We've written before about the allure of vintage luggage, expressing the glamour and decadence of a bygone era when journeying to a foreign land involved adventure, romance and style. While certain pieces do turn up at auction from time to time, the Germany-based Vintage Luggage Company has now amassed the world's greatest collection of classic travel items made by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Goyard, which they can have professionally crated and shipped worldwide. Among the prizes in their inventory are an amazing selection of bespoke trunks, including a 1920s Vuitton desk trunk which converts to a writing table complete with a typewriter. Another trunk from 1925 houses a full set of plates, cutlery and cooking equipment, each with its own bespoke leather case. Others contain a long evening's worth of champagne, a complete collection of hats, a portable library - pretty much anything you could wish for while on the road.

[via Duncan Quinn]

It's been since 2005 (the 2003 vintage) since Portugal's Douro Valley declared a vintage port but Wine Spectator reports that the 2007 growing season's cool summer and sunny fall produced a superior product. The Port industry has made its biggest Vintage Port declaration. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto is in the process of approving 50 different wines. The 2007 Vintage Ports will be bottled in a few months and will be shipped to the trade this fall but futures are already being sold. Top names should sell for $65-$85 per bottle.

The declaring of a Port vintage may bring some attention back to the fortified wine which has been suffering declining numbers over the last few years. In February it was announced that Port exports had hit a five-year low. It's not the best time economically to declare a vintage but in the Wine Spectator article Paul Symington of the Symington Port Group compared the situation to the 1931 declaration saying that it is "mad to declare in the midst of a recession like this, but mad not to bottle such a lovely wine."

In a Classicist column last summer we reminisced about the the golden age of motoring when one would embark on an automobile journey with elegant picnic and cocktails cases carefully stowed in the boot of the car. On May 19th we'll get another glimpse into the bygone era of traveling in true style when Christie's London South Kensington branch auctions off an amazing selection of vintage Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Dunhill luggage. With the favorable exchange rates currently in effect it's an enticing opportunity to build a collection with lasting value, while truly timeless luxury items are more appealing than ever.

"Harking back to a golden age of travel, vintage luggage encapsulates the glamor and decadence of a bygone era when journeying to a foreign land involved adventure, romance and style," notes Christie's' Director of Textiles Pat Frost. "These exquisitely crafted pieces evoke a time when the journey was as important as the destination. With iconic names including Louis Vuitton, Dunhill and Hermes leading the field and remaining very collectible they not only functional but design objects in their own right."

Highlights of the sale include two cream colored canvas and leather suitcases by Hermès from the mid-20th century, monogrammed "APW", estimated at about $2,200 - $3,000; two fine black cases by Dunhill and T. Anthony, the first of black leather in semi-circular form with one fitted tray and gunmetal hardware, the second of black fabric with leather strapping, lined in moire with various pockets and gilt hardware, est. at about $1,200 - $1,500; and a monogram hard-side case and cover by Louis Vuitton (above) with a beautiful patina to the the leather handle, est. at about $900 - $1,200.

Right now the focus fashionwise is on finding pieces that last. A good accessory is one that enhances your outfit but doesn't overpower it. The piece shown above, a vintage brass link necklace from Margaret Rowe Vintage Couture is exactly that sort of piece. At 48 inches long it can dangle dramatically across your body or can be worn doubled around the neck (it would look great with a crisp white shirt).

We are giving away this piece to one lucky reader and all you have to do is answer one simple question. What's your favorite accessory that never goes out of style?

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Friday, March 27 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive the Margaret Rowe Vintage Circle Link necklace, valued at $200.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Designer Margaret Rowe believes that "vintage couture jewelry is the new precious." Her line of pieces combine vintage costume pieces with modern touches. The main elements in her necklaces are vintage pendants dating from the 1920s through the 1950s. She combines vintage with contemporary elements to create a frame or a 'modern silhouette' for the artpieces. She creates all of her pieces by hand and most are one-of-a-kind creations. She can also transform your vintage heirloom into a more wearable piece of art and can create a unique bespoke piece for you from her own vast vintage collection to your exact specifications. Prices in the collection run from from $250 to $2,000, the piece above which includes a 1940s flower blossom pendant sells for $795. Check out a few designs in the gallery below.

The BCBG Max Azria Origami Shoulder Bag is the perfect bag to compliment the chunky jewelry trend this season.

This plump little purse is crafted from soft, imported cowhide. The first things we noticed (and liked) about this bag were the heavy-handed, deliberate ruching on the strap and the origami-like folds on the body of the bag.

The Origami Shoulder Bag is just large enough to carry all the essentials, but modest enough to avoid that "duffel bag" look. We love the flower turnlock closure; it looks vintage and dainty -- very much in keeping with the style of the bag.

We recommend pairing this with vintage gloves, whether you're carrying it with a casual or dressy outfit, to maximize its well-to-do feel.

The The BCBG Max Azria Origami Shoulder Bag is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $398.

Last year the watch loving public was delighted to see the Vintage collection from IWC that included a vintage styled Aquatimer watch, closely resembling the first Aquatimer watch from 1967. This was easily the best of the new Vintage line watches in my opinion, and still looks great a year later. This year IWC has taken the entire new IWC Vintage line and added 18k gold (white or rose gold) versions of the 44m wide case to the strong lineup.

This is the rose gold IWC Vintage Aquatimer on a honey alligator strap. The look is about as beautiful a retro diver watch as you can get. The internal rotating bezel is controlled via the top crown on the right side of the watch, which is screwed down. Inside is an IWC manufactured 80111 calibre automatic movement with Pellaton winding system and integrated shock absorbers. Sapphire crystals (antireflective) are on the front and rear of the watch. This true diver's watch is water-resistant to 12 ATM. Price likely $15,000 - $20,000 for the gold versions of this highly desirable IWC Vintage Aquatimer watch. Perfect for actual diving or otherwise.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Girard-Perregaux has a number of timeless looking watches with the 1945 being among them. This restyled Vintage 1945 model watch is a triumph of a bygone era. Don't knock the 32mm x 32mm size of the square watch until you wear one. It sits small by today's standards, but I think you'll come to appreciate it. The 18k rose gold case blends with the honey alligator strap so nicely. It is also available in steel with a black dial.

New to the case are the "godrons." These are rib shaped areas that wrap around the corners of the watch. They mark the space between the case and the sharply angled lugs. Inside the watch is a automatic Girard-Perregaux GP3300 calibre movement viewable through a sapphire caseback window. The dial features applied gold hour markers and dauphine hands, as well as central guilloche engraving. The nicely placed date window sits between 1 and 2 o'clock while the prominent subsidiary seconds dial sit at 9 o'clock. A nicely in-set crown rounds out this beautiful little number.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Here's a collector's item plate set that was inspired by the past but is sure to turn heads and start conversations well into the future. Designed by Caroline Silfverling and called simply "The Ladies," the set includes 4 plates and features old-fashioned pin-up girls sitting amidst piles of oversized rose blooms. Classic in black and white on white, the plates are inspired by historical objects, events, textiles, and (of course) old movies and are intended to help connect us with the past in a revived and refreshed way. Made of fine bone china, £120 for the set of 4.

Via Retro to Go

Nothing brightens up a room like a mirror. It distributes light and creates the illusion of more space. In Feng Shui, it is recommended to hang a mirror opposite the door of a room (harmony or vanity, the world may never know).

One way to take even greater advantage of the reflective benefits of mirrors is to incorporate mirrored furniture. Nothing looks cleaner than a perfect mirrored panel, and nothing sparkles day and night with such pristine glamour.

Horchow currently has an excellent selection of mirrored furniture, for example the "Autumn" mirrored chest at right. As you can see, the mirrors make the decorated chest a standout piece of furniture, and special enough to give as a gift. See the gallery for more items, and pick up a pair of vintage gloves from Vintage Hat Box to avoid smudging.

It's not looking good for the 2008 Bordeaux. Decanter reports that France's two main newspapers, Le Monde and Le Figaro have panned the 2008 vintage. They say that the recent poor weather has affected the harvest. Le Figaro said that the 2008 wine 'promised neither quality nor quantity' while Le Monde said that readers 'should not expect answers [from winemakers] when all the conditions that go in to making a great vintage do not come together.' The harvest has been very difficult all over the region running weeks behind schedule due to increased rain. The news comes at a time when conflicting Bordeaux stories are in the media. On the one hand, the 2005 Bordeaux is said to be phenomenal, but things after that aren't so rosy. Vintners are threatening to boycott producers over the cost of the 2006 vintage and the emperor of wine, Robert Parker had limited kind words for the 2007 vintage.

Famous art lecturer and socialite Rosamond Bernier is cleaning out her closet, and on Thursday her vintage couture castoffs will be available on Yoox.com. Included in the sale is a rare piece from Yves Saint Laurent's reign at Christian Dior, a waterprint taffeta gown with matching evening bag. (Bernier donated a 1949 Dior, at right, to the Met.)

Bernier gave her last art lecture at the Met in March, but could probably tell a number of stories about the clothes she recently handed over -- Zandra Rhodes frocks and Chanel suits she's been collecting for decades. Considering Bernier's been named to the International Best Dressed List -- for life -- the selection on Yoox is worth a look.

[via The Stylephile]

Shopping for vintage men's clothing has gotten a little easier now that eLuxury is in the men's vintage business. They have partnered with La Rosa Vintage Boutique of San Francisco, California to offer one-of-a-kind pieces that range from fashions you hoped you'd never see again like 1970s polyester shirts and leisure jackets to more classic sport coats, trench coats and some funky western shirts. My favorite pieces are the brocade dinner jackets and smoking jackets. You'll pay a bit more than you might if you were rummaging around a thrift store though. The brocade jacket shown above is $400 and they are charging $200 for some of their 1970s polyester shirts which seems rather ridiculous given that even their suitably toothsome model can't quite seem to pull those looks off.

Today in Chelsea, 85 top vintage dealers gathered at Metropolitan Pavilion for a textile show and sale. The room was full of sparkling jewels, fur coats, and gowns fit for princesses. Menswear wasn't ignored either; vintage boots, suits, and cufflinks were abundant.

Above is a display of items from Exquisite Costume, a vintage clothier with a shop in Soho. At right is a closer look at that fabulous boa; one of the most exciting pieces we saw.

Our pick of the show was a boutique called Grape in the Shade. Previously featured in Travel and Leisure, Grape in the Shade is a vintage shop in Connecticut with a reputation for having whimsical, classical wares. Owner Joanna Lombardi, whose taste is exceptional, was an absolute treat. Their website will be up and running soon. For now, you can contact the shop (we recommend them for hats and jewelry) at 860-868-9119.

Also spotted at the Manhattan Vintage show was Mad Fashionista Elisa DeCarlo, an eccentric seller of fine plus-sized vintage clothes.

The next three shows are already scheduled, so if you didn't make it this time, watch for the show again in February, April, and October of 2009. You can keep tabs here at ManhattanVintage.com.

One of the most interesting collections of vintage Rolls-Royces isn't in some U.S. millionaire's shiny garage. It's hidden in a tower among the Encartaciones mountains in Spain. Spanish website Eitb24 says that the Torre Loizaga in Galdames was once destroyed by a lightning and later rebuilt. The collection includes 43 Rolls Royces spread out over three pavilions along with 27 other makes of cars such as a a 1903 Peugeot, a 1911 Ford T, a Ferrari Testarosa, a Lamborghini Countach, two Jaguars and a 1934 Bentley in three other pavilions. The oldest car in the collection is a 104 years old "Gladiator". Check out the pictures from Flickr user jl_ibarruri who toured the place. It's definitely not your typical museum.