Italy’s Palazzo Seneca declared Hotel of the Year 2017

Luxury travel network Virtuoso has just named Italy’s Palazzo Seneca as Hotel of the Year for 2017. The boutique hotel situated in the historical centre of Norcia, Umbria in Italy combines old world charm and architecture through its stone façade, flagstone and terracotta-tiled floors and beamed ceilings with modern elegance oozed by the interiors. The restored 16th-century palace has undergone various transformations since its acquisition by the Bianconi family in 2002, and at present it has 24 rooms, composed primarily of impeccable marble bathrooms, hand-carved four-poster beds and wood furnishings fashioned by local artisans. The Palazzo is a member of the Relais & Chateaux, an exclusive club of independent properties that includes historic landmarks, castles and manors in bucolic settings. The Palazzo Seneca was declared as the winner at Virtuoso’s 11th annual Best of the Best awards held in Las Vegas, on the basis of votes cast by 800 travel agency partners and 16,000 travel advisers. The contenders were selected from the agencies’ and advisers’ portfolio of 1,200 hotels, resorts, villas and private island retreats in 100 countries.

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to take place in Shanghai for the first time

In an unprecedented move from the American lingerie fashion brand, Victoria’s Secret will be flying its Angels to Shanghai, China for the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The show will be filmed in advance, before being broadcast on November 28 via the CBS Television Network. The Angels on the catwalk include names like Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel and Sara Sampaio. Supermodel Bella Hadid has also revealed on Instagram that she would be part of the show as well. In 2016, the show brought in 1.4 billion views when it was held at the Grand Palais in the fashion capital, Paris.

Sotheby’s to auction world’s only street-legal Ferrari Daytona

A unique, one of its kind 1969 Ferrari Daytona with an aluminium body has been discovered in a garage in Japan after 40 years—and what makes it special is that it is the world’s only Daytona to have been made street-legal. Out of the 1200 models that were built by Ferrai, five models were specially equipped with a lightweight, aluminium-alloy body, making it perfect for the racetracks. However one exceptional model was built specifically for road use — and it’s the only one like it in the world. Having changed 6 owners, its last owner Makoto Takai, had the legendary car stashed away in Japan for a good four decades before it was finally discovered. This Daytona is being auctioned off on September 9 at a special Ferrari auction hosted by RM Sotheby’s. Being the world’s only remaining aluminium-bodied production GTB/4, the car is expected to fetch between €1.4 million and €1.7 million. Other models, such as a new LaFerrari Aperta, will also be up for sale at the Ferrari Factory in Maranello to commemorate the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary.

Carl F. Bucherer opens first boutique in Lucerne

Carl F. Bucherer, one of the few remaining family-owned Swiss master watch manufacturers with a wide network of distribution partners around the world, has opened its first boutique in Lucerne. With this exclusive boutique in Lucerne, Carl F. Bucherer is honoring its connection to the place where in 1888 Swiss entrepreneur Carl Friedrich Bucherer opened his first specialty shop for watches and jewelry. Following the inauguration of its Shanghai boutique, the renowned watch brand has paid homage to its heritage by opening this exclusive boutique in Lucerne, which offers visitors a new way to experience the world of Carl F. Bucherer. The interior exudes understated luxury, accentuated by the golden elements of the brand logo, launched in 2016, and the distinctive brand imagery that also reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the city of Lucerne. The new brand identity underlines the company’s ambition to continue growing while raising the profile of Lucerne as a cosmopolitan destination. Jörg G. Bucherer, representing the third generation of the Bucherer family at the helm of the company, attended the inauguration of the boutique: Li Bingbing, Global Brand Ambassador of Carl F. Bucherer and famous Chinese actress who has starred in Hollywood blockbusters such as Transformers and Resident Evil, traveled to Lucerne for the inauguration and spent a week getting to know the city.

Bang & Olufsen’s 23 speaker 3D sound system for Audi A8

Bang & Olufsen’s 23 speaker 3D sound system will now accompany the Audi A8, for an incredible audio experience. Of the 23 speakers, 2 are full-range drivers in the A pillars while another two are placed in the headlining above the rear seats. With the potential to deliver 1920 Watts of power, the system’s full range drivers help create the 3D soundfield from a 5.1-channel or stereo recording. The settings are customizable as well, allowing the sound to be focused in either the front seats or the rear seats or both. Plus a dedicated Movie Set mode reproduces the full 5.1-channel soundtrack, giving users a cinema-like experience. Wolfram Jähn, sound/acoustics developer for the A8 explained that it’s the integration of loudspeakers at the right points on which the audio quality depends.

Bulgari X Nicholas Kirkwood Serpenti Forever capsule collection

Bulgari has joined hands with famed shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood, twice named Accessories Designer of the year at the British Fashion awards, for the latest Serpenti Forever capsule collection of iconic bags. Kirkwood’s interpretation of the serpent theme in this capsule collection produces stunning results. The already distinctive Bulgari Serpenti Forever bags with their iconic enameled snakehead clasps take on the sculptural and architectural forms that Kirkwood is known for, in unconventional and daring ways. Sinuous zigzags make themselves noticed on a canvas of artisanal leather, calling to mind the signature scales and sinuous movements of the serpent. Kirkwood created the chevron patterns using rubberized studs with faceted ends, which apparently reminded him of diamond settings and some of the spectacular gemstones he had seen in the Bulgari High Jewellery atelier in Rome. The limited edition Bulgari Serpenti Forever by Nicholas Kirkwood capsule collection comes in gemstone inspired colour palette of black and white, pink spinel, royal sapphire and gold, and will  debut at Bulgari’s Marina Bay Sands Singapore boutique in September. The price is expected to range from S$1,470 to S$3,980.

Get special edition Jane Austen book with Gucci’s Bamboo Classic bags

Alessandro Michele just launched a new series of bags with bamboo handles, a nod to nostalgia actually, because the iconic bamboo handle first surfaced in post-war 1947. Michele’s reinvention of the bag also brings back the early 20th century by tucking into each Bamboo Classic bag a Gucci-bound edition of Jane Austen’s early works, ‘Juvenilia’. The pocket-sized special edition Austen book comes with a unique printed cover inspired by the collection, and features short stories written by the British author during her teenage years in the late 18th century. The Bamboo Classic bags also feature an embellished, roaring feline head, finished with coloured enamel and two stones for eyes. Available in red, black or white leather, these bags are sure to be your new favourite.

Karl Lagerfeld X Vans capsule collection is here

Karl Lagerfeld has partnered with sneaker company Vans for a capsule collection featuring some great classic styles from Vans. The collection comprises of six shoe styles, including classic remakes like the Sk8-Hi laceless platform and Old Skool laceless . There’s also the classic Vans checkerboard pattern slip-on shoes featuring Lagerfeld’s profile as well as a black leather Classic Slip-On with a quilted “K” pattern. Also part of the collection are a graphic T-shirt, a bomber jacket, and a backpack, with prices ranging from $40 to $300. The collection will be available September 7 onwards.

Aston Martin set to go complete electric way by mid 2020s

Aston Martin is all set to go fully electric by mid 2020s, using hybrid powertrains in its entire lineup of vehicles. Famous for being the ride for none other than James Bond, Aston Martin will see a quarter of its range go fully electric by 2030. The British Carmaker is already working on a fully electric version of the Rapide sedan called the RapidE set to hit the streets in 2019. Aston Martin states that the electric technology for the EVs is a core technology and so will definitely be developed in-house.

MRF launches new luxury tyre range Perfinza

MRF Limited has just unveiled the Perfinza range of luxury & premium tyres. Currently available for over 60 luxury and premium Cars in India, the Perfinza range is backed by a specially trained network of MRF Tiretok & T&S Showrooms across the country. Developed by MRF R&D, the range has been tested under both wet and dry conditions, in India, Germany, and the IDIADA proving ground near Barcelona in Spain, Europe’s most comprehensive independent testing centre. The Perfinza range will be released initially for India and thereafter for other Global Markets.