February 16, 2011
Lanvin's fourth stateside boutique, a 4,520-square-foot space that recently opened on Rodeo Drive, adds a bit of old Hollywood glamour to the house's signature style: Mixed in with antique chandeliers, parquet flooring, animal-print rugs and brushed steel panels are Art Deco accents and black-and-white photos of Lanvin models from the 1930s. The first floor is home to women's and men's accessories, while the ready-to-wear collections—in addition to the Blanche, 22 Faubourg, Denim and Swim capsules—are on the lower level, along with made-to-measure and tailoring services. A corridor of mirrors leads to a private fitting area. It wouldn't be Lanvin without a dose of whimsy, so in addition to more traditional gift items like umbrellas, stationery and perfume, the boutique offers playing cards, music boxes and hand-painted porcelain dolls. At 260 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills; 310-402-0580; lanvin.com.
Photo Courtesy Lanvin
March 02, 2011
Last year Gucci's iconic Bamboo bag, which made its debut in 1947, got a makeover courtesy of creative director Frida Giannini. Featuring a draped metal chain, fringe tassels and nickel hardware, the New Bamboo bag became an instant classic. Now Gucci has introduced a made-to-order service at its Madison Avenue store, allowing clients to choose from three bag sizes, each available in 25 shades of matte, shiny or metallic crocodile. The color palette is extensive, with neutral tones like ivory, camel rose and soft sand at one end of the spectrum and bolder hues of Indian blue, emerald and burgundy at the other. For the finishing touch, the owner's initials are embossed on the flap interior and the mirror case. Prices upon request. At 840 Madison Ave.; gucci.com.
Photo Courtesy Gucci
February 23, 2011
Since it opened, in 2007, the Webster Miami has been a pilgrimage site for fashion devotees seeking its carefully curated selection of men's and women's styles. While the three-story, neon-lit Art Deco building—which also houses a cocktail bar-cum-art gallery, a branch of Parisian restaurant Caviar Kaspia and a rooftop lounge—continues to be a destination in its own right, getting the goods no longer requires a trip to Miami: The co-owners have just launched an e-commerce operation on the boutique's flamingo-pink website. In addition to pieces from ultrahip labels like Givenchy, Balmain and Alexander Wang, the site offers an array of items exclusive to the store, including a Thakoon by Tasaki leather and pearl cuff, a bracelet of citrine spheres encased in 18-karat gold from House of Waris, a VBH stingray tiger-print clutch, Charlotte Olympia leopard ankle booties and wetsuit-inspired bikinis from cult swimwear designer Lisa Marie Fernandez. thewebstermiami.com
Photo Courtesy Camilo Rios
April 07, 2011
Spring is in the air—and with it, the desire to change one's fragrance. Here, two new options to consider. Bulgari's Mon Jasmin Noir is a multifaceted floral scent inspired by the black jasmine, a fictional flower that symbolizes feminine sensuality and whose scent changes depending on the time of day. Parfumeurs Olivier Polge and Sophie Labbé created a blend of golden cedrat, musky nougatine, precious woods like cashmeran, cedar and patchouli, and two types of jasmine (sambac absolute and angel wing). Maison Martin Margiela just introduced its first perfume, called (Untitled) in keeping with Monsieur Margiela's custom of not appearing in public. The unisex scent and distinctive bottle are also consistent with the house's knack for reincarnating forgotten traditions. The fragrance relies on green notes, the unsettling, almost bitter freshness created by galbanum, box green, lentiscus, cedar and bitter orange. The vial resembles something out of an olden-day apothecary with its round stopper, Olivetti typewriter font and white string-tied neck. Mon Jasmin Noir, $105, is available at nordstrom.com. (Untitled), $140, is available at saks.com.
Photo Courtesy Bulgari
April 14, 2011
The image of a bespectacled Gregory Peck as attorney Atticus Finch in the 1962 movie To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most iconic in film history (the performance also earned Peck an Academy Award). So it's fitting that on the heels of the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's novel, Oliver Peoples worked with the actor's son, Anthony Peck—who kept the original pair of glasses worn by his father during filming—to introduce the new Gregory Peck frame, in boutiques now. The style has a round P3 lens shape and an exaggerated keyhole bridge, and comes in black, buff and two tortoiseshell esque shades called cocobolo and raintree. The Peck family's portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Los Angeles Public Library. $315 at Oliver Peoples boutiques; oliverpeoples.com..
Photo Courtesy Oliver Peoples
May 05, 2011
Angela Missoni admits to being an avid Havaianas aficionada, adding to her collection every time a new color or style comes out. So she partnered with the cult Brazilian flip-flop maker for a limited-edition set of sandals that landed in boutiques April 29. The four styles include two sandals and an espadrille for women, and a unisex flip-flop. All come in vibrant summer colors and in the fashion house's signature zigzag and wave patterns. The finishing touch: The sandals are packaged in a crocheted Missoni shoe bag that weaves together the colors of the Italian and Brazilian flags. Styles range from $60-$130 and are available at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Jeffrey's and Missoni boutiques nationwide.
Photo Courtesy Havaianas
July 07, 2011
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..
Photo Courtesy Prada
July 21, 2011
David Yurman is best known for his sterling silver bangles and baubles, but his newly unveiled fall 2011 collection, which will land in boutiques in September, is notable for the jewelry designer’s use of gold. Yurman, who works side by side with his wife, Sybil, and son, Evan, is also introducing three new themes as part of the gold-heavy collection: the delicate Lantana style, featuring rubellites and diamonds; the bolder and celestial Tapestry series; and Starburst, a full range of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings that honor Sybil's love of fireworks. davidyurman.com.
Photo Courtesy of David Yurman
November 16, 2011
Photo courtesy of Expand the Room
With the same smartly curated approach you find in our pages, we’ve created the Ultimate City Guides app, featuring top 10 lists of hotels, shops, lounges, museums and galleries, restaurants and VIP events worth attending. We started with New York and now present Hong Kong. Go to departures.com/apps to download it for free. Once you’ve downloaded and launched the app, enter the code DPNOV11 for full access.
Download It Now: New York, Hong Kong and Miami
Available in 2012: Buenos Aires, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Paris and San Francisco
October 20, 2011
Now you can buy everything online—even caviar. When one of Departures favorite dot-com shops, Ahalife, recently started offering Marky's caviar (a company famous for doing caviar DNA testing to ensure consistent taste), we decided to dig through our archives to revisit this comprehensive look at the top places to buy caviar on the web. We also found these tips for the caviar connoisseur:
How long does caviar keep?
Caviar is perishable and packed to order so only buy what you plan to eat soon. "Fresh caviar should be used within ten days to two weeks and refrigerated in our insulated bags," says Betsy Sherrow, the president of the Seattle Caviar Company. Always store it in the coolest part of the refrigerator—the ideal temperature is between 26 and 32 degrees (never freeze it, though). "Opened jars and tins should be treated like fresh fish and eaten within two days," Sherrow adds.
How much caviar should I serve per person?
Peter Struffenegger of Sterling Caviar recommends having on hand at least a half ounce to one ounce for straight-from-the-tin enthusiasts. If you’re planning to serve it as part of a caviar-based appetizer for eight to ten people, make that three ounces. When you’re using the caviar as a garnish, fig-ure that one ounce yields 20 one-quarter-teaspoon servings.
How about The presentation?
Serve caviar in a glass or mother-of-pearl dish, advises Sterling Caviar’s Struffenegger. As metal will adversely affect the flavor, use mother-of-pearl, horn, or even plastic spoons (caviar "tins" are lined with a thin layer of plastic). Set the dish in a shallow bowl filled with crushed ice to keep the caviar cold.
What is the best way to enjoy caviar?
Armen Petrossian recommends placing a small spoonful at the back of your mouth, gently crushing the beads against your palate with your tongue. Serving it with blini and crème fraîche is nice, but skip the onions and lemon, which can mask the flavor and the texture.
