The Tom Sachs and Nike Mars Yard Shoe version 2.0

Tom Sachs and Nike have collaborated yet again— five years post their first collaboration which created the original Mars Yard Shoe. So now we have the upgraded, second version of the Mars Yard Shoe which looks absolutely gorgeous. This version replaces the original Vectran material of the uppers with a polyester warp-knit tricot mesh that makes the shoe more breathable. The red donning straps on the heel and tongue feature heavy-duty X-box stitching. For the insides, you can choose either a mesh insole or one made of cork –for those who like to go without socks.  The shoe is being given an early release opportunity to the participants of two of Tom Sachs ‘Space Camp’ training sessions; one in New York and the other in London, England.

Hermes celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary with special scarf

Hermes has unveiled a stunningly detailed, vibrant scarf titled ‘Into the Canadian Wild’ in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, a scarf that pays tribute to the heritage and diversity of the country. Designed by artist Alice Shirley, whose collaboration with the brand began in 2012, the scarf is jaw-dropping in its depiction of nature and wildlife, bringing to life deer, beavers, woodpeckers, Canadian geese, owls, penguins and polar bears and so much more! This scene is enclosed in a rich red frame which is a nod to the country’s “vivid love for life and goodness”. Proceeds from the sale of the scarf would also be fittingly donated to a charity ‘Evergreen Canada’ that works for the restoration of nature and wildlife in the country. The scarf will eventually become part of the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2017 collection.

Grace and pace: The Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet
The C-Class cabriolet is among the very best convertibles with a design that pays homage to the classic Mercedes convertibles of yesteryears

You may think that India is definitely not the right place to drive a convertible and there is enough evidence to support that, especially with our roads, traffic and pollution—but times are changing and the Indian car-buyer is slowly warming up to the idea of a convertible. Our road infrastructure is improving and more and more convertibles are being sold, but thanks to speed limits, there is no fun in buying a supercar which cannot be unleashed on our roads. But when it comes to a convertible, it is best to soak in on the unique automotive experience that driving the convertible envelops you with.

Convertibles then are a lifestyle choice and the C-Class cabriolet for example is among the very best of the breed with a design that pays homage to the classic Mercedes convertibles of yesteryears. The svelte proportions will catch your eye and attention to detail is quite beautiful especially how Mercedes has transformed the C-Class sedan into an elegant open-top cruiser. However it is the interiors that you get a glimpse of the craftsmanship involved and the lavish attention to detail. Mercedes has spared no expense and features like the Burmester audio system are truly music to our ears.

However why listen to music when you hear the soft pitter-patter of raindrops on the soft-top roof ? Better still, when you lower the roof, you get a whole surround sound experience of the world around you. With a 245 bhp four-cylinder petrol engine you could go fast and there is enough techno-wizardry to help you, should you do something silly, but that is not what the C-Class Cabriolet is all about. It is to fall prey to the charms of open-top driving and revel in the myriad sensations that it throws up. Top-down, it is remarkably quiet and you can even have a conversation with your co-passenger without having to raise your voice. Credit for this goes to the AirCap system which reduces turbulence.

When the AIRCAP switch is pressed, a wind louvre on the windscreen pops up and the draught-stop positioned behind the rear head restraints is extended upwards. This enlarges the curvature of the airflow over the passenger compartment. Air turbulence and the noise level can thus be reduced appreciably. The draught-stop is retracted or extended together with the wind louvre via a button on the centre console.

However if the heavens open up, all you need is a little flick of a switch and within 20 seconds the roof comes up and you can even do this while driving at speeds up-to 50 km/h. Roof-up it is even better and instead of a spine-crushing ride that you endure in a supercar, the C-Class Cabrio become just another Mercedes being comfortable and quiet. So yes, within seconds the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet changes its personality and that alone merits itself a space in our dream garage.

It is a car that you can enjoy on the weekends or late-nights with the top-down or simply drive to work with the roof in place which makes it a very practical car and renders all the disadvantages that we know of convertibles in India obsolete.

A Mercedes-Benz was always a part of the fleet of cars owned by our erstwhile Maharajas of India and similarly the new C-Class Cabriolet is a perfect fit for today’s royalty. It is a wonderful concoction of the old and new with a reminder that Mercedes is back at the top of the luxury car game.

Burberry Bespoke: collection of seven new fragrances

Burberry’s new collection of seven fragrances is termed Burberry Bespoke and developed by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian alongside the creative direction of Christopher Bailey. Inspired by British artistry, elements and landscapes, the seven fragrances are High Tide, Amber Heath, Tudor Rose, Hawthorn Bloom, Garden Roses, Antique Oak and Wild Thistle. The Bespoke bottle that houses them can also be personalised with up to three monogrammed initials printed on the front labelling, offering you a choice of leather ribbon from 16 complementary Burberry shades.

Lower tax rates under GST to bolster luxury car sales

Sales of luxury cars are on the rise, thanks to the unexpected effect of the Goods and Services Tax—the implementation of which would lead to reduction in taxes on luxury cars from 55% to 43%. Manufacturers predict volume of sales to grow in double digits in the months ahead. According to reports, industry insiders have predicted sales to swell by 15%, while Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has predicted this rise to be in the range of 7-9%. GST would be implemented from July 1, 2017.

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona up for auction at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s California auction in August this year will have a particularly unique Ferrari up for sale. Originally owned by Casino magnate William Harrah, this 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona literally ‘flew’ on the road to beat a chopper in a race! Story goes that a Sikorsky helicopter salesman tried to convince Harrah that a chopper would be a faster option for him to get  to his casinos, and Harrah proved him wrong by racing the chopper—and beating it hands down in this very Ferrari. This Ferrari 365 GTB/4 was Harrah’s everyday vehicle and has had various upgrades on it since his time. Still preserving the original 1971 color scheme, this Ferrari is worth watching out for at the auction on 18-19 August in Monterey, California.

‘The Landscraper’: Google’s massive $1billion hq in London

Google is all geared up to set up its massive headquarters in London at King’s Cross, and it’s going to be a sprawling 92,000square metre, 11-storey office with a rooftop garden. Dubbed the Landscraper for its sheer massiveness, this building is designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio, and is the first Google property wholly owned and designed by the tech giant outside of the US. The building is entirely based on sustainable design, with solar panels on the roof to create a combined annual output of 200MWh. Motorised timber blinds on the outside of the building serve to keep direct sunlight out. Even more interestingly, the building will have parking space for 686 bikes—and only four cars! Now that’s really encouraging geen habits! Along with these the office building plans show a rooftop garden, swimming pool, basketball court, a wellness centre (including massage rooms), and a running track. The floor plan is unconventional with staggered single, double and triple-height floors. The rooftop garden seems has three dedicated areas: a “plateau”, “gardens” and “fields”, planted with strawberries, gooseberries and sage—that’s tempting to say the least! There are also plans to have commercial spaces on the ground level of the office block, along with an auditorium and market halls, not just for the convenience of Googlers, but for commuters coming out of King’s Cross station. Construction on the headquarters is set to begin in 2018. We can’t wait to see this one come to life!

Fitness tracker ring in 14k gold

How about an eye-catching jewelled accessory that also keeps track of your activity and alerts you about messages from your smartphone? The Ringly Luxe is a gorgeous ring studded with an emerald-cut Moonstone set in a 14k rose gold plated base—but is actually a piece of wearable tech, keeping track of total distance travelled, calories burned and so much more. It comes in three different styles: gold plated, stainless steel and gunmetal plated stainless steel, and you can choose from Amazonite, Howlite, Purple jade and Tourmalated Quartz for the center stone. It emits five different coloured lights plus has four different vibrations settings for your messages. The ring is also compatible with your smartphone, but only iPhone 5 and later generations, or Android 4.3 and up.

Behold the Leica M246 Jim Marshall Edition Camera

Leicahas created a special camera as a tribute to Jim Marshall—“photographer to the rockstars”—particularly famous for capturing the moment when Jimi Hendricks set his guitar ablaze. This special edition camera with monochromatic exterior and brass hardware boasts a “Laiton” finish matte coating. Paired with a matching brass Summilux f/1.4 ASPH lens and an artisan leather carry strap, the camera will only be limited to 50 units.

Jurassic Park themed T shirt and hoodie from Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana have been bitten by the dino-bug, as they’ve recently released a new Jurassic Park capsule collection as a part of their Spring Summer 17 collection. The T-shirts and hoodies in the collection both boast the original Sandy Collora-designed T-rex skeleton logo from Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1993 picture. The T-shirt features a rib knit crewneck collar and exposed seams, while the hoodie has rib knit cuffs with contrasting stitching.