The second edition of the Taj Balloon festival is on in full swing in the glorious historic city of Agra. The lively display of Hot Air Balloons against the backdrop of the iconic Taj Mahal has been on since Nov 25 and shall continue till Nov 30, conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Government in association with E-Factor Adventure Tourism— a prominent company that operates commercial hot air ballooning flights in the name of SkyWaltz, along with promoting and hosting various Hot Air Balloon related events. The line-up comprises 15 balloons from different countries including India, the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, UAE, Netherland, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, and Malaysia. These include three “special shape” balloons featuring iconic characters Happy Egg, Bob the Lobster & Smurf, an exciting new addition to last year’s festival. The highlights of the festival include night glows & tethered flights at the PAC parade grounds. Night glows are a visual delight wherein the massive balloons stacked up close to each other provide a colorful symphony of sound and light, in sync with accompanying music. The eye grabbing Night Glow is open to the general public, and is being held every evening, 6:30 PM onwards, from 25th to 30th November 2016.
Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades, a collection of furniture that reinvents the House’s Art of Travel, just got enriched as two new items adding to the collection will be presented as a preview during Design Miami 2016: the Blossom Stool by Tokujin Yoshioka and the Fur Cocoon by the Campana Brothers. The Objets Nomades range now includes 18 items– from a hammock to a foldable stool– all in noble materials and sold in limited editions or experimental prototypes. Conceived in collaboration with some extremely creative designers: Atelier Oï, Maarten Baas, Barber and Osgerby, the Campana Brothers, Damien Langlois-Meurinne, Nendo, Gwenaël Nicolas, Raw Edges, Patricia Urquiola, Marcel Wanders and Tokujin Yoshioka, the collection pays homage to the House’s special orders of the past – such as the iconic Bed Trunk or Wardrobe Trunk – and adds a defiantly contemporary spirit. Louis Vuitton will officially be part of Design Miami, beginning November 30th and going on till December 4th, where an entire exhibition will be entirely devoted to the Objets Nomades collection, including an installation featuring a selection of the collection presented at the Louis Vuitton Design District store.
CHANEL POP UP AT HEATHROW | Offering the whole range of Chanel’s bespoke beauty experience, the pop up store at London’s Heathrow airport adds to Chanel’s existing beauty boutiques and pop-ups, also in India, exemplifying the trend of luxury brands diversifying their retail touchpoints, across airports and malls
As the retail landscape evolves to match up with the mercurial moods of the consumer economy, luxury retail is also stepping out from under the arched doorways of exclusive, elaborate boutiques tucked away into the posh corners of a city, and coming out in the bold, on the high streets of fashion, and fast-paced consumerism with their beautifully designed pop-up stores and beauty boutiques making their presence felt in the malls and markets. When Chanel came up with their pop-up store in London’s Covent Garden Piazza in 2012, the brand waited with bated breath to see the response which was so encouraging that Dior and Burberry also followed suit, with pop-up stores and beauty boutiques making the Piazza area the #BeautyQuarter for luxe brands. Similarly, the Hermes Silk Bar with its bright orange exterior caused quite a stir among the shoppers at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, and in other cities as well.
HERMESMATIC POP UP | Innovatively designed as a Laundromat, this store in Munich offered a whole range of Hermès classics silk creations like the scarves, mini bowties, twillys
Designed as feasible alternatives to traditional boutique spaces, which are an expensive affair to maintain given the rising real estate prices, pop-up stores and mini boutiques with their focus on specific , fast-moving, relatively price-friendlier product lines like fragrance/cosmetics and accessories, are gaining popularity among the younger fashion enthusiasts who might find it daunting walking into the exclusive luxury boutiques, but prefer the ease of shopping at the more accessible high street malls with myriad offerings, and will find a luxe brand’s presence there to be adding a refreshing touch to their retail experience. With a niche selection of products stocked and displayed at these concept stores, the emphasis is also a lot on the design and décor of the interiors to drive home the ‘luxe’ feel and distinguish their presence. Some stunning retail architecture has been seen by way of these niche structures, whether it was the diner-style Hermès pop-up in NYC in 2013 or Hublot’s crystal-inspired installation in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, also in 2013.
CHANEL POP UP DELHI | Introducing to the high-street mall visitors a guide to luxury skincare, bespoke fragrances and customised make-up, this pop up store remains the cynosure of all eyes
Closer home, in India, we have had Chanel open its stand alone beauty and fragrance pop-up store at DLF Promenade in March this year, where the store’s modern design is a winner with its signature gold, white and black colours catching eyeballs just as you enter the mall. Going beyond the store-in-store format of pop-ups, this 300sqft outlet offers a limited period but real luxe experience with their latest skincare, make-up collections, complimenting Indian skin tones, and the range of their classic and new fragrances, in stock. What sets it apart are the services offered like the in-house specialist to help you try on a look. Also, on offer are bridal services by appointment, including a customised skincare routine. With such differentiators in place, pop up stores are here to stay even as they become the star attractions of high street malls which are opening up to housing their luxe guests in their innovative avatars.
DIOR BEAUTY BOUTIQUE | Inciting the fashion and beauty enthusiasts with its chic interiors, the boutique offers the latest in Dior’s makeup and fragrances which now makes luxury accessible, with a little help from the personalised consultations of course
Moving on from the pop-up store trend, we come to another – the beauty boutiques. As beauty products make for entry level luxury, being both accessible and desirable, it is a great idea and initiative on the part of upscale brands like Chanel and Dior to cut in with an alternative store experience while on the brand-busy high street and in the regular malls with their robust footfall and rising numbers of brand conscious buyers. These niche stores are also ways for the brands to put out new products to test, as the local customer response guides them further. A case in point is India’s very first Christian Dior Fragrances and Beauty boutique which opened this year in South Delhi’s Select Citywalk mall with Dior’s exclusive range of fragrance, makeup and skincare products. All black lacquer and fluorescent neon shades, the 90m2 space store is a stand out with different stations dedicated to makeup, skincare and fragrance and separated by lines of ceiling to floor lights for that dramatic effect. Adding on to this is excellent service by the trained personal attendants, imparting the exact feel of a full fledged fashion boutique, and the private consultation room where there is an array of services to indulge in with help of trained fragrance specialists, makeup experts and skincare specialists. And giving company to this Dior outlet is Chanel’s Beauty Boutique, the third in the country, with 550 sq. feet space designed by the brand’s Parisian creative department and offering the complete catalogue of Chanel’s fragrances, skincare and cosmetics accompanied by the in-house stylist consultations.
With leading names like Chanel and Dior pioneering the trend in India, we are looking at more luxury pop-up stores and beauty bars opening up in our vicinity to create a whole different level of buzz and breakthrough on the Indian retail scene.
The Diwali-inspired luxuriant wallpaper from Pierre Frey. Width 137 cm. Cost: 160 euros per meter
French luxury design house Pierre Frey recently launched their range of India-inspired exquisite wallpapers. Specifically drawing inspiration from the festival of lights Diwali, these wallpapers are a symbiosis of Indo-French aesthetics and a veritable visual feast—a gift of subtle brilliance for those designer homes. The wallpapers feature panels and paintings from the 19th century, bringing together Persian art and Indian colours in a feast of gloriousness.
Pierre Frey has been known to produce exquisite and luxuriant fabrics and wallpapers that draw inspiration from the artistic traditions of countries all over the world—from China to Africa to India. Established in 1935, Pierre Frey is now one of the most respected textile houses in France, associated with several renowned projects including the refurnishing of Ritz Hotel in Paris. And this isn’t their first India association; last year in December boutique store Le Mill hosted an exclusive Pierre Frey pop-up in Mumbai. Incidentally, Le Mill is the only brand to stock Pierre Frey in India.
We’re definitely excited by this Indo-French range of wall adornments, so we’ve got the lot for you to feast your eyes on:
JARDINS DE MYSORE
This one is a reproduction of the exotic charm of an archival document from the end of the 19th century. The elephants, camels, lions, peacocks and vividly depicted blooms all evoke Persia’s cultural and natural abundance, and it’s deep links with India.
Width 137 cm. Cost 160 euros per meter
GAYA
Ceremonial costumes from Rajasthan to liven up the walls
This wallpaper is resplendent with the exuberance of ceremonial costumes from Rajasthan. This ensemble of designs were bought from a painter’s workshop located in the historical center of Jaipur to create this print.
Width 136 cm. Cost 160 euros per meter
GINGER
A painted panel from the 19th century discovered by Patrick Frey
This print reproduces an artistic discovery of Patrick Frey himself: a painted panel from the end of the 19th century that he chanced upon while in Dallas, America. The design is composed of a multitude of traditional, daily or ritual Persian scenes.
Width 136 cm. Cost about 160 euros per meter
EN FILE INDIENNE
The paintings featured in this panel were originally made on silk rectangles and represent joyous parades
The souvenir of a trip to India, these four Indian scenes represent joyous parades. Originally made on silk rectangles, the paintings featured in this wallpaper are superimposed to enrich the story. A paneled composition allows using this wallpaper as a decorative touch in a single panel or, on the contrary, to plunge into the story by repeating the panels to obtain a rhythmic repetition of contrasting colors. Straw wallcovering. Cost: 100 euros per panel
After her first ‘Denim Desserts’, yet another collaboration between Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik has materialised and it’s called ‘Savage’. This collection of designer footwear comprises exclusive winter boots, each of which are allegedly inspired by the singer’s go-to favorites by Timberland. You can expect to find a diverse collection featuring spiky heels, hook and eye laces and fur trims, all tempting and classy in ivory, coffee and cinnamon shades of suede. The boots are places in three categories- the Dominique- a thigh-high design featuring floral brocade, the Alexis – a fur-trimmed, knee-high, lace-up boot and the Fallon – a style inspired by the Timberland boot Manolo first designed in 1994.
Nothing like fragrance to act as aphrodisiac, is there? Perhaps that’s why UK’s premium lingerie brand- Agent Provocateur has released their debut fragrance range with a smashing new perfume – The Pure Aphrodisiaque. And if you still need a hint, the rather obviously tantalising bottle will do the job for you. The fragrance is a concoction of aromas in a fine blend of sultry seduction. Consisting of juicy mandarin, D’Anjou pear, and rich rum, coupled with an addictive base of jasmine petals, wild orchid and the luxurious exoticism of Indian sambac and fresh floral notes, the fragrance is designed to draw you in. Finally, a trail of woods, musks and amber crème bind the scent in an engaging warmth. The 80 ml and 40 ml Eau de Parfum bottles are priced at £65($80) and £49 ($60) respectively, and defined by the Marquee as ‘sexy, curvy and voluptuous’. The design teases you every bit as much as the fragrance, as it evokes the image of a sex toy. Painted in a metallic pink hue, the decanter is given a soft touch to the sides that portray the sensuality of a woman’s skin.
Louis Vuitton recently unveiled Australia’s first ever Men’s pop-up store in the iconic shopping centre Westfield Sydney in the presence of Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director. Located on Level 3, the pop-up is open until 18th December 2016, presenting a selection of Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2017 pre-collection, an homage to African inspirations and highlights the collection with the Chapman Brothers. The store has been specifically designed to embrace the Spring-Summer 2017 collection inspiration, featuring the Chapman Brothers elephant print on a chrome shell. The Amazone Bag in Damier Ebene featuring the Rhino Chapman Brothers print will be exclusive to Westfield Sydney.
Extell Development Company has announced the commencement of sales at One Manhattan Square, New York, its largest luxury residential property to date. Located along the East River waterfront with unobstructed panoramic water and skyline views, One Manhattan Square offers 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities. It is a veritable vertical village with every convenience in downtown Manhattan. “With an unprecedented amenities package, dramatic views and attractive price points, One Manhattan Square is a game-changer,” says Gary Barnett, President and Founder of Extell Development Company. A custom-glass curtain façade, designed by Adamson Associates Architects, one of the world’s leading architectural practices, was intelligently engineered to allow residents to take in iconic skyline and river views. Adamson Associates, which has been commissioned for such projects as the Hearst Tower, World Trade Center Four and The Shard at London Bridge, designed One Manhattan Square to reflect a delicate interplay of natural elements. The podium, building entrances, and parts of the tower facade are clad in muntz metal while Chevrons in the glass tower give it a shimmer that evokes the sea. The award-winning Meyer Davis Studio, a globally recognized design boutique, has crafted the interiors for the 815 residences.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee has paired up yet again with Christian Loubouting to create a line of unique shoes, and guess what—this time there are exclusive bags, too. The Indian designer recently showcased his fall winter 2016 couture collection ‘Firdaus’ in Delhi and it was pure visual delight. Accompanying the collection were a line of bespoke bags, and shoes for both men and women, created through a collaboration between Mukherjee and Louboutin. Boasting of the coming together of sParisian and Indian craftsmanship, the uber luxurious collection uses materials such as cork, leather, and raffia, highlighted by intricate embroidery— Sabyasachi’s opulent touch— and Louboutin’s signature spikes. The women’s line boasts of perfect gems such as the spike-heel Louloudance—a popular platform style with an ankle strap, the Gypsosandal flats, the open-toe Privé shoe, the booty Tuctoboot, and the embellished Girlsbestfriend heels. The men’s collection has a variety of loafers such as Dynodent and Tassilo. The bags in the collection include the popular Paloma clutch in suede and Sweety Charity with embellished fringe. And if you’re salivating already, you can lay your hands on the bags at Christian Louboutin stores in Delhi and Mumbai, but you’d have to wait a bit for the shoe line. The men’s collection would be available during Christmas, bt women have to endure a longer wait until the beginning of next year. Oh well, it’s worth the wait anyway!
Tintin’s Adventures have always been everybody’s favorite. And Herge’s drawings have been favorites at auctions too. But now, one of his masterpieces set a new record. An original drawing from the popular Tintin adventure “Explorers on the Moon” sold for a whopping 1.55 million euros at a Paris auction, auction house Artcurial announced. The amount is a record for a single cartoon drawing. In 2012, the 1932 cover illustration of “Tintin in America” fetched 1.3 million euros. Herge already holds the record for the sale of a comic strip. The record-breaking ‘Explorers on the Moon’ is a 50 cm X 35 cm drawing in Chinese ink by the Belgian cartoonist which shows the boy reporter, his dog Snowy and crusty sailor Captain Haddock wearing spacesuits and walking on the moon while looking at Earth. It surpassed its expected selling price, which was estimated between 700,000 and 900,000 euros ($741,00 and $952,000). Artcurial’s comics expert Eric Leroy described the “Explorers on the Moon” as “a key moment in the history of comic book art… it has become legendary for many lovers and collectors of comic strips. It is one of the most important from Herge’s postwar period, on the same level as ‘Tintin in Tibet’ and ‘The Castafiore Emerald.”
