bLavish

Robin Rotenier Button Cuff Links

November 30, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as For Him, Holiday Gift Ideas at 1:15 pm | Comments off

Buying gifts for fashionable men is hard. I’ve found that it’s just a lot more difficult to figure out what will work for them. Plus, if you’re anything like me, men’s sizes are a total mystery to you. How can I tell what size your neck is? Cuff links are a traditional gift for a reason. They come in one size fits all, so the only trick is figuring out which style will work.

These button cuff links are absolutely timeless, and, I think, pretty ageless, too. The low key rose gold finish makes them classic enough for a bonafide gentleman with semi-conservative taste, but their quirky irreverence allows them to work for a young, urban hipster. Either way, they’re streamlined and practical, and if the rose gold is too noticeable, they also come in yellow or white gold. These could be perfect for a man you know very well or a man that you barely know at all, and either way, they’re a much better choice than a tie.

A Sassy Stocking Stuffer For Your Sweetie

November 29, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Apparel, For Her, Holiday Gift Ideas at 8:30 pm | Comments off

Looking for a stocking stuffer that’s not ho-ho-ho-hum? How about these adorable little knickers by Stella McCartney? This “Knickers of the Week” gift set comes packaged in a cute box with a drawer for each day.

Each pair of knickers is made of a sheer, comfortable blend of polyester and silk. They are trimmed in flirty bits of lace and embroidered on front with the day of the week and a sweet little flower. Who really cares what day it is when all of them are equally pretty?

Let’s be honest, guys, no woman lives in sexy lace lingerie. But that doesn’t mean that her everyday basics have to be bland. These are a great gift because they’re comfy, simple, and a little bit sassy. In other words, just right for everyday.

New Year’s Eve At The Lodge At Woodloch

November 29, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Luxury Travel at 7:16 pm | Comments off

If you’re idea of a happy New Year’s Eve includes a lot of pampering, the Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania has a great vacation package for you. The Lodge at Woodloch is a first class spa and resort nestled in the heart of the Poconos. It has been named one of the 100 best spas in the world and one of the 10 most luxurious spas in the US. It’s known for its healthful, delicious cuisine. Critics the world over have nothing but rave reviews about Woodloch.

The New Year’s weekend package includes a plethora of delightful activities. On Friday evening, there will be an early evening cocktail reception with a chamber music duo, a tasting dinner with paired wines, and a dance party with a live band that lasts well into the new year. Saturday morning you will detox with spa treatments and start the year off right with an intense fitness program. You’ll then enjoy a beautiful hike followed by an afternoon of eggnog and spiced cider. In case you want to do more than relax, you will also be invited to snowshoe, snowmobile, and ice skate. Not a bad way to ring in the new year, is it?

World’s Most Expensive Truffles Sold Last Weekend

November 29, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Expensive Eats at 4:16 pm | Comments off

Stanley Ho, a casino tycoon from Macau, paid $330,000 for two white truffles at an auction in Hong Kong last weekend. The auction was held at Ho’s own Grand Lisboa hotel, although bidders vied for the truffles as far away as Rome and London. This is the fourth year in a row that Ho has won the truffle auction.

This year, Ho’s $330,000 won him one 900 gram white truffle, and one 400 gram truffle, about three pounds of fabulous fungi in all. The truffle was grown in Tuscany and imported to Hong Kong for the auction.

In 2007, Ho paid the same amount for a 1.5 kilogram truffle, which is about the same weight as both of these put together. Two weeks ago, a Chinese wine critic paid $139,000 for a giant white truffle in Alba, Italy. Apparently, truffle-buying is a growing trend for wealthy Chinese businessmen. At these prices, you might even call it a competitive sport.

Pure Gold 2011 Miffy Rabbit Calendar

November 29, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as The Most Expensive at 10:53 am | Comments off

A Japanese jewelry maker has now made the Dutch rabbit Miffy even more infamous by creating a pure gold 2011 calendar with the cottontail made famous by Dutch artist Dick Bruna.

The solid gold calendar celebrates the 2011 Year of the Rabbit and is now on sale for around $655,765, making this collectible the most expensive Miffy item to date.

This luxurious calendar measures 64 centimeters by 40 centimeters and is available online and at eight outlets of the company.  You know you’re tempted, don’t lie!

Dottling Colosimo Watch Safe

November 27, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as For Him, Holiday Gift Ideas at 10:00 pm | Comments off

What do you buy for the man who has everything and can buy anything he wants? Something beautiful and unique to protect his purchases, perhaps. This stunning Colosimo watch safe is made by Dottling, the reknowned German safe-maker. The Colosimo is named after Jim Colosimo, who was a bank robber in the early 20th century. Safes that look like this one were in heavy use during his gangster days, albiet at thirteen times the size. The Colosimo is a mere 11″ square.

The Colosimo has 16 radially arranged locking bolts and 32 gilged cogs to make it work, and it weighs an extraordinary 66 pounds. It’s made of stainless steel, and the interior is built to accommodate either a watch winder or a cigar humidor. It opens with a three-number combination and comes with mounting equipment. And, it looks seriously amazing, more like a designer accent than a security item.

Jay Strongwater Martina Jeweled Spider Clock

November 27, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as For Her, Holiday Gift Ideas, Timepieces at 7:15 pm | Comments off

If you’re looking for an opulent holiday gift for a person with unique, perhaps macabre taste, this jeweled spider by Jay Strongwater is pretty amazing. Jay Strongwater got his start in jewelry design making small gifts for his mother. Eventually, his collection made it onto runways and into stores. Now he designs housewares, using only the finest Austrian crystals available. His aesthetic is eclectic and ornate, and appeals to people who like more than a little decadence in their objets des arts.

This spider is extraordinarily baroque. The golden metal has been finished with enamel details in a topaz and olivine ombre design and encrusted with volcano, vitrail, and citrine coated Swarovski crystals. The aurora crystal teardrop on the spider’s back opens to reveal a cream dial clock. This kind of extravagance could be the perfect accent to a minimally-decorated living room, or an interestingly dark and sparkly addition to your dressing table.

Cartier Tank American Diamond Watch

November 26, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as For Her, Timepieces at 1:15 pm | (1) Comment »

For the most part, feminine accessories dominate the marketplace, but somehow, women’s timepieces seem to get overlooked. Well, this is one women’s watch that is worth more than a second glance. The Tank American Diamond Watch by Cartier has a classic design with all the decadence of diamonds.

The 18 karat white gold bracelet and case are accented with 49 round-cut white diamonds, for a total weight of 1.12 carats. The face is silver-grained with black Roman numerals, which are set off beautifully by the deep blue steel hour and minute hands. The crown is octogonal with a faceted diamond, and a pave diamond bezel.

Like all of Cartier’s timepieces, the movement on the Tank American is Swiss-made, with a calibre 157 quartz movement. It’s even water resistant up to 30 meters, but I certainly wouldn’t take such a beautiful piece in the shower. The Tank American combines quality craftsmanship, practicality, and beauty in a way that ensures that it’s timeless design will last for decades, if not longer.

Windows At Bergdorf Goodman

November 24, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Artsy Fartsy at 11:02 pm | Comments off

The holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman are a tourist attraction in their own right. They’re like Mecca for design-savvy fashionistas, drawing crowds from around the globe. Personally, I haven’t missed one of their Christmas displays for almost a decade, and I live a full 1,500 miles from NYC. So, you might ask, what’s Bergdorf Goodman got in their windows that every other department store in the country is lacking?

The answer is artistry. There’s nary a hint of Santa Claus or his eight tiny reindeer. You won’t find any snowmen or even any nutcracker-inspired wooden soldier. The windows at Bergdorf’s are more like installation pieces, with each year celebrating a different theme. This fabulous new book by Assouline showcases the wonders of the windows in a beautifully slipcased collector’s edition. The connoisseur will know, despite having seen every single one of these windows, that they are notoriously difficult to capture on film. Luckily, all the stunning details are captured here.

Cisco Redfines Video Chatting With The Umi

November 24, 2010 | Posted by bLavish as Gadgets at 1:12 am | Comments off

Web chatting is nothing new. Most tech-savvy people have used it at least a few times to conduct long-distance business meetings or keep in touch with loved ones. Honestly, I used to think Skype and the like were kind of creepy, what with the sometimes mismatched audio and visual elements and all, but I eventually came to embrace the idea. Cisco is really upping the ante with their new Uni, a device that turns your HD TV into a video-chatting  system.

All you need to use the Umi (which is pronounced “you-me”) is an HD TV, a broadband connection, and the willingness to pay $24.99 for Cisco’s service plan. Seems a small price to pay to stop squinting down at your netbook for a peek at your best friend in London. You can chat with anyone with a webcam, and they can even leave you video messages if you’re not available. Cisco is making the videophone fantasies that we all had ten years ago into a definite reality.

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