Devotees of Céline creative director Phoebe Philo's modernist designs now have a new place to shop: a 2,500-square foot boutique on Paris's Left Bank, housing the fashion label's ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes and leather goods for women. The gallery-like space is pure Céline, with brushed stainless steel walls, black-trimmed glass display cases and an oversized sheepskin-covered ottoman. It joins the neighborhood's ranks of such fashionable destinations as Maison Martin Margiela, Yves Saint Laurent and Sonia Rykiel. At 16 Rue de Grenelle; 33-1/5580-1499; celine.com.
It's not just the added ponies that set Porsche's new Cayman S Black Edition apart from a standard Cayman S. Unlike other Cayman S models, this mid-engine sports car doesn't have contrasting trim—its body, Boxster Spyder wheels, side air grills, tailpipe and leather interior are all black. But don't judge this car by its exterior. Under the hood is a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with increased horsepower, up to 330 from 320. As a result, zero-to-62 acceleration is 5.1 seconds (a tenth of a second quicker than a regular Cayman S), and speed can reach 172 mph (a whole 1.24 mph faster than your neighbor's ride). You'll need that extra oomph to race to your nearest Porsche dealer—only 500 of these limited-edition suckers are available. From $67,500; porsche.com.
Balenciaga creative director Nicolas Ghesquière's creations are so forward-thinking, it was always a surprise that his fashion house's website was stuck in the Dark Ages. That changed this week with the unveiling of Balenciaga's new online portal, which now sells the brand's ready-to-wear collections (as long as you live in the U.S., the UK or France), along with men's and women's accessories and fragrances, which were previously the only Balenciaga items available online. In addition to showcasing recent runway shows, the new site has more than 3,000 images and 200 videos devoted to the Balenciaga archives and the work of its founder, Cristóbal Balenciaga. balenciaga.com.
Roger Vivier's creative director, Bruno Frisoni, has taken his limited-edition capsule collection for the fashion house, called Rendez-Vous, in a different direction for spring/summer 2012. Whereas the last lineup of shoes and clutches was very rock 'n' roll, the new collection is softer, elegant and Mediterranean-inspired. Frisoni aimed to capture the mystique of Vivier's iconic creations by using materials like blond wood, pearls, bamboo and tinted transparent acetate. Equally feminine is the color palette: powdery rose, aquamarine, pale gold and bright yellow. Our favorites are the No Secret magenta acetate clutch, the pink, gold and tan high-heeled Barbapapa sandal, and the Flower Bouquet clutch. The pieces are truly limited-edition, meaning only 10 to 20 of each has been created, and will tour Roger Vivier boutiques in Paris, New York, Miami, Shanghai, Milan and London in January before going to permanent homes. Prices upon request; 212-861-5371; rogervivier.com.
A very special delivery is on its way to Prada boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas: a chic, limited-edition crocodile bag lined in soft nappa leather and adorned with a metal tag (imprinted with a code number unique to the line). The bag comes with either a flap or snap closure and is available in three classic colors: black, tobacco brown, and red. Inside is an added bonus: a detachable mini-clutch. Only 22 of these leather masterpieces have been crafted, and they're due to hit stores next week, so move quickly. Price upon request at Prada, 841 Madison Ave., NYC, 212-327-4200; 343 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-8661; 3720 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, 702-740-3000..
Starting June 30 in San Francisco, the Fraenkel Gallery pays tribute to the late Irving Penn. Unlike most odes to the photographer, this one will not focus on his fashion portraiture but on his appreciation for diverse ideas of human beauty and ability to contrast the grotesque with the transcendent. The 30 images on display in "Radical Beauty 1946-2007" include three 1940s female nudes of generous weight (which were not displayed until 30 years after their creation) and portraits of native Papua New Guinea warriors with pierced nasal septums and bush arrows. Many of the photographs feature elegant bodies reminiscent of the high-fashion models Penn usually photographed, but with obscured faces; his famous Football Face is among them. On view through August 20 at 49 Geary St., 4th floor; 415-981-2661; fraenkelgallery.com.
Mouth (for L'Oréal), New York, 1986 Copyright by the Irving Penn Foundation
Red leather soles have arrived in Brasilia, where Christian Louboutin opened his second boutique in Brasil on June 21. Inside the Shopping Iguatemi complex and designed by New York architect Eric Clough, the structure is an ode to Oscar Niemeyer and Frank Lloyd Wright; the entire corner façade is covered in tiny, uncoated copper tiles that have been hand-etched with images inspired by the two legendary architects' designs. Though presently sparkling and brilliant red, the tiles will eventually oxidize and turn a deep emerald green, evolving with the goods in the store. Inside the boutique, the décor is pure Louboutin with acrylic displays, niche walls, reclaimed tin panels and hand-blown glass chandeliers that will highlight the men's and women's new winter shoe and handbag collections. At Shin Cuadra, Calle 4, Lago Norte; christianlouboutin.com.
As Departures readers already know from our recent swimwear roundup, we have a thing for Orlebar Brown. So we're particularly thrilled that the luxury resort wear brand, known mostly for its tailored men's swimwear, is opening its first stand-alone boutique in London's Notting Hill. At 300 square feet, the shop has a "1960s poolside utopia" vibe inspired by Slim Aarons's photos of the Riviera and Palm Beach, and will carry all the signature styles, including the Bulldog, Dane and Setter swimsuits and the Editions series, a themed capsule collection of trunks often designed in collaboration with a well-known artist. Some of the shorts now come in a ladies' version, too. The new OB Resort collection, with supersoft tees, safari-like shirt jackets and toweling shorts, will also be on the shelves. At 178 Westbourne Gove (entrance on Ledbury Rd.); orlebarbrown.com.
It turns out that over the past 50 years, actress Debbie Reynolds has amassed some of the most iconic movie costumes and props of all time, with more than 3,500 items in her cache. On June 18, part of the Debbie Reynolds Collection will be auctioned at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, with public previews from June 10-12 and June 15-17. The items on the block are pure film history treasure: the Ascot number Audrey Hepburn donned at the horse races in My Fair Lady, the dress Maria von Trapp (played by Julie Andrews) made out of green and white drapes in The Sound of Music, Judy Garland's blue cotton dress and ruby-red slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the bejeweled gold velvet sleeveless gown and headpiece Barbra Streisand wore in Hello, Dolly! . Another highlight is the white halter dress worn by Marilyn Monroe atop a subway vent in The Seven Year Itch, which is expected to go for no less than $1 million. The men's collection features Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly's navy sailor uniforms from Anchors Aweigh, the tunic and cape Charlton Heston sported in Ben-Hur's royal procession and Robert Duvall's olive-green "Lt. Col. Kilgore" combat coat from Apocalypse Now. More information at profilesinhistory.com.
June 6 will be a big day for designer (and Michelle Obama favorite) Jason Wu, as he launches a revamped website, where he will present his 2012 Resort collection, and debuts an e-boutique that the fashion set has been waiting for. First in the shop will be a selection of four handbags (a tote, crossbody, shoulder bag and clutch) available in seven hues and three fabrics: python, calf leather and a natural canvas with goatskin trim and only through the site. The color palette ranges from the electric violet and red to a sultry Bordeaux and neutral tones of sand, black, and (a perfect for post-Memorial Day) white. The website will have a page dedicated to documenting Wu's craftsmanship, giving a behind-the-scenes look at how his garments are made, and it will also house all his social media platforms—Facebook, Tumblr, and his new Twitter account under the name "Miss Wu." Above, Miss Wu Mini bag in cotton canvas with goat skin trim, $1,295; jasonwustudio.com.
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