For its debut perfume campaign, Louis Vuitton has unveiled a series of photographs by Patrick Demarchelier for the 7 fragrances created by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud: Rose des Vents , Turbulences , Dans la Peau , Apogée , Contre Moi , Matière Noire and Mille Feux . The campaign features Léa Seydoux in South Africa, at Lone Creek Falls – Sabie Town, and is shot by photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Ranging from the breezy Rose des Vents to the intoxicating Turbulences and the darker notes of Matière Noire, Louis Vuitton perfumes “describe a journey of emotions” as the company puts it.
IMG Worlds of Adventure, an amusement park that cost more than $1 billion dollars and took three years to build, opened its doors to the public last Wednesday. The park is as big as 28 football fields, measuring some 1.5 million square feet in size, and features a mishmash of characters from Cartoon Network, like the much loved Powerpuff Girls and Disney’s Marvel universe, like the Hulk and Spider-Man, according to reports.
International network luxury travel specialists Virtuoso have picked a list of top ten adventure travel destinations and surprisingly, Iceland comes up top. Iceland’s picturesque landscape of volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs landed it top spot as most sought-after adventure destination. Following Iceland on the second spot are the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, while Chile and Costa Rica along with Patagonia tie for the third spot. Fourth and Fifth spots are occupied respectively by New Zealand and Peru.
The YI Erida is the first consumer targeted drone with a carbon fiber construction, 4K video and top speed of 75mph, but the biggest feat it claims to achieve is to combine simplicity and ease of use with the most advanced technology. And it’s all set to debut at InterDrone in Las Vegas. The makers of this new drone believe it could bring professional grade performance to the masses at an affordable price. With a body constructed completely from carbon fiber, the YI Erida is durable yet light making it easy to manoeuvre and gentle on battery life. Initial tests show that it can reach speeds of 120km/h while remaining airborne for 40 minutes. The three sets of rotors fold down so that the drone is easy to transport when not in the air and as it doesn’t need a separate remote controller – it’s all operated via a smartphone app.
Bottega Venetta’s iconic Intrecciato design makes the leap from bags to eyewear this season. An extension of Tomas Maier’s polished ready-to-wear collection for fall, the Intrecciato Eyewear range would be available in three distinct collections, with the classic motif appearing on both sunglasses and prescription glasses. The Light Intrecciato Profile will have the motif subtly applied to both unisex and feminine frame shapes, finished with tonal or contrasting color nuances and two iconic rivets on the temples. The Intrecciato Eyes range will be defined by an eyebrow metal insert with the engraved motif running along the unisex browline frame. The Intrecciato Rim style might see the woven motif engraved throughout, but the resulting look remains light and versatile. The range will be available in matte or semi-matte finishes, in a colour palette of black, brown and Havana, with accents of blues, greens and pinks for extra oomph!
As the first-ever mall in Asia and the largest mall in Hong Kong, Harbour City has evolved over the past 50 years and has become a global destination for fashion. To mark the 50-year milestone, Harbour City is collaborating with renowned cultural icon “BE@RBRICK”, inviting 37 international fashion brands to contribute to Hong Kong’s largest-ever BE@RBRICK fashion-art group exhibition,“Style Up BE@RBRICK at Harbour City” , from September 19 to October 16. A few participating brands will also create special BE@RBRICK store window displays at their Harbour City outlets. “Gallery by the Harbour” will celebrate the 15thAnniversary of BE@RBRICK and feature special edition BE@RBRICK figures from the past 15 years. After the exhibition, the 37 versions of the 2000% original BE@RBRICK figures will be available for charity sale, with proceeds going towards the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation. Harbour City will also launch its Harbour City x BE@RBRICK “Style Up in the Rain” Limited Edition Umbrella & Kid’s Rain Boots between August 22 and September 4 as a pre-launch of the exhibition. To showcase the crossover umbrella as a fashion accessory, Harbour City has invited renowned photographer, Jimmy Ming Shum to take a series of fashion photos under the rain, with styling and wardrobe by Lane Crawford.
When the one you love declares his wish to lay the world at your feet, you might give him a hint that you’d like the Eiffel Tower at your feet instead. Wonder what we’re talking about? Christian Louboutin’s latest capsule collection inspired by vintage cityscapes of Paris features the Eiffel Tower on its shoes and the Siene river on its bags. The entire Plan de Paris collection flaunts the map of Paris and was created in the Louvre as a token of love by Christian Louboutin for his birthplace. Presented in soft calfskin and gleaming specchio leather, the collection consists of shoes, handbags and small leather goods for both men and women. There are also some of Louboutin’s signature products like the Pigalle Follies 100, Décolleté 554 heels and the reinvented version of the Paloma tote bag.
Following the announcement of Willow Smith as the face of its fall/winter 2016/17 eyewear line, Chanel has released the full ad campaign starring the 15-year-old actress and singer. Karl Lagerfeld invited the energetic daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, to showcase the latest designs from the French Fashion House in a series of black-and-white shots.
Come September 6 and Europe’s leading boating event begins in the South of France. From September 6 to 11, more than 50,000 visitors will descend on Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto for the splendid Cannes Yachting Festival, where nearly 600 boats will be displayed both in water and on land, including around one hundred world premieres. The shipyards offer trips out to sea so that new buyers can have sea-trials on the finest yachts in the world and make an informed choice. The Vieux Port will be the home of many special exhibitions including the Palais des Festival. This space will include the latest water toys and tenders alongside the beach, as well as many banks, interior designers, architects and shipyards. This year’s festival will see the introduction of La Terrasse, a special area for the luxury industry stakeholders that will include automobiles, watches, jewellery, private aviation, prestigious property, gastronomy, tableware, couture houses, leather and saddles, furniture & design, art & photography, hotel, high-tech products, perfume & beauty, premium services as well as luxury yachts.
HISTORY OF WHOO | This luxe Korean brand, named after the Chinese character meaning ‘empress’, models its products, like the Hwanyu Essence, on the lines of oriental herbal medicine and secret royal recipes for beauty
In a world where science is redefining cosmetology, where precision come prior to packaging, and where anti-ageing products are not good to have but must to have, beauty is serious business. And every once in few years, there’s a breakthrough or a trend that takes pride of place in the beauty industry’s canons. This time around, fair and square in the global spotlight, is K-beauty or Korean beauty products. While the ubiquitous BB cream is one innovation credited to the Korea, the buck has not stopped just there, rather it has taken a giant leap to put South Korea firmly on the map of cutting edge beauty innovation. So, if you have been adding layers to your skincare routine with exotic sounding potions, and appreciate the difference between hot and cold face masks, ampoule and essence, serum and emulsion, then you have all the makings of a Korean beauty junkie, following right in the footsteps of the seasoned product aficionados who are busy working in the ‘skin expression’ factor of their Korean concoctions.
JEJU ISLAND | Known as South Korea’s Hawaii, Jeju islands are a treasure trove of nature’s best and most precious herbs, flowers and minerals and waters, which distinguish Korean skincare
While the Jeju islands, in South Korea, are feted as the fertile mecca of sourcing prized herbs, flowers, oils, minerals and medicinal materials which are then to be beautifully bottled up, the appeal of Korean beauty lies in the flawless overall look that is achieved at the end of a multi-step routine which is like daily skin spa, and the emphasis on new and novel ingredients, almost always harvested from nature. So there are snail secretion and starfish essence, ginseng and green tea, kelp and bamboo sap, orchids and camellias among a few of the organic, traditional ingredients giving K-beauty its unique, apothecary feel. AmorePacific, LG, Tony Moly and Amarte are some of the best known luxe Korean beauty bigwigs, with other niche brands under their umbrage, and are now available at leading department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and multi-brand outlets like Sephora. But the popularity and global demand shaping up this business is leading to a specific expansion of online sales channels amping up the worldwide accessibility of K-beauty brands. There are popular Korean e-tailers selling curated Korean beauty products, such as Glowrecipe, Peach and Lily, and SokoGlam, and then there are international fashion e-commerce portals like ASOS, also stocking K-beauty. Now, for our skincare obsessed in India, there are some legit sites stocking a range of high-end and popular K-beauty brands, offering free international shipping, door-step delivery, flash sales, beauty subscriptions and product reviews among other tempting features to add to your e-shopping experience. So, you can head right to Wishtrend, Cosme-de, W2Beauty, or Cosmetic Love for your K-beauty fix, with no trip to Seoul required!
MIRACLE ROSE CLEANSING STICK | Curiously packaged, this Su:m37 cleanser is gentle without compromising its efficacy as the organic ingredients wash away dirt and impurities while also caring for your skin
Now, onto listing some of our favourite top-of-the-line Korean beauty brands, we have selected five standout products, one from each luxe brand, which are absolutely fabulous and worthy of your investment of time and money. So, cutting to the chase, we start with our favourite cleanser which, incidentally, is neither in a bottle, bar or box but comes in a twist-up tube. Yes, we are talking about the much sought-after Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick which has seen rave reviews. With over 90% natural ingredients, and bits of rose petals in the stick as evidence, plus the lovely floral scent of naturally fermented damask rose extract, this is one gentle cleanser which fits in perfectly into your double cleansing routine, and also into your travel or gym kit. An innovative cleansing formula which nourishes as it cleanses, this product comes in a blush pink tube proclaiming the Su:m37 name, which is one of the premium brands owned by the Korean giant, LG, which houses other cult favorites like History of Whoo and Belif. Like Korean kimchi, the Su:m37° products have ingredients which go through the process of fermentation to release their skin-enhancing essences, while being free from artificial colour, scent and preservatives. In Korean, “sum” means “breathe” and 37 stands for the optimal temperature for fermentation. Succinct and subtle, like the brand’s au natural philosophy. Price – INR 2200 approx.
LANEIGE BB CUSHION | All you need to do is to press the super-puff to play up this innovative compact’s sponge soaked with the beautifying liquid formula which just glides on smoothly for an even coverage
Next, we have the BB Cushion from Laneige, which is French means snow, and in Korea stands for a best-selling skincare brand. The star product, its BB cushion, is a classic combination of a BB cream and a compact, offering a natural coverage with a range of shades to match one’s skin tone. Packed in minimal white, this is a literal ‘cushion’ for the skin and is a multi-tasking product which offers brightening, soothing, mattifying effect while also being water-resistant and UV banishing. While its claim to fame is that there is one BB Cushion sold very ten seconds, the beauty blogs certainly seem to be in love with it. The anti-bacterial cell sponge applicator also adds a special touch to this versatile skin-benefiting makeup, which is so much more than a compact and so much easier than a BB cream in a tube. Price – INR 3100 approx.
GINSENG RENEWING CREAM | Korean herbal medicine and is at the heart of Sulwhasoo products and their powers of skin rejuvenation, never tested better than with this jar being one of the most lauded beauty product
Founded in 1967 by Sung Whan Suh, Sulwhasoo’s beauty formulations are based on Korean herbal medicines. Drawing from the ancient “Sang-seng” philosophy, which is talks of balancing the inner energies of the skin for a healthy complexion, Sulwhasoo uses ingredients naturally occurring in Korea, like ginseng, lotus, lily, peony, etc. With boutiques in Singapore, Hong Kong, and stocked at Bergdorf Goodman, this is Korean beauty with a brand legacy. One of the top sellers from its varied product line is the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream which was first created in 1966 and was named the “All Best Cream” given its all-rounder capacity to heal everything. Promising the luminescent glow of beautifully clear skin, this product packs in anti-ageing benefits along with deep hydration and protection from free radicals. Ideal to be used a night cream, this is a best seller which has its loyal patrons coming back for more, despite the hefty price tag of INR 18000 approx. With Korean calligraphy and symbols gracing the packaging, each Sulwhasoo product claims to take you ‘on a journey into the heart of Korean tradition and beauty’.
TIME RESPONSE CREME | All powerful botanical ingredients in this Skin Renewal formula are delivered to the skin through microfluidics technology developed by AmorePacific Technology & Research Institute
The largest beauty franchise in Korea, Amore Pacific’s stress is on Asian botanicals and sourcing authentic Korean ingredients into their range of ‘luxurious, high-performance anti-aging skin care’. What makes it more special is that Amore Pacific has its own Jeju Island gardens form where comes their most potent green tea, their globally patented Korean red ginseng, and the prized organic bamboo sap, all part of the natural botanicals which make the Amore Pacific formulations the preferred choice for the serious beauty aficionados. From sheet masks to mists to cushion compacts and serums, the range is wide and the packaging luxe. In operation for more than 65 years, this is one brand which continues to lead with its portfolio of select skincare labels, while the main eponymous brand thrives on producing such prized potions such as the Time Response Skin Renewal Crème which consists of 100% first harvested green tea water and a trademarked Complex™ consisting of Green Tea Stem Cell, Green Tea Polysaccharide EGCG, and Green Tea Saponin to create radiant, firm and smooth skin which is flawless, just like the ideal of Korean beauty is supposed to be. Price – INR 48000 approx.
