COLOUR BOMB | A joint creation of Sara Batagllia and Salvatore Ferragamo, this capsule collection adds a dash of colour for the summer
The new collaboration between Sara Battaglia and Salvatore Ferragamo sees a capsule collection of bags that reinvent some classic Ferragamo designs, with a dash of color. An ode to the brand’s heritage as well as celebrating Ferragamo’s founder’s colorful life and creativity, the collection features four handbag styles, a wallet, notebook, pouch, key chain and belt.
ARM CANDY | The collection features day bags with woven silk scarf details
The designs by Battaglia, who founded her eponymous brand five years ago, sees day bags with woven silk scarf details and evening clutches that would stand out in a crowd. The designs are finished with brass and lacquer.
NIGHT JAZZ | Evening clutches in kaleidoscopic colours
Eagle-eyed fans of the brand will see the link between the kaleidoscopic designs and the iconic Rainbow Wedge that Ferragamo created for Judy Garland in 1938. “It is an honor for me to collaborate with Salvatore Ferragamo, a brand whose unique mix of history, innovation, irony, style and unparalleled class provided me with the perfect chance to twist the iconic Rainbow Wedge into something new,” says Battaglia.
The Sara Battaglia for Salvatore Ferragamo capsule collection is now available both in stores and online.
As British automaker Rolls-Royce prepares to retire its seventh generation luxury vehicle, the famous Phantom, it is going to do up as tasteful a farewell as the model deserves. The Phantom Zenith Collection will contain 50 bespoke examples representing some of the very last Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé motor cars ever to be built. Collectors can expect these to retain their value all the way to the end of days! The features fitted into the Zenith models are astounding examples of the finest luxury Rolls-Royce can muster. Some of these details (as shown above) include a glass shelf housed in the rear of the tailgate, perfect for serving champagne; a champagne fridge large enough to hold two standard bottles and eight Rolls-Royce glasses; luxury padded leathers; and even a split-tailgate fitted with a beautifully engineered companion – perfect for any picnic while touring. Other than these fittings, buyers can also expect to get a special Rolls-Royce Picnic Hamper and a priceless memento located in the central drawer. The hamper can be personalized to match the materials and color palette that the customer desires. The memento is a removable polished aluminum case laser engraved with the car’s unique identification number, containing a single piece of the Phantom Assembly Line over at the Goodwood home of Rolls-Royce in England. All of the styling done by the designers draw from Rolls-Royce’s extensive history – especially taking cues from the most celebrated Phantoms out there. An example is the contrast presented in the Madeira Red and Jubilee Silver Phantom Coupé inspired by the 1930s Phantom II. Drawing from recent history too, hints of the 2011 Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection can be seen in the presentation of the central tunnel, whilst Blood-Orange tips to the instrument dials reference the Wraith’s aviation inspired motif.
The new HYT Skull Bad Boy is an impressive skull-faced time piece that focuses on sleek design and attitude, and runs on the label’s signature hydro-mechanics. From the exclusively developed fluid to the watch’s Damascus steel-inspired metals, this timepiece took engineers, scientist and designers over 12 months to develop. Only 50 limited-edition pieces will be available to buyers and collectors. HYT is known for their exceptional hydro mechanics and the Skull Bad Boy is no different. The watch makes use of a capillary which carries fluid through the face to act as the dial, notating the time around the skull. Of course it’s not any normal water running past the delicate inner workings. HYT had to specifically design a fluid that would be able to adapt to constraints of the movement, not adhere to the wall of the watch and not interact on molecular level with the elements inside the timepiece. It took over a year to create and underwent several weeks of testing to be sure of its chemical stability. The liquid acts as the hour and minute hands, running the perimeter of the 51mm skull watch face, while the seconds can been seen in the skull’s left eye socket. The right eye socket holds the watch’s power reserve indicator which gets darker as the piece runs lower on its 65-hour power reserve. The skull is designed to emulate the appearance of Damascus steel. To create the look, a foundry in the Neuchâtel region created a raw composite of steel and carbon that is folded over itself 256 times before being cast into a skull. The silver-toned skeleton is then layered over the Clous de Paris face which is surrounded with Gothic indexes and enclosed within a matte black titanium casing.
LUXE EXTREME | The uber-luxe D8 GTO-RS costs more than a Porsche Cayman and an Audi TT put together, with only 40 models being built
Where major names in the supercar world are routinely criticized for being too conservative in their designs, Dutch boutique automaker Donkervoort is gloriously idiosyncratic. The D8 GTO-RS was clearly designed to match the designer’s dreams, not to meet computer-generated performance standards. Nevertheless, Donkervoort reports that this is the fastest and lightest D8 GTO it has ever built.
DREAM DESIGN | Expect a faster and more comfortable drive as the D8 RS boasts new launch control, suspension and brakes
Dedicated petrolheads will remember that the D8 RS set a Nürburgring record in 2004, sweeping aside the previous record held by the Porsche Carrera GT by close to 15 seconds. The current RS promises to be even more extreme, powered as it is by a reworked Audi turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. In this version, which Bosch helped to tune, the focus is clearly on acceleration; the GTO also uses this engine and gets 380 bhp from it so expect a bit better than that once the full specs are released (the current teaser information does not reveal the specifications).
PETROLHEAD ALERT | Powered by a reworked Audi turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, the car focuses on acceleration
Donkervoort promises a faster and more comfortable drive with the D8 RS, which also boasts new launch control, suspension and brakes. The cherry on top of this speed sundae is that it is compliant with Euro6 emissions regulations. This is also quite a pretty sundae too, with an aggressive stance and a face that looks ready to devour the road.
ECO FRIENDLY | The D8 GTO RS is also compliant with Euro6 emissions regulations and will debut in just a few months
The Donkervoort D8 GTO-RS is set to make its full debut in just a few months but collectors should take note that only 40 models will be made and the company has reportedly sold 21 of those already. Prospective owners will also want to take note of the pre-tax asking price, currently set at $172,000 (which is a little more than the new Porsche Cayman and Audi TT put together, for those who care to know).
You know summer is truly here when French fashion icon Chanel takes up its summer residence at the private mansion La Mistralée in beautiful Saint-Tropez. This year, the Kaiser works his magic (together with his very talented team of interior designers) to transform the pop-up store. The love affair between Chanel and Saint-Tropez began when the Mademoiselle herself used to sojourn there every summer. Karl Lagerfeld then picked the city as the venue for the house’s cruise collection for 2011, and has returned annually ever since. Inside, the boutique is an exquisite representation of the revered fashion house. Swathed in the Maison’s iconic shades of black, white, beige and gold, the boutique opens to an entrance hall with wooden panels that swivel to reveal bottles of the iconic Chanel No5 perfume. Monochromatic walls are punctuated by splashes of gold. Clothes and handbags are presented on two rails that run across the room, its minimalist charm a juxtaposition to the avant-garde sculptures and vintage chandelier that lights up the orderly space. The troves of display units and alcoves are now home to the new J12 Mirror and the other watch models. Outside, the La Mistralée pool shimmers with the light, its golden mosaic tiles reflecting the sun with an intensity that highlights the season’s shoes – the highlight of the pool house. The Chanel Saint-Tropez boutique will open from 23 April – 5 October 2016.
If you spend long hours in front of your laptop, you probably experience some tensional pain in your neck, shoulders and back. To fix these issues you can get a laptop stand – there’s plenty of them on the market. However, it’s hard to find one that doesn’t suck in one way or another. The height-adjustable Tiny Tower ($70) seems to be different, boasting a solid construction, portable size, and most importantly a satisfying user experience. Made of strong, lightweight aluminum and precision machined, anodized parts, the stand is both stable and good looking. It can hold up to 15-inch laptops, and its push-button mechanism allows you to pick from 10 different height levels to properly adjust it to your eye-line, while a folding design makes the Tiny Tower flat in seconds for effortless portability. Protective sleeve included.
SOUTH KOREA | A land of beautiful contrasts, it boasts of green countryside with old Buddhist temples and palaces, lush tropical islands and buzzing urban hubs for the city-bound pleasures
As a lone woman traveller, be it wherever in the world, there is the daunting task of balancing an adventurous, exploratory [free]spirit with a cautionary heeding of the ‘women’s rule book’, implied and impressed upon to no end. And once a sort of rhythm between the two impulses has been established, one can, and should, forget about that niggling voice at the back of your head and sink in to enjoy the delicious strangeness of a new country, a new city, without the all-too-structured tourist’s guide to decide for you. Bespoke travel is also about forgetting what the off-the-shelf city guide dictates and is more about curating the exclusive pleasures of the less seen and less heard of, delving into the discreet delights of the not-over-displayed destinations. To pack your bags and head out on a whim is a luxury, and one which should be indulged in every now and then for the soul’s recharge and the mind’s refreshment. This kind of travel seeks inspiration in the not-overcrowded, not-so-typical locations picked with care, and imagination, from the vast map of the world. And to ease up this very challenge for you, we have a seasoned travel writer, who loves her global meanderings by herself, Anjaly Thomas, enlist a few of her favoured destinations which are not your run-of-the-mill luxe hideouts but are still the tried and tested quick getaways with the potential of scoring an enriching and different experience. Read on to find out her picks of some not-yet-passe` destinations and their highlights for your travel bucket list:
MONGOLIA FLAMING CLIFFS | Bayanzag, meaning ‘rich in saxaul shrubs’, is commonly called the Flaming Cliffs and a favourite haunt of paleontologists and those in search of silence
Of all the places one can travel to, a few countries offer a very distinct experience to the traveler, and especially, to a solo female traveler. While one country can intrigue you, the other inspires and yet another can actually redefine freedom and joy. Curating for you the attractions of some such destinations, here are a few worth considering taking off to.
So, we begin with Mongolia. Now, one doesn’t travel to the Gobi Desert hoping to stumble upon a series of touristic sights, so when you come upon the Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag), after hours of journeying through endless flatlands, it is a magnificent sight to behold. These bright red cliffs can easily take your breath away, whether you are a historian or not! This is also the site where the first ever dinosaur fossils were found, almost a century ago by Roy Andrew Chapman, an American explorer. Reason enough to put the ancient, awe-inspiring beauty of Mongolia on your to-vist list.
TURKEY AVANOS | Walking through the cobbled streets of this picture-book pretty Turkish town, one comes up to the Hair Museum which houses locks of hair and stories untold
Avanos, a picturesque pottery town on the banks of the Red River or Kizilirmak, holds a spooky secret – the Chez Galip Hair Museum. The ‘hairy museum’ is approachable through a narrow, serpentine path and houses over 30,000 locks of hair donated by women from all over the world. Here, literally, the hair grows out of the walls! The story began in 1970s when Chez Galip, a potter fell in love with a French tourist and the latter, when leaving, left a lock of hair as a sign of eternal love for her lover, Chez Galip. With such an interesting story up its sleeve, Turkey cannot be only blue mosques and bright beaches on your next jaunt.
CHINA GUILIN | A dramatic landscape full of natural beauty and historic treasures, Guilin is not all limestone karst but also lakes which make for enjoyable boat rides
Guilin is China’s best kept secret, more so the cruise on its famous Li River, a glimpse of which you see on the 20 Yuan note. So famous are the undulating Karst mountains there, that it is imprinted on the Yuan. And Guilin has it all – cruises, beautifully lit caves and the best food, arguably, in all of China. A stroll through the town gives you the glimpse of an ordinary life lived in an extraordinary way. The picturesque town of Yangshou (at the end of the cruise) is easily the adventure spot complete with gigantic caves and healing mud baths. So, smoggy Beijing and the Great Wall of China can be put aside, for the sake of such hidden countryside treasures.
UGANDAS MURCHISONS FALLS NATIONAL PARK | Uganda’s largest national park is a conserved habitat with its untamed wilderness and savannahs, cut through the middle by the majestic river Nile
While wandering around these parts in Asia, there is also another spot close by on the map that calls for due attention, i.e., Taiwan. Not a country that comes instantly to one’s mind when planning a vacation, Taiwan is treat for first time visitors and the friendly people make this a further favourable destination for women travelling by themselves. With a dynamic culture, all of its own, Taiwan’s struggle to emerge from the shadow of China further enforces its vibrant mix of Chinese, Western, Japanese and indigenous influences. While the local cuisine is simply mouth-watering and there are enough options for the compulsively cosmopolitan traveller in Taipei, the eclectic landscape beyond it has green mountains, islands and hot-spring resorts on offer for those looking for a retreat. [Tip: Check into the splendid Yang Ming Shan Tien Lai Resort & Spa with its hot spring park, water spa facilities and an outdoor pool, all spreading over an expansive 6000 square metres. And American Express Card members can avail of some special offers like having 30% off on accommodation and a cool 40% off on hot spring privilege on the weekdays].
KENYAS MAASAIS MATATUS | Offering a breathtaking view beyond scenic vistas, abundant wildlife and Maasai cultural villages, the Maasai Mara national reserve is Kenya’s best
A sight as mesmerizing as River Nile pushing through a seven meter gorge deep inside the Murchisons Falls National Park in Uganda is not to be found anywhere else. The mighty White Nile, emerging from Lake Victoria, a hundred kilometers away, grudgingly squeezes through the gorge and plunges through hundreds of hovering rainbows with an electrifying gush into a placid lake, while the Nile crocodiles laze around waiting for animals that come to drink from the Nile. No wonder, the river is Uganda’s lifeline and a force to watch and worship, almost.
SEOULS COSMO CULTURE | Sink into the lap of old world luxury at Seoul’s Ritz Carlton which also puts you fairs and square in the midst of where all the action is
Famous world over for being game country, Kenya holds a special place for the first time traveller, not just for the Lion King type setting of the Maasai Mara or the dancing Maasais, but for the fact that eternity dawns here and civilization, in all its variety, unfolds across its boundless acres. The deep-throated laughter of people, the shaky matatu rides, the way they roll their heads here, Kenyan coffee, ugali and beans, the warm beer, all of it makes Kenya one of the few places that defies a logical reasoning of ‘why’ you should travel here.
TAIWAN HOT SPRINGS | With a variety of natural springs, Taiwan is one of the world’s top hot spring destinations and the sprawling Yang Ming Shan Tien Lai Resort bears witness to this
Apart from the above destinations, with their store of intriguing pleasures for the adventure-loving, devout traveller, we cannot really do justice all our solo women travellers without putting in that one destination which will allow for a quick shopping getaway. So forget the oft-repeated quick hauls to Dubai and Bangkok in favour of a trip to South Korea which offers the best of both the worlds, as it were. With the places for modern leisure and palaces for soaking in the history, South Korea is not just the place where every serious beauty junkie is buying skin products from, but also the country which has some stunningly varied landscapes – from sandy beaches, to bubbling hot springs at Seoraksan National Park and the lush green horizons of the Jeju Island. From the urban expanse of Seoul to the ancient kingdom of Silla, South Korea hides a lot more in its folds. So, if you are planning for a plush and private escape, consider South Korea for all its charm and cosmopolitan vibe. [Tip: Stay at the luxurious Ritz Carlton, Seoul which brings you to the heart of the trendy Gangnam nightlife and still surrounds you with the old world grandeur of its marble floors, four-tier chandeliers, and rooms with lavish décor. Also, American Express Card members can book at the Ritz Carlton Seoul before 31 December 2016 and avail of some tempting discounts on offer via http://livetheworld.americanexpress.com, such as upto 35% off on room rack rates along with a good 10% savings on food and beverages].
MALDIVES BEACH OASIS | Located in the secluded island of Fesdu, W Maldives is a white wonderland of private luxury
Now to think of secluded islands as the ultimate Robinson Crusoe adventure, we are completely sold out on the idea of white sands, turquoise waters, underwater reefs, a plush beach resort and an uninhabited island. This is the island gem call Fesdu that we are talking about, a scenic sea plane ride away from Male` in Maldives, which is home to the impossibly beautiful Starwood’s W Retreat & Spa. With luxurious accommodations, ranging from the Wonderful Beach Oasis to the Fabulous Lagoon Oasis and the decadent Extreme WOW Ocean Haven, this spa resort is the one and only address in the tropical paradise called Fesdu. And this would be not spartan retreat that you need to provision for, in fact it is more indulgent than any as the W Resort’s lush expanse houses an overwater signature restaurant, a sunset and pool bar, and 15BELOW, the only underground nightclub in the Maldives, literally located 15-steps below the island’s surface [Tip:To make this dream sound more real than ever, American Express Card members can visit its Summer Offers to avail of a 20% discount on the best available room rates for booking two nights and more, until August 31st].
Anjaly Thomas is a lawyer turned writer/traveler and author of four books, currently based in Dubai. Her solo journeys around the world are a result of her conscious decision to sketch a world map based on her travels. You can find her latest book here.
Fashion label Michael Kors has opened the doors to its largest flagship store in Europe. Located in London’s Regent Street, the firm’s new store calls a historic building with an elegant façade its home. The interior boasts a sophisticated and modern design concept, blending the past with the future. “London is one of the world’s great fashion cities and an endless source of inspiration for me personally,” says Michael Kors on the store opening. “I’m thrilled to be opening a beautiful new flagship on Regent Street that represents everything we do and offers our customers the full world of Michael Kors.” The flagship store’s entrance starts off with pale and weathered limestone that also acts as a runway of sorts through the rest of the store. Dark Macassar wood floors, brushed stainless steel shelves, Venetian wallpaper and Calcutta marble fixtures showcase the subtle changes in Michael Kors signature store aesthetic. The mix of soft neutrals against warm wood, textural finishes and luxurious materials, gives customers a glamorous and sophisticated place to shop. Spread out across three levels, the 16,275 square foot flagship will carry every category of the designer’s products with areas dedicated to accessories, shoes, menswear and another just for women. “London is one of the world’s great fashion cities and an endless source of inspiration for me personally,” says Michael Kors on the store opening. “Our Regent Street flagship illustrates the evolution of the Michael Kors brand and the scope of our commitment to the business in Europe,” says John D. Idol, Chairman and CEO of Michael Kors. “This new European flagship enables us to present the full range of our luxury offering, including our exciting and fast-growing menswear line.”
The Ford Motor Company tapped into the appeal of its GT model online to both reward its loyal fans and to create invaluable buzz. In just one month, 6,506 people sent the firm applications to buy a carbon-fiber Grand Tourer via its website www.fordgt.com. This is not a giveaway nor some offer of major discounts. Prices are expected to start in the mid-$400,000s. Nearly 2,000 people used the site’s web app to choose among colors, wheels and interior themes and build a “virtual” GT. They were also able to share images of their customized GT on social media sites. Not only does this allow potential owners the chance to interact with the brand in new ways but it also adds a level of engagement that is difficult to achieve and measure. Ford says that it is now reviewing applications from those 6,506 applicants (and probably crunching data) and will start notifying potential owners in the next 90 days. When Ford announced the opening of the application period in April, the company said it would produce a limited number of the high-performance luxury cars and allow for the selected applicants to personalize their cars through a new “concierge” service. Remember that mid-$400,000s price? Well it excludes destination, delivery and potential taxes of course. Ford said it would take 500 orders for GT “supercars,” to be built in the first two years of production.
“Twice the safety at half the cost” has been the mantra of aviation advocates pushing for regulatory reform and, after a decade of trying, this year could be when their wishes come true. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published proposed new rules that would simplify the procedures for certifying new airplanes for the private market—encompassing everything from a four-seat Cirrus to most turboprops and some small jets. Advocates say this will make it easier for manufacturers to innovate, and cheaper for owners to upgrade their current airplanes as new technology comes on the market. The proposed rules were released in March. The FAA will collect public comments and hold hearings for 60 days. Aviation lobbying groups are pressing the FAA to then enact the final rules by the end of this year. The new rules propose to use industry standards that will be the same worldwide, which also makes it easier for airplane manufacturers based in Europe, China, Australia, and elsewhere to sell their products in the U.S. market. And while manufacturers hope to see a substantial drop in their certification costs, that will not likely translate to “half the cost” for buyers—but advocates say the lower development costs plus increased competition will trickle down. The new rules will also do away with outdated language that inadvertently made it impossible to certify airplanes with electric or hybrid power plants.
