And so the Vanquish Zagato Concept is finally zooming toward you—with only 99 models to be picked up. First unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como, Italy in May 2016, the car had garnered immense response which led it to become a limited edition production model in a month. Under the hood the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Coupe gets a 6.0L V12 engine generating 592bhp, clocking 0-100kmph in just about 3.5 seconds. The car also gets a unique suspension setup which offers a GT driving experience. Design cues have been picked up from the concept exhibited at Villa d’Este, with the iconic ‘double-bubble’ designed roof and a shallow radius design dipping into the rear window for that sporty appeal. The bodywork is entirely shaped from carbon-fibre, with the split lines on the body significantly reduced by the use of large one-piece panels while the large grille with sporty headlamps gives it a distinctive identity. The interior features high quality leather upholstery and rich material quality vents and rotary dials, with ‘Z’ quilt patterns stitched onto the seat and door sections. The celebrated Zagato ‘Z’ comes embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.

This is the year that marks the 250th anniversary of Christie’s — an historic year which will be commemorated with a series of exhibitions and events at Christie’s salesrooms across the globe. Celebrations of two and a half centuries will launch in London with Defining British Art, an Evening Sale (30 June) and Loan Exhibition (17 June to 15 July) that both explore the legacy of four centuries of British artists, from Sir Joshua Reynolds to Lucian Freud.  An intimate family portrait by Lucian Freud painted in 1992; a pivotal example from 1864 of British Aestheticism at auction for the first time in 100 years by Frederic, Lord Leighton; an exquisite portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds from 1778, on the market for the first time, and a stunning landscape by John Constable from his series of large-scale canvases of the Stour Valley are among the works to be offered in the sale and exhibition in London. This year also sees Christie’s celebrate 30 Years in Asia and 10 Years in Dubai.

Delhi’s going to be the destination for Dior loyals henceforth. Opening this month at the Select Citywalk Mall in Saket is the luxe brand’s exclusive boutique for beauty, skin care and perfumes. The opulent Christian Dior Fragrances and Beauty boutique boasts 90 square metres of plush are, along with impressive graphic décor featuring black lacquer and fluorescent neon, ceiling to floor lights, distinct product spaces and a separate section for each category. You can watch films from the house of Dior on the large screens installed in the boutique, even as you browse or just relax in the luxe ambience. What’s more the store even offers a private consultation room for elite client and an array of services by fragrance, skincare and make-up experts. This won’t be just Dior’s first boutique in India but only their second in all of Asia. Calls for a grand shopping spree!

Adidas Originals has joined forces once again with Pharrell Williams and his brand Billionaire Boys Club for a tropical-themed capsule collection. Palm tree print adorns two pairs of premium leather Stan Smith sneakers for a look reminiscent of Pharrell’s first sneaker silhouette for BBC — the ICECREAM “Boutique” sneaker, and the summer staples like a tank top, track jacket and shorts complete the look. Collaborative branding like the Billionaire Boys Club signature astronaut helmet and Adidas logos appear throughout the line and separate the collection from the myriad other tropical collections currently on the market. The Billionaire Boys Club Palm Tree collection arrives in tropical red and green, starting June 25 at the BBC and Adidas stores, as well as online.

Mayhoola for Investments, an investment fund backed by the Emir of Qatar, has acquired French fashion house Balmain, adding a brand favoured by Kim Kardashian to a roster of labels that includes Italy’s Valentino. According to some reports, Mayhoola agreed to pay close to €500 million (S$756 million) for the deal. The acquisition of 100 per cent of Balmain from shareholders including France’s Hivelin family will allow the brand to accelerate its development by opening new stores around the world, advisers Bucephale Finance said in a statement late on Tuesday. Mayhoola also owns Valentino, which is considering selling shares in an initial public offering as early as next year after nearly doubling profit on revenue of more than US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) in 2015.The acquisition of Balmain is the second fashion deal this week by Middle Eastern investors after Bahrain investment house Investcorp Bank BSC purchased 55 per cent of Italian menswear maker Corneliani.

Herman Miller recently unveiled the Plex Collection of modular furniture at the NeoCon trade fair in Chicago. Created by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of London studio Industrial facility, this collection actually features pieces that can change form and functionality using hooks located on the sides. Combining six elements to form armchairs, sofas, ottomans and benches, the collection also includes a variety of bases and detachable adjustable headrests. Users can also choose from a selection of legs, casters, swivel bases and textile colors. “Each element can be used alone or combined in myriad ways to create settings ranging from a haven for quiet contemplation [to] a small social grouping or a team space,” stated Herman Miller. What’s more, the seats and backs feature a stretched, adjustable rubber membrane that moulds itself to your posture, creating the ultimate in seating comfort—and guess what? There are power ports under the seats too. But there’s more. To get rid of that stiff-neck feeling, there’s a range of portable tables with adjustable heights so you can work conveniently on your laptop. Now this is furniture that you can literally feel at peace with.

So you’re addicted to Game of Thrones and would give your eye teeth for that Khaleesi look. No sweat — here’s some fantastic jewelry inspired by the hugely successful show and it’s been created by none other than the Emmy- winning costume designer Michele Clapton, who teamed up with London-based jewelers Yunus & Eliza to form MEY designs. Michele Clapton first joined forces with Yunus Ascott and Eliza Higginbottom to create custom pieces for season five of the show. For Daenerys Targaryen aka Khaleesi , Clapton realised she had to create a look that went with the strong, complex yet fragile image of Targaryen as Khaleesi. As the show progressed, the clamouring for Khaleesi’s jewelry grew louder and louder and what we have now is a result of that demand. So after feasting your eyes on the sinfully tempting Dragon Necklace, you can now lay your hands on it too. The collection, set to debut on June 30, will include 26 pieces from the show. Some of these drool-worthy pieces are the Dragon Choker for $2010, Dragonstone Pendant for $290, Armour Earrings for $220, Flight Cuff for $1,080 and Flight Earrings for $300. The jewelry can be purchased online at mey.london.

Zaha Hadid’s architectural legacy has been honoured by the Iraqi postal service by featuring her on a new stamp using an image created by montaging two separate portraits. While the picture of her face was taken shortly before her death, when she was awarded the 2016 Royal Gold Medal for architecture, the image of her outfit forms part of a portrait shot by Time Magazine in 2010. This image of her is accompanied by drawings of her projects, including the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, and her scrapped design for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium. The Iraq-born architect, who died earlier this year aged 65, is one of two architects honoured on the country’s new postage stamps, along with Mohamed Makiya, who passed away last year at the age of 101.

So this is a plane that’s been 12 years in the making, and designed by a team that was led by a former US Air Force Pilot. Now you know what to expect. The Icon A5 Amphibious Sport Plane has been created by some of the world’s best aircraft/car/boat designers and it shows in the versatility and ingenuity of its design. With a single prop behind the cockpit, powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912 engine running on regular premium gasoline, this 2-seater can fly for up to 400 miles on a full tank, at maximum 109 miles per hour and at 15,000 feet of altitude. Created with a lightweight airframe and folding wings, towing and storing it would be a cinch. The best part? Operating it requires a sport license that takes only 20 hours of training.  Made in California and priced at $190,000, the A5 also boasts an array of cool features including a high visibility canopy, removable side windows, high intensity lighting, retractable landing gear, air parachute, and water platforms that allow it to take off & land on water.

Isadore “Issy” Sharp, founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and rewards has been felicitated with the prestigious 2016 Cornell Icon of the Industry Award, adding to his repertoire of global awards and honours. Presented by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, the award honours the lifetime achievements of hospitality and travel industry visionaries, recognising their professional and philanthropic contributions that have transformed the global hospitality industry and society. Isadore Sharp opened the first Four Seasons in 1961, a motor hotel in Toronto. He approached the business from a guest’s perspective, asking “what would they value?” Today, the company operates 99 hotels, resorts and branded residences in 41 countries, with more than 50 projects in the pipeline at various stages of development. “It’s no secret that from the very beginning it has been the people of Four Seasons who have played the most significant role in our success,” stated Isadore Sharp. “Receiving this recognition is a great personal honour and, equally as important, a chance for me to celebrate the collective efforts of many.”  Sharp is also the founder of the annual Terry Fox Run, the largest single-day fundraising event for cancer research worldwide, which has raised more than CAD 700 million to date.