Built for a costumer who wanted a classic scrambler that would perform well and would be super reliable, Greg Hageman’s Virago Scrambler has a 1982 Yamaha XV920 frame, but the running gear is taken from a 1998 XV1100 model. The result is a classic-looking machine with modern reliability, provided by an overhauled engine and suspension, a sleek exhaust system made in-house with Cone Engineering “Quiet core” mufflers, a single drilled disc rotor up front, Yamaha drum at the rear, and Kenda dual sports tires covering the excel alloy rims. A beautiful Benelli tank, along with shiny fenders (yes, fenders – essential bits that many modern custom bikes lack), and a comfortable seat, complete the clean, utterly practical build.
(Source: www.mensgear.net)
Known for its crystal clear waters, white beaches, tropical forests and excellent climate, Fiji will now be the destination for Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spa, slated to open in 2017 on Malolo Island. The latest in the group’s expanding portfolio will feature 24 spacious pool villas ranging in size from 800 square feet to 1,950 square feet and 66 residential villas situated on the west side of the island. Located along a private beach that stretches 2,100 feet, the resort will use locally inspired and sustainably sourced ingredients gathered from the resort garden, local farmers, markets and fishermen for its cuisine. The resort operates on the foundation of sustainability through active management of energy, water, waste, biodiversity, purchasing and chemical usage. It will be 100 percent solar powered and the first microgrid in Fiji to use Tesla batteries, include tree reforestation on site to offset wood use in construction and all LED lights to ensure efficiency. Easy access is available from Nadi International Airport, a 30-minute journey by boat from Denaadaru Marina, 30-minute helicopter flight or 20-minute seaplane flight. The 66 Six Senses residences offer panoramic sea or marina views. A full-service marina is located adjacent to the resort and will be available for private yachts.
The new sunglasses capsule collection from Fendi features elements from its archives, bringing forth the iconic fur seen in the collections. With names such as Kinky Fur and Slicky Fur, the collection is a suave and sexy shield for your eyes. The collaborative effort between the luxury Italian label and Thierry Lasry will hit stores later this month.
Burberry latest campaign, which celebrates the best of British art and creativity, combines original illustrations by British artist Luke Edward Hall with portraits by iconic photographer Mario Testino. The campaign reunites British Burberry family members model Edie Campbell and actor Callum Turner, alongside Luke Edward Hall’s artwork, celebrating Burberry’s new menswear and womenswear collections including the trench coat and The Patchwork bag. It showcases Burberry’s January and February 2016 collections for men and women and is the first to feature the single ‘Burberry’ label. For this campaign, Luke produced a series of original portraits and still life illustrations in a variety of techniques and materials. Luke also hand-painted the backdrop to some of the campaign images. The collections reference a mix of patterns and textures influenced by British artists, musicians and history, and centre around The Patchwork bag, outerwear styles including military coats and the iconic Heritage Trench Coat, and The Buckle Boot for women. The Patchwork bag is interpreted by Luke with five different illustrations, reflecting the individuality and uniqueness of the collection. Each bag is named after a British town, street or village, and comprises a mixture of fabrications, from the classic House check to glossy snakeskin and soft English suede. Luke Edward Hall’s artwork will also be displayed at Burberry’s 121 Regent Street flagship from 11 June until the end of the month.
INDIE CHIC | Shying away from the sun is now not necessary as you can flaunt your earth-loving fashion sensibility with Runaway Bicycle’s whimsical dresses which are a minimalist’s dream
When it comes to fashion and being forward at that, then the recent trend, capturing runways and the imagination, is to go indie. And what does one mean by that? Indie as a term started to be used in the purview of music and came to denote such artists and record studios which were not mainstream and had an air of obscurity about them, almost challenging the true connoisseur and the passionate trend-setter to come and discover them. Now that indie is increasingly used in connection with music, design and fashion as well, the term has come to acquire some very cool connotations, that of being alternative, independent of any corporate patronage and espousing a non-conformist, non-partisan, non-linear approach. In fashion, where brand loyalties are fickle and brands multifarious, what remains is the need to stand out and clothes are ever so important in the scheme of things whether for the season divas or the young purveyors of a plush lifestyle. And this is the context in which indie has gone onto mean more than just independent or individualistic, but is now the benchmark of cool, comprising all those labels which redefining luxe in terms of local, sustainable, upcycled fashion. As eco-conscious fashion becomes a much-loved tag to carry, indie brands are packing in the sustainable quotient with a style sensibility at once unique and understated, so that they are, now, the new darlings of fashion’s favoured bunches. And keeping up with the curve here at The Luxe Café, we have been stocking up on some of our much loved brands with the feisty flower child ethos scribbled all over.
POWER OF PRINT | The cornflower day dress from JODI, perfect for a brunch outing, cinches your waistline and has super comforting sleeves
Talking of a trend above, let’s now talk of the season. It is hot and calls for those whimsy, wispy sundresses to throw on, with a pair of flip flops and shades to slip on, for that instant beach girl glam, even in the middle of a scorching city. As off-shoulder boho dresses take the frontline, the patterned and the floral ones continue to grace the display windows. And combining the appeal of the trend with the demand of the season, we have here a ready brand reckoner for some serious indie brand loving. So let’s start. And on top of the list we have JODI, a label for the print passionate among us. With Indian textiles brought alive by artisanal hand block printing, their collections revolve around a print story, poetically titled and perked up with new designs every month. With the blue Hand of Hamsa guiding one across their collections, the emphasis, very visibly is on pushing forth ‘Handcrafted in India’ as the brand ethos. Co-founded by stylists Gauri Verma and Karuna Laungani, the capsule collections promise colour, quirk and character, be it in the imbued promotion of local textiles and crafts or through the celebration of the subtle variations in each piece promising a certain je ne sais quoi factor. The latest Rosewood & Olive collection picks shades from the various Mediterranean cultures and includes stylish and delicately patterned shifts, maxi dresses, tunic dresses, peasant sleeved and knee length dresses. Then there is their Flinstone & Cornflower collection inspired by a clear blue sky and miles of green fields which includes all-too-feminine day dresses nipped at the waist, skater and wrap dresses which are a dream to slip into. JODI is what you will wear if you want to lounge out the summer in style.
ANTI-FIT OUTFIT | This oversized Doodlage shirt dress is from Travel Tails collection, inspired by the 90’s backpacker, where each garment carries a traveller’s tale
From the pretty to the anti-fit, Doodlage is one for those who believe in defying structures, be it of form or of fabric. Having won Grazia India’s ‘sustainable aesthetic’ award, they are all about upcycling, this brand designs, deconstruct and develops unique outfits from industrial waste, dead stocks and other sustainable material. Every garment is a renewed interpretation of cut, fabric and colour, has its own story, and comes with no duplicates, just like the individualistic purveyor of indie fashion. From shibori to indogo dyed, patchwork to monochrome, the range is diverse and yet bound by the same free flowing, fuss free, fabric-foremost aesthetic. Peasant dresses in shibori, to denim on denim co-ords, anti-fit dresses in checks and stripes, and box pleated tunic dresses in solid hues, there is a carefree air to these dresses which will make you look and feel quite the boho child in spirit.
CHECK IN COOL | A preppy combination of blue checks and solid light blue cotton, this dress is perfect for a day out shopping or even for a Friday at work
When design graduates, Resham Karmchandani and Sanya Suri pursued their unified agenda of staging the return of cotton as essential textile, Pot Plant was born. All about eco conscious fashion, the label espouses a zero waste production ethic and actively repurposes materials, with liberal use of handwoven textiles and natural fabrics, into pretty summer separates which are wardrobe essentials. In white, powder blue, minty green, pastel pink and also black, there is a limited collection of pleated tops, wraps and skirts, layered pants and palazzos, along with some of our loved dresses like a the half and half blue checks on solid blue dress which has a fresh, preppy look, or the pale green button-down dress, gathered at the waist and with a subtly embroidered front. There are a few other lovelies in longer lengths and neutral shades for the leggy beauties, but we totally dig the pretty and preppy ones in shorter lengths for a back-to-school kind of cool.
INDIAN IN SPIRIT | A boho style Mogra summer dress with two tiers and ikat on the border and hem to bring alive the blue of the sky above
Think short dresses with an ethnic touch, think Mogra. Described as a travel inspired clothing label for the free spirited, Mogra has a signature style when it comes to dresses, most of which are short and sway away. Stressing on the fact that they source traditional textiles directly from the various ‘craft clusters’, and have a deep bond with their weavers, printers, embroiderers, tailors and vendors, theirs is a handpicked, handsewn sensibility where attention skims down to the details, to the linings, threads and buttons. There is a whole range of summer-happy short dresses to choose from, in a variety of cuts and colours- from fit and flare, to swing dresses, to wraps and more. The two dresses that have captured our fancy are stand-outs in solid shades of black and blue. There is an indigo blue flared dress in mulmul cotton and handwoven cotton ikat, cut in a circular style which gives it a beautiful flare enhanced by a tiered border. The other is a wrap dress made of black Mangalagiri cotton with box pleats at the waist and a heavy zari border for that unmistakably Indian touch. Mogra dresses can easily transition from day to evening, and are dream fits, especially for the divas with a petite frame.
MURAKAMI DREAMS | Match this Runaway Bicycle layered hem dress in egg shell white, with subtle checks all over, to dress up or down as per your mood
Now if you are a hardcore conceptual dressing type, then look no further than the Runaway Bicycle which has its lookbook, and its Tumblr account, inspired by a Murakami novel, as it were. Stark and Spartan, the pictures of their designs have a model with no face showing [and occasionally a cat peeking out too], a statement unto itself. And talk about whimsically named outfits, from one called ‘Cat Lady’ to another named ‘Four Martinis Later’, each one from their collection seems to have its own personality even though part of an equally poetic collection. Mostly monochromes in colours, sometimes pale and sometimes dark, the silhouettes are clean and the clothes functional. With pleats, pockets and handspun khadi yarn, the collection has pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and of course dresses that are summer’s perfect companions. Our favourites from their Piano Nights collection is an egg-shell white khadi dress with folds, a peter pan collar and a hint of lime in it. The other to mention is from their Dear Life collection and is a lime green khadi cycling dress which is delicately pleated around the waist and has long, loose sleeves. Designer Preti Verma, when once talking about her labour-of-love label, has said, “We are not about being fashionable. We are about being comfortable. We make Clothes that should let you run with the wind, climb trees, loll in the grass if you want to.” Now, this is one label which is a favourite of all the minimalists who dress not to impress.
Barely a day after taking home the CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year, celebrated American fashion designer Marc Jacobs showcased his Resort 2017 collection at New York, yesterday. In true MJ style, the collection was high on kitsch and gloss, while at the same time being reminiscent of the 80’s era – the season’s biggest trend – as seen on the runways of Moschino, Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant.
The collection, with its pop culture-esque motifs and clash of prints (from neon to animal print), has received positive reviews from critics, with one even calling it a “spectacle of the sartorial sort”. However, apart from the 80’s revival and a powerful front row (with the likes of Anna Vintour and Carine Roitfeld) what got the collection trending on social media was Jacob’s choice to live stream the show via Facebook Live. A few minutes into the show, and an unknown model slipped and landed on her behind before quickly regaining her balance and finishing her walk.
Beyond that, strong elements of Jacobs signature style were reinstated throughout: the polka dots; military; oversized sweats; demure florals; beachy palm fronds; giant flamingos; patches, pins and pop culture logos – most noticeably a giant MTV one.
Source: Bridget Foley at www.wwd.com | Photograph: Marc Jacobs(L); Masato Onoda(R)
British audio manufacturer, Bowers & Wilkins has announced its new T7 Gold Edition speaker — the product of a collaboration with British fashion house, Burberry. Though the shape and design of the Gold Edition is the same as that of the original T7 speaker, it has received, so to say, a ‘luxe facelift’! How? There are new materials in play, including a luxurious leather carry case lined with suede and an inscribed Burberry branding.
Talking of specifications, the T7 Gold Edition delivers 18 hours of playback from a full charge, supports the Bluetooth aptX codec for high-quality wireless streaming, and weighs in at just under kilogram.
The limited-edition speakers are priced at INR 65,000 with only 200 units available from select stores.
In nearly two decades, the officials at Disney have, for the first time, submitted proposal plans to build a new luxury hotel at the Disneyland resort. The new 700-room hotel would be designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, the same designers and engineers who come up with Disneyland’s attractions.
Disneyland Park already has two four-diamond hotels, the Disneyland Hotel and the California Grand Hotel and Spa and one three-diamond hotel – the Paradise Pier hotel; but this new one, called the Disneyland Resort Hotel, will be bigger and better on various aspects. The guests will get to dine in an upscale rooftop restaurant watching Disneyland’s nightly fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle. There will be two pools, a fitness facility, concierge service and a kid’s play area. The average nightly rate would be about INR 30,000 per night.
The ambitious project is slated to be opened to public by 2021.
World’s premier business aviation manufacturer, Gulfstream, has unveiled its top of the line model – the G650ER. With an ability to fly higher, faster and farther than almost anything in the sky – this model has broken all previous records. The only irony being that this previous record was held by its very own sister aircraft, the standard G650!
The plane managed to fly from one end of the globe – Sydney, Australia – to another i.e. Los Angeles, United States in mere 12 hours 40 minutes.
This phenomenal power is courtesy the two Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 jet engines that this beast is equipped with. The cabin provides the ultimate blend of form and function. The choice of 12 predefined floor-plans and various other customizable options, offers total control of the environment―whether it’s the need for a private stateroom, a large conference space or individual work areas. Add to it the handcrafted seats, a bedroom and fully equipped kitchen area and you’re assured of the best in in-air passenger comfort.
Prices start upwards of INR 440 crore and can go up depending on the level of customization.
Amongst the world’s best known luxe best brands –European Fashion house, Christian Dior – has launched its first ever line of home décor. Dior isn’t selling home ware products for the first time, however, the Parisian couture brand has hitherto only sold home ware items sourced from various artists. This new collection marks the launch of the new, in-house ‘Dior Home’ label.
Dior’s signature markers – the grey and pastel color palette, the Dior cannage and Monsieur Dior’s love for florals–have all been effortlessly retained. The brand commissioned 11 designers for the same, including noted names such as Lucie de la Falaise, Michaël Cailloux and India Mahdavi . The range includes hand-blown glass carafes, plates; Dior printed playing cards, crystal glassware and a picnic basket.
The collection will be been launched this week at Dior’s sprawling four-storey flagship store in the United Kingdom.
