travel

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

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InterContinental Launches Luxury Boutique Brand in Asia-Pacific

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHC) has opened a Hotel Indigo, its upscale boutique brand, in downtown Shanghai, China.

"The decision to introduce Hotel Indigo into China demonstrates our commitment to the booming hotel industry here while taking our leadership position to the next level," says Keith Barr, managing director of IHG Greater China.

Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, is first Hotel Indigo to open thus far in the region. Centrally located at the southern end of the Bund, sitting directly on the Huangpu River front, Hotel Indigo offers a unique space that adds to the local neighborhood and culture in a creative, sustainable fashion. The 184-room property on waterfront property features spectacular views of the historic Bund, Yu Gardens and the ultra modern Pudong new area, all first-class dining, entertainment and shopping destinations.

Gallery: Hotel Indigo opens in Shanghai

Tags: boutique hotel, China, Hotel Indigo, intercontinental, intercontinental hotels group, luxury hotels, Shanghai, travel

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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

Travelteq Suitcase Goes Where None Have Gone Before

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It looks like a suitcase, but looks are about the only thing the Trip by Travelteq has in common with genus Carryonus Baggus. Two years in the making, it is from the Transformers school of usefulness: a kangaroo compartment in front makes retrieval of your laptop easy, and then you can work on it by turning the hardshell into a chair, extending the wheels, raising the handle and sliding the padded top section forward. It can also be had with its own integrated sound system – detachable speakers that turn the Trip into a go-everywhere iPod dock that can go 12 hours on a charge. There's a USB port for charging your other portables, to boot.

Those features haven't been left to wither in a poorly built enclosure, either. The Trip, all of just 14 pounds, is built of aluminum honeycomb, with aluminum legs on gas springs and an aluminum honeycomb seat, and can support a fatigued traveler weighing more than 300 pounds. Stainless steel pins keep it closed when you need, and the rubber wheels run on skate bearings and can be swapped out for different colors. If you can't imagine why you'd need a suitcase seemingly built for a mission to Andromeda... maybe you just haven't gone far enough afield yet. The Trip is €795 ($1,039 U.S.) at www.travelteq.com.

Gallery: Travelteq Trip Suitcase

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Tags: luggage, suitcase, travel, travelteq, travelteq trip

The Classicist: Bergdorf Goodman Unveils High-Tech Holiday Windows [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist, Video, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping

Legendary luxe New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, founded in 1901, is famous for its amazing, elaborate holiday windows which dazzle shoppers and passersby alike. This year is no exception, with the added attraction of some high-tech features debuting for the very first time. The 2010 windows, entitled "Wish You Were Here," take their inspiration from fantasy travel to far-flung places involving some rather unusual ways of getting there. The displays feature an array of "wild mash-ups of unexpected arrivals and departures", each with visual influences as diverse as Roman mythology, 1940s Hollywood musicals, the city's original Penn Station, and the very first science fiction film.

This year, for the first time, QR codes on several of the windows enable people to view an online Bergdorf Holiday Gift Finder and a video depicting the making of the holiday displays (above) simply by scanning the codes with their smartphone or handheld digital device. Produced entirely in-house by Bergdorf, the video features the song "Follow Me" by 17-year old emerging Sony artist Audrianna Cole. "We are in the surprise business," notes David Hoey, Bergdorf Goodman's Senior Director of Visual Presentation and Window Design. "This job is part architect and part cake decorator." Each of the landmark store's five main Fifth Avenue windows represents a different destination and a special method of conveyance:

Gallery: Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, Christmas shopping, department store, Fifth Avenue, holiday, Holiday 2010, holidays, Naeem Khan, New York, Oscar de la Renta, Polyvore.com, store, travel

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The Classicist: Bespoke Leathergoods from Norton MacCullough & Locke

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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

Norton MacCullough & Locke, the new London firm committed to producing the finest custom-made trunks, jewelry boxes and homeware in the essence of 1920s bespoke British luxury which The Classicist first wrote about earlier this year, is introducing a new collection of custom-made small leathergoods. Founded by veterans of Hermès, Claridge's and Patek Philippe, Norton MacCullough & Locke creates only individual, hand-crafted pieces. NML's Head of Design Lester Ng and CFO David Manchee developed the collection to incorporate both function and practicality whilst retaining the Norton MacCullough & Locke aesthetic and principles. Ranging from iPhone and iPad cases to card holders, document wallets and passport covers, each piece in the new collection is hand-crafted in England by specialist leatherworking artisans, utilizing the finest materials and traditional techniques.

The firm offers a range of leathers, colors, finishes and personalization options to ensure that each bespoke piece is both unique and exclusive, giving the consummate bespoke experience. There's no need to travel to London to commission them however; the luxe accessories can be purchased by downloading the bespoke order form from the Norton MacCullough & Locke website. Following approval of a visual sample (and payment confirmation), the pieces will be created and delivered within 4-8 weeks. In addition to the styles, materials and personalization options offered via the site, Norton MacCullough & Locke will source specific leather types and colors for your piece upon request, specializing in exotics ranging from ostrich, crocodile and lizard skin.

Gallery: Norton MacCullough & Locke Bespoke Leathergoods

Tags: bespoke, crocodile, exotic leather, humidor, iPad, iPhone, leather, leathergoods, London, luggage, luxury travel, mens style, Norton MacCullough Locke, travel, trunks, UK

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Swarovski-Studded VIP Cable Cars in Singapore

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

When taking a tour via cable car usually the beautiful view is outside the cabin but in Singapore's newest luxury cable cars you'll be surrounded by opulence and beauty on the inside as well as by breathtaking landscape views on the outside. Touted as the world's first VIP crystal-studded cable cars, the new Jewel Cable Cars feature Swarovski crystal panels for the floor and roof, black leather interiors with Swarovski-studded armrests, and LED-illuminated exteriors in black metallic and chrome.

The cars run on a monocable ropeway and connect Mount Faber to Sentosa Island, a trip that takes about 13 minutes and costs $24-$26 each way.

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Tags: singapore, swarovski, travel

Sleep on a Giant Mushroom for $1,400 a Night

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

The Museum for Contemporary Art in Berlin has a very unique exhibit that must be experienced in a unique way. The exhibit is intended to give visitors a taste of what it would be like to experience soma, the mythical healing and enlightenment drink that was used by ancient Vedic nomads in India to access the divine. No one knows for sure what soma was made of but experts believe 'magic mushrooms,' or fly agaric mushrooms, were a likely ingredient and so the installation features a floating hotel room where guests can spend the night suspended over a large 'shroom-shaped platform.

Besides re-enacting a soma experience artist and creator Carsten Hoeller also aims to explore how to achieve enlightenment and the roles science and myth play in our society. The exhibit will be open November 5th through February 6th for $1400/night.

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Tags: art, carsten hoeller, experience art, hotel, hotels, museum, performance art, soma, travel

The Most Functional & Stylish Backpacks

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Backpacks are the go-to, functional and easy to wear bags. It's a no brainer. They offer ample space with plenty of compartments and pockets for organization. Backpacks distribute the weight of what you're carrying over both shoulders as opposed to ending up with one painful shoulder or an elbow.

Unfortunately, they are not the most fashion forward accessory to wear, especially if you are a lover of luxurious and head-turning handbags. So what is a woman to do when you need a practical bag that still exudes your sense of style? How about starting your search with our collection of eye catching backpacks that maintain their functionality. This is far from a complete list, but it serves as inspiration in your search.

First up is Prada's Nylon Backpack ($695) - a favorite of many for a multitude of reasons. It balances functionality and style so seamlessly that it has evolved into a classic and timeless accessory. Made with nylon, it lacks a bulkiness that many backpacks posses, it's easy to keep clean and lightweight. The interior is roomy and the exterior pockets allow for smaller items to be safe and easily accessible. In addition to a front flap closure with a magnetic and buckle closure, there's a drawstring closure for added security. Measurements: 12 1/2"H x 11 3/4"W x 6"D.

View the other backpacks in the collection below.

Gallery: The Most Functional & Stylish Backpacks

Tags: alexander wang, AlexanderWang, baby gear, backpack, backpacks, free people, functional, gentle fawn, GentleFawn, gucci, henry cuir, leather, louis vuitton, LouisVuitton, Marc by Marc Jacobs, MarcByMarcJacobs, nylon, prada, Rachel Comey, RachelComey, tory burch, ToryBurch, travel

What It Takes to Max Out a Passport

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Do you know how many pages your passport has? Sanjeev Midha does. The 49 yr old had to get a new passport last year after his old one got so large it ran out of pages (the maximum is 100), and now his new one is already near maxing out at a whopping 96 pages and counting. The real trick is that Midha hasn't racked up all those stamps and Visas by traveling for business, he mostly travels for pleasure with his wife and two teenage sons. This past summer alone they spent 3 1/2 months away from their New Jersey home traipsing all over Europe before heading to China, Mongolia, Canada, and Belize. And they're planning to leave again for Thanksgiving, this time to go snorkeling in the Cayman Islands.

So how much does all this traveling cost? Midha sets aside about $150,000 - $250,000 each year just for world travel, which he divides up into 8-10 trips taken with his wife, one or both of his sons, or everyone all together.

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Tags: family travel, passport, travel

Packing Is Easier with 3floz.com

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Men's Style, Luxury Shopping

With the fall and winter travel holidays right around the corner, you need 3floz.com. Launched earlier this year, this site stocks TSA-approved sizes of popular (including high-end) beauty brands. No more need to create your own minis, and if you're like me, risk spilling half the bottle as you try to transfer some of your favorite toner or lotion to a smaller bottle. The site is easy to navigate -- you can look up products by category or brand; pick up a kit; search by organics-only; and even browse for products for men and babies. Great for sampling, too, if you aren't ready to commit to a full-size product. Free shipping when you spend $100 or more.

Tags: 3 ounces, 3 oz., beauty, packing, samples, travel, TSA

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.

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

One Hundred Legendary Louis Vuitton Trunks [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books, Video

In November Abrams Books will publish an incredible volume showcasing 100 legendary trunks made by the famed French luxury goods house Louis Vuitton since the firm was founded in 1854. The luxe luggage includes bespoke trunks made for movie stars from Douglas Fairbanks to Sharon Stone and couturiers from Jeanne Lanvin to Karl Lagerfeld, as well as cases designed for Ernest Hemingway, Leopold Stokowski, and Damien Hirst. The trunks have been designed to hold everything from beds to bicycles, desks and iPods. Illustrated with 600 images taken from the Louis Vuitton archives in France and new photographs made especially for this book, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks is designed to be the "definitive history of personalized objects of both practicality and luxury." The book is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, meanwhile you can check out this incredible video preview.

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Tags: Abrams Books, Damien Hirst, Ernest Hemingway, France, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, Sharon Stone, travel, trunks

The Classicist: Celebrating Tumi's 35 Years of Luxe Luggage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

When President Obama selected a black leather Tumi laptop bag as his briefcase of choice, it was just the latest confirmation that the chic brand has become the leader in premium business and travel accessories. The company is celebrating its 35th anniversary this fall with with several new collections reflecting its heritage and authenticity. Limited edition collections, including Tumi Originals, a special line of 35 iconic city leather luggage tags and a collection of Boston bags, honors both the brand's past and the future. The origins of Tumi can be traced back to 1975. While stationed in South America, ex-Peace Corps member Charlie Clifford became captivated by the authentic raw leathers produced in Colombia. Motivated by the desire to introduce fine leather bags for business, he set about importing them to America.

Today the brand has an established reputation for its ballistic nylon, but in the beginning, leather was the material of choice. Tumi Originals, launching holiday 2010, is a modern day reinterpretation of some of the first styles from Tumi, as seen in the company's first ad campaign above. With classic silhouettes and detailing, the collection pays tribute to the "firsts" from the brand. The five-style collection will include silhouettes such as the first tri-fold garment bag, soft satchel and tote. The pieces are crafted from washed Malaga leather with antique brass hardware and unlined leather front pockets, both which are direct references to the styling details of the "first" collection. Available in black and sienna brown, Tumi Originals incorporate styling details and elements first used by the brand 35 years ago but with an innovative approach.

Gallery: Tumi 35th Anniversay

Carry More leather and ballistic nylon bags

Tags: bags, Barack Obama, briefcase, garment bag, leather, luggage, travel, Tumi

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Hemingway's Great-Granddaughter Stars in Louis Vuitton Safari Campaign

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Earlier this year we told you about model Dree Hemingway, 22, daughter of Mariel Hemingway and great-granddaughter of famous author Ernest Hemingway, who's making a name for herself among the fashion crowd. Now the willowy blonde is starring in a luxe new safari-themed ad campaign for Louis Vuitton (above). Reminiscent of Hemingway's African tales such as The Snows of Kilimanjaro, the casting choice is a fitting one as the author is often credited with introducing the Swahili word "safari" into common parlance.

The new Vuitton campaign, highlighting the famed French luxury goods house's handmade travel items, was shot on location in Africa. Photographed by Carter Smith, the ads feature Dree and a handsome young fellow enjoying the dramatic scenery of the African veldt. Items on display include bags, trunks, journals, watches, blankets, sunglasses, jewelry, clothing and even a few items of vintage Vuitton luggage. The campaign comes on the heels of Dree's selection as the face of Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferré earlier this year, following appearances for Abercrombie & Fitch and DKNY.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Dree Hemingway for Louis Vuitton