a "call back" and the chance to submit a video audition tape. Stoli will chose one winner and five regional runner-ups from the video auditions. The winner will appear in their own media campaign in 2011 and earn a $25,000 fee.

Tags: ad campaigns, stoli, stoli originals, stolichnaya

Julia Stiles is Stoli's Next "Original"

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Would you have a drink with you, Julia Stiles? In June, Stoli vodka launched a new campaign with Hugh Hefner. The premise of the ad campaign is Would You Have a Drink With You? and features a "Stoli Original" having a conversation with themselves via split screen. This week the brand debuted its second Stoli Original, Julia Stiles. Stiles is a little bit of a more subtle choice than Hef. The commercial, above, shows Stiles in two versions, her more earthy indie side sidling up to a glamorous, Hollywood version of herself and discussing her career moves. Stoli chose her because they have watched her career with interest, tracing her arc between the small films and the bigger blockbusters. Personally I just like that Stiles is shown drinking one of my diet-friendly faves, the Stoli Rasberry and soda.

Tags: ad campaign, julia stiles, stoli, stoli vodka, stolichnaya

Hugh Hefner Takes A Turn As Vodka Spokesperson

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Video

Fun-loving octagenarian and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is the latest vodka spokesperson. Stolichnaya Vodka has unveiled a new commercial featuring Hef for Stoli's 'Would You Have a Drink With You?' campaign. Part of Stoli's Original theme showcasing distinctive personalities, 'Would You Have A Drink With You?' will feature Hefner in commercials on TV and in print. Stoli is launching its newest original flavor White Pomegranik, the first white pomegranate flavored vodka. A new limited edition bottle of Stoli Ohranj with the Playboy bunny logo will be available for the holiday season.

Tags: hugh hefner, stoli vodka, stolichnaya

Cristal to Be Booted Out of Russia?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine

It looks as though world famous French champagne house Cristal, a symbol of wealth and excess, will either have to cease sales in Russia or change its name if it wants to continue supplying oligarchs with party potion.

State-owned Christall Vodka, a sister brand of Stolichnaya, has taken Cristal to court on the grounds that customers will be confused by the similarity. Russia's copyright watchdog has ruled in favor of Christall, Russia Today reports; Cristal has said it plans to appeal.

The ruling is ironic given the fact that Cristal, which is produced by Louis Roederer, was first created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia while Christall Vodka is not even sold there. While Cristal only obtained its Russian license in 2006, however, Christall secured its copyright 30 years earlier.

In France, Christall Vodka lost a similar battle to Cristal, so some see the latest development as revenge. However, Christall's parent company denies this and says it would be open to allowing Cristal to keep selling if they agree to pay (a lot) for the privilege.

Tags: champagne, Cristal, France, Russia, Stolichnaya, vodka

Penny Preville Jewels Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions, Charity

Last March, I let you know about the partnership between vodka Stolichnaya elit and jewelry designer Penny Preville. The collection made of diamonds and 18K gold includes a cuff bracelet, dangling hoop earrings, a pendant necklace and a pair of cufflinks. They are now being auctioned off to benefit DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The auction starts today on the luxury auction site, Portrero and will end on August 9, culminating in a live auction event in Los Angeles where both virtual participants and invited guests can bid in real time for the jewels and selected travel packages.

Source

Tags: auction, bracelet, charity, diamonds, diffa, elit, penny preville, stolichnaya

Stoli elit Vodka and Penny Preville Pair Up For Jewelry Benefit Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Charity

Vodka and diamonds seem like a natural match, equalled in their icy allure. Pricey vodka Stolichnaya elit and jewelry designer Penny Preville have created a diamond collection to benefit DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The collection is composed of four pieces, a diamond cuff bracelet, dangling hoop earrings, an elaborately scrolled pendant and a pair of cufflinks featuring emerald cut diamonds. The collection was recently debuted at Soho House and also shown to actress Rosario Dawson and her closet friends aboard the elit branded Gulfstream IV jet. The in-flight fashion show includes a gourmet tasting menu and customized Stoli elit cocktails made with glacier ice as well as on-board facials from esthetician Arsi Tavitian, facialist at Rita Hazan in New York. Now that's a way to see diamonds. The collection will be auctioned off later this year with all of the proceeds benefiting DIFFA which is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. After the jump, each piece of the collection in all its glittering glory.

Tags: auction, diamond jewelry, diamonds, elit vodka, penny preville, stoli, stolichnaya

Continue reading “Stoli elit Vodka and Penny Preville Pair Up For Jewelry Benefit Collection”

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