bLavish

Marie Antoinette’s Black Jade Perfume By Lubin

July 20, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as For Her at 11:00 pm | Comments off

It is rumored that when Marie Antoinette fled the Palace of Versailles when it was attacked by an angry mob of peasants that it was her signature scent that gave her disguise away. The perfume, which is a blend of bergamot, cardamom, rose, jasmine, incense, cinnamon, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean and amber, is called Black Jade. Ironically, it was released for sale on July 14th, which is Bastille Day in France.

The scent, which is now sold by Lubin, was originally designed for the queen by the royal perfumer Jean-Louis Fargeon. She is said to have worn it always, and carried a small vial of it with he right up until her beheading. It’s available at available at Aedes De Venustas in New York.

Helmut Newton’s White Women, Sleepless Nights, and Big Nudes

July 20, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Artsy Fartsy at 8:32 pm | Comments off

If you follow fashion or photography or art in general, then Helmut Newton is probably a name you know. He is one of the most famous fashion photographers of all time. As a teen, my walls were plastered with his images that I tore from the pages of Vogue.

White Women, Sleepless Nights, Big Nudes is giant exhibition that includes over 200 of his prints and is currently traveling the U.S. The show opened last week in Houston, but if you can’t make it to see in person, you should at least check out the exhibition catalog, which has contributions from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour.

Newton, who died in 2004, survived Nazi Germany and went on to become one of the most eminent photographers of all time. His work is known for its sensual, if not outright titillating character. Newton expanded traditional notions of feminine beauty in his own way. To be precise, most of the women he photographed were traditionally beautiful, but in his images they were allowed to play out roles and fantasies that were somewhat transgressive.

 

Mulvany & Rogers Luxury Dollhouses

July 19, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Artsy Fartsy at 11:00 pm | Comments off

I’m kind of obsessed with miniature things. It’s a new obsession. I think it started when I saw the Joseph LeDray exhibit that’s been traveling around the states. Anyways, the point is that there is something fascinating about objects rendered in teeny tiny scales. Mulvany & Rogers is know for their opulent dollhouses and their ability to make the miniature extraordinary.

Take, for example, this dollhouse version of the Palace of Versailles. It’s absolutely stunning, and much easier to take in than the original. All the details of the palace, including the carved golden chandelier, has been rendered in exquisitely minute detail. Plus, at around $30,000, it’s a lot less expensive than investing in the real thing.

Other designs include classic English Gothic manor homes, Georgian shops, and of course, custom work. These are the kind of dollhouses you’ll love even if you were never a Barbie girl. Or boy.

Beckerman Is The New Kardashian

July 19, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 8:20 pm | Comments off

Okay, i have to admit that I’ve always had a weird semi-fondness for the Kardashian girls. Sure, none of them are really famous for actually doing anything, but aren’t most celebrities like that these days? Still, I’ve never been able to accept them as style mavens. Let’s be honest, their apparel choices are pretty bland, even if they are often form fitting.

The Beckerman sisters, on the other hand, are a totally different breed. They’re bloggers, which is a legitimate job, as far as I’m concerned (duh). More precisely, they’re fashion bloggers that have all actually been to design school. Which separates them from a lot of teenage fashion bloggers who just happen to be able to afford expensive clothes and the tiny bodies that clothes look good on.

The Beckerman blog, called The Beckerman Bite Plate, is an often updated chronicle of their adventures in fashion. They’re clothes walk a fine line between outrageous and wearable, and each of the three has an interesting stylistic perspective. They’re all blonde and pretty, but they’re not all stick thin. I mean, one of these girls might be like a size 8 or something reasonable like that. As far as fashion role models go, they’re definitely moving to the top of my list.

Sequined iPad Case by Dolce & Gabbana

July 17, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Gadgets, Handbags at 10:14 pm | Comments off

The iPad is the hottest technological gadget since…well, since the iPhone. Apple does seem to have the market cornered on hot new devices. Anyways, these new hot commodities have spawned a frowing market for cases to carry them that range from the purely practical to the outrageously opulent. This sequined case by Dolce & Gabbana is of the latter variety.

This case is pretty and sparkly, and even a little practical, but frankly, I think it’s a little much. The leather is durable and practical, and the front pouch is a really great organizational feature. The sequins, however, make it seem a bit unreasonable for daily use. The iPad, after all, is the kind of thing that you want to take everywhere, and this is more of an evening wear style case. Plus, those dangly stars have got to go. Ick.

Are Designer Imposters Good For Luxury Retailers?

July 16, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Bling Bling at 4:39 pm | Comments off

I’ve always thought that high end designers must be really irritated about street side vendor hawking bags with their logos plagarized. It’s seems common sense to think that this kind of fakery would be a problem. But recent research shows that counterfeit bags actually boost high end sales.

For one thing, counterfeit bags function as free advertising for designer goods. I never really thought about fashion houses like Chanel and Gucci as needing free advertising, but now that I think about it the fact that every other person in a major city is carrying a bag with a recognizable logo (real or fake) must be a booster. Counterfeiting is one of the reasons, actually, that these logos are so recognizable.

Other research suggests that counterfeit bags act as sort of a gateway to designer purchases. So, then, fake Louis Vuitton is to real Louis Vuitton what marijuana is to cocaine? Interesting. Still, if you’re in the market for a fake, there’s more to consider than the impact on the label.

Most high end lines manufacture their bags responsibly, using ethically-source materials and humane labor practices. This is, of course, not true across the board, but for the most part, the more status a line has, the more accountable it is to its fans. Street vendors, since they operate illegally, are beholden to no one, and I have read exposes of the terrible conditions in which this products are produced.

SJP Leaves Halston

July 14, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, celebrities at 10:48 pm | Comments off

Sarah Jessica Parker is a woman who wears many, many hats. Wife, mother, actress, fashion plate, and designer. Except that she’s just removed one of those hats, and no one seems to know why. She took on the job as President of Halston Heritage in 2009. Bonnie Takhar, who was in charge of training her, left after less than a year. SJP admitted at the time that she didn’t really know how to do the job, but as a person who follows fashion, I’d say she did just fine.

Heritage is Halston’s lower-priced diffusion line, and since SJP took over it has enjoyed a lot of success. She totally didn’t exploit her celebrity for the line, like everyone expected her to, and instead relied on her intuitive design savvy. Which is why everyone is a little surprised that she will no longer be working with the company. The other mystery is that neither SJP nor Halston has actually made a statement about what happened.

24 Karat Classic CDs by Audio Fidelity

July 13, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Quality Sound at 10:00 pm | Comments off

Marshall Blostein, owner of Audio Fidelity, does not want classic rock to disappear. He formed the company in the 70′s in order to preserve America’s best music for all of time. The company reissues classic albums. And now they reissue them in nothing less than 24 karat gold.

This isn’t just for looks. Not only are these CDs actually playable, but they’re supposed to ensure higher listening quality. Something about the gold coating versus traditional digital materials makes them sound better. They’re also meant to last longer than traditional CDs.

Audio Fidelity is putting out all the hitmakers, including Bad Company, The Rolling Stones, and Carly Simon. Each CD will be individually numbered and sold in high end retail outlets.

Super Tricked Out Buick Regal By Cuervo

July 13, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Fast & Furious Cars at 8:13 pm | Comments off

I’ve probably mentioned that I’m not really that into cars, so it takes a lot to impress me. What impresses me varies greatly from general artistry to high luxury, or in this case, sheer cool. Seriously, I’ve never thought to want a lowrider, but this Buick Regal Cuervo makes me really get it.

Obviously, I’ve heard of Buick Regals. But I’ve never heard of any “Cuervo” edition, and while I can’t be positive, I feel pretty sure that tequila has something to do with the name. Now, don’t be misled, this is just an ordinary 1984 Buick that has undergone a massive transformation.

Of course, all the hydraulic adjustments had to be made to make it into a lowrider. And then, the ambitious owner, Adam Vigil, painted the car a beautiful raspberry color and then gold-plated the engine. This baby now includes a Kenwood stereo system and suede carpeting. Vigil’s regal transformation earned him many awards and the neverending drool of lowrider lovers everywhere.

 

Lady Gaga’s Love For Philip Treacy

July 12, 2011 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel at 10:00 pm | Comments off

Philip Trecy may not be one of the most recognizable designers, but he’s definitely one of the most influential. He just happens to work in a little appreciated medium, the hat. This Irish milliner has designed for many prominent fashion houses, including Galliano, Chanel, and Givenchy.

Even if you’re not sure you’ve seen his work, you definitely have. His hats have appeared on Sex and the City, in Harry Potter films, and no less than 36 of them were attendance at the well-viewed recent wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Plus, Lady Gaga loves them. She told V magazine:

The lines for myself have become so blurred now, I know not the difference between a moment of performance and a moment of honesty. If you were to ask me to remove my Philip Treacy hat at a party, in truth it is the emotional and physical equivalent of requesting I remove my liver.

That’s some kind of accolade.

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