Louis Vuitton’s Diamond Flower Collection

Louis Vuitton have launched two patented diamond cuts based on their infamous monogram flowers; the round cut flower diamond and the pointed cut flower diamond. These stunning cuts took over three years to develop and have between 61 and 77 facets, which is absolutely amazing as a typical diamond has about 58 facets! The diamond beauties were mixed to create the collection Les Ardentes, which means “the blazing.” The sparkling collection features a bracelet, two brooches, a pair of earrings, a necklace and a ring. The collection is really beautiful and I especially love the bracelet which combines a diamond ribbon as well for the ultimate French romantic elegance.

Penelope Cruz for Mango Winter 2008 Collection

Beautiful actress Penelope Cruz and her just as beautiful sister Monica Cruz continue their collaboration with Spanish’ best Mango. The new 2008 Winter Collection is rich in warm and neutral colors to complement the winter white cold outside. Already available in stores and on their official website, the collection is both stylish and affordable offering a feminine sensuality and exotic elegance. The ad campaign is shot by prestigious photographers Mert and Marcus, who have worked with labels such as Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani and Miu Miu, among others. You can find everything from hot winter hats, sexy dresses, stunning coats and the gorgeous croc print black bag. The prices range from $29 for the hats to $319 for the bag. My favorite piece is the stunning black knitted-collar coat featured above which is priced at $225. And if you have ever shopped at Mango, you know that their clothes are made extremely well and can last for a very long time. All these and much more are available here.

Sean Connery for the New Louis Vuitton Ad

Sir Sean Connery is featured in Louis Vuitton’s “core values” campaign underlining its travel roots. The original James Bond is photographed by Annie Leibovitz on the beach near his home in the Bahamas with the waterproof version of the Louis Vuitton’s Keepall bag. “He’s sexier than ever,” said Vuitton’s director of communications, Antoine Arnault. “We had the opportunity to work with a legend… He’s been on our list for a very long time.” The photo is really beautiful both because of the sunny, exotic beach and because of Connery’s elegance and charm. The tagline of the photo says, “There are journeys that turn into legends. Bahamas Islands. 10:07.” Zooming in closer, we can see that it is 10:07 on the actor’s watch as well.

Christian Dior Luxury Spa in Paris

Christian Dior opened its first spa, Dior Institut, at the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris (you can see the spa in the photo on the left.) The spa’s grand opening was by none other than Monica Belucci and the spa offers five luxurious treatment rooms in its large 2,900 square foot space. It offers many massage and beauty treatments and techniques for the face and body using the brand’s skincare products. “We want to help more of our clients to associate Dior with skincare, as well as with clothes and fragrances,” said Dior’s skincare director, Louis de Saint Michel to WWD. For all of us not in Paris right now, not to worry as Dior has plans to open similar institutes in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Milan and Seoul.

The Hotel Plaza Athénée is situated in Paris’ fashion “golden triangle” and it is 300 m from the Pont de l’Alma. The entry of the Hotel is on a wide street shaded by chestnut trees, exactly like stepping into the world of your most romantic dreams of a Parisien love novel. The Plaza is the haute couture of luxurious hotels worlwide and its impressive decor with large crystal chandeliers designed in Regency and Louis XV and XVI style and elegant suites overlooking the Eiffel Tower are just some of its many beauties. You may also recognize this Hotel as the setting for the last two episodes of Sex and the City, when Carrie went to Paris, and also for films such as The Devil Wears Prada and Something’s Gotta Give.

Louis Vuitton To Host a Sailing Event

Sailing and boats: this is turning to be a must for the fashion world. The French luxury brand, Louis Vuitton is set to host the new sailing event the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, in Auckland, New Zealand.

“I think the world of sailing will be really excited,” said Vuitton chief executive officer Yves Carcelle.

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will be held in Auckland for three weeks from January 31st to February 14th, featuring sailing teams who have previously competed in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The races will be sailed in Emirates Team New Zealand yachts and will feature from six to eight teams. A Louis Vuitton trophy will be created especially for the sailing event.

New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark said, “‘Congratulations to Louis Vuitton and Emirates Team New Zealand for organising this exciting international yachting event. New Zealand is very pleased to be hosting this regatta and Auckland with its beautiful harbour and vibrant inner city will put on a fantastic show for yachting fans and tourists.”

Marc Jacobs’ 1001 Nuits Jewellery Collection for Louis Vuitton

I was so excited when I heard of the jewellery collection by Marc Jacobs called 1001 Nuits (1001 Nights.) There is something so inspiring about creating jewellery related to the idea of the magic of princesses and fairytales, and the romanticism of the far oasis. However, I was even more disappointed when I actually saw the collection! It seems that I am not the only one as many fans are greatly disappointed as well and are “wondering if his designing days aren’t coming to an end.” 1001 Nuits is criticized as being “not just mediocre but a rather sad copy of his Daisy collection.”

1001 Nuits, launched by Louis Vuitton, includes gold rings, earrings, hairclips, brooch and pendants with Swarovski crystals studded flowers. It also includes a big gold bracelet that spells “Louis Vuitton” which I find rather chunky and truly boring, besides its “not-boring” price of $725. You can find the entire collection for purchase at www.eluxury.com.

My biggest disappointment from the collection, is that it has nothing to do with the 1001 Arabian inspiration and offers nothing new, exciting and exotic.

New Louis Vuitton Collaboration for Handbags

Marc Jacobs and Comme des Garcons founder Rei Kawakubo will be collaborating to release new design handbags for Louis Vuitton. On the latest design, marc Jacobs says, “I admire and worship her [Rei Kawakubo] and it’s the kind of thing that I think is so wonderful to do at Vuitton, where it’s such an iconic brand and that monogram and everything and, again, I’ve said all this before, but it’s so wonderful to have someone so outside of that thing take their look at it, their approach to it.” It will be interesting to see the ultimate French luxury brand Louis Vuitton under the influence of the ultimate Japanese avant-garde fashion rebel brand. Kawakubo’s six handbag designs will debut next Wednesday in Tokyo. In the photo above is a sneak preview of one of them.

Comme des Garcons will also be launching a line for H&M in November. Designer Rei Kawakubo will create a collection for women, men and children, as well as accessories and in a new twist, a unisex fragrance.

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