February 07, 2011
© Courtesy Mauboussin
Last week French jewelry firm Mauboussin opened the doors
of its shop on Madison Avenue in New York to celebrate the launch of its new
e-commerce site, mauboussin.us. Guests filled all three floors of the townhouse
boutique to snack on macarons, sip La Caravelle Champagne and peruse the new
collections, which include large candy-colored amethyst and citrine cocktail
rings and diamond necklaces and bracelets done in Mauboussin’s signature shooting
star. The Manhattan boutique, which opened in 2008, is the company’s first American
flagship and houses its colored-stone, diamond and watch collections on the
first two floors, while the third floor serves as its bridal salon.
The online shop, meanwhile, is an ode to Mauboussin’s
flagship on the Place Vendôme. Most of the collection will be available online,
though the emphasis is on the company’s steel-and-diamond watches (from $545)
and popular cocktail rings (from $1,100), which come in sapphire, amethyst and citrine
and have poetic names like Couleur Baiser (Kiss of Color) and C’est Toi la Star (You’re
the Star).
Mauboussin, 714 Madison Avenue; 212-752-4300; mauboussin.us
February 09, 2011
Buying art is an art form in itself, and nonexperts who are starting personal collections may need a few trusted tastemakers to advise them, especially when it comes to contemporary works. For beginners, there is ExhibitionA.com, a just-launched website headed by Bill Powers (owner of Half Gallery on New York's Lower East Side), fashion designer Cynthia Rowley and cofounders Laura Martin and Gabby Munoz. Every week the site offers a limited-edition print by a renowned contemporary artist such as David LaChapelle or Richard Phillips, whose well-known "Der Bodensee" prints-an upside-down close-up of a woman's heavily made-up face-were available in January. The prices are in the three-figure range, and each sale closes after one month (or sooner, if the pieces sell out). The new selection, a stark Terence Koh rooster print, went up for sale February 7; soon to follow are by works from Steve Powers, Olivier Zahm and George Rahme. And for those seeking to learn collecting from the pros, the site also has a blog that features interviews with prominent collectors like Simon de Pury, Waris Ahluwalia and Robert and Cortney Novogratz. exhibitiona.com.
Photo courtesy Exhibition A
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
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
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
March 24, 2011
Doing good has never looked so chic. On March 29, Christie's will host its Bid to Save the Earth live auction followed by a Runway to Green fashion show, the proceeds of which will benefit four environmental charities. For those who can't make it to the main event, the auction house has partnered with Chartitybuzz.com, which will host online bidding on truly one-of-a-kind items donated by a cast of cultural heavy-hitters. Up for grabs are a day with former president Bill Clinton, a one-hour tennis lesson with John McEnroe, front-row seats to the Chanel couture show followed by a meeting with Karl Lagerfeld and a tour of Mlle. Chanel's home, breakfast with Tory Burch and a hefty gift certificate to her store, a Damien Hirst-designed Fendi bag, a stay on the superyacht Lady Sheridan during the Cannes Film Festival, dinner with Her Majesty Queen Noor in her D.C.-area home and a slew of exclusive travel opportunities. The online lots are open until April 7, so ladies and gentlemen, let the bidding begin. Bidtosavetheearth.org; looks from the Runway to Green event will be available on net-a-porter.com.
Photo Prudence Cuming Associates, © 2010 Damien Hirst and Hirst Holdings Ltd, DACS 2011
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
April 21, 2011
The new boutique from publishing house Assouline, which opened April 15 in London, is much more than a simple bookstore. Assouline Books, Gifts & Lounge, a 1,000-square-foot space set within the venerable Liberty of London department store, is really a cultural salon of sorts. With more than 1,000 Assouline titles in stock, on topics ranging from fashion, art and design to history to travel and food, the shop also offers a collection of vintage tomes that guests can peruse at the classic library table. In addition to the books, the boutique also has literary gift items, like leather book bags, vintage bookends, candles with a "library" scent and a limited-edition Goyard trunk that can shelve up to 100 books. Whereas most libraries forbid food or drink, here it's encouraged: The lounge serves shoppers French Champagne, Italian and Turkish coffee and a variety of teas and homemade sodas. Regent St.; 44-207/573-9680; shopassouline.com.
Photo Courtesy James Harris for Assouline
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
