After L’Odyssée de Cartier in march 2012, the renowned French jeweler has just released its latest animated film “Winter tale” to celebrate Christmas.
Cartier‘s new Winter Tale holiday campaign promotes the French jeweler this holiday season with an ethereal spot and its iconic baby panthers, playing hide and seek in a snow-laden forest of fir trees. These mischievous cubs lead the viewer on an enchanting adventure.
International sports celebrity and style icon, David Beckham, is the new face for the Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime worldtimer watch.
The partnership includes a new advertisement with Beckham pictured on the runway of the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. The image, taken by American photographer Anthony Mandler, shows the soccer star standing in front of a private jet wearing his Transocean Chronograph Unitime.
The Transocean Chronograph Unitime is equipped with the new Manufacture Breitling Caliber B05 and provides permanent readings of the time in all 24 timezones through its crown-operated correction system.
“I’ve always been a long-time admirer of Breitling. As a company they create not only the highest-performance watches but also timeless designs that have inspired generations. It was a natural choice for me to partner with this fantastic brand.”
Gucci pays tribute to the famed Garden City next month, when it introduces three exclusive made-for-Singapore bags at the Italian house’s Marina Bay Sands boutique. The specially created Jackie, Boston and Diana bags all feature a cheery sunflower leather trim on printed floral canvas.
Available from Gucci’s Marina Bay Sands boutique, the special Jackie bag, Boston bag with Vintage Web detail and Diana bag feature an exclusive yellow trim in leather and the classic Flora print on natural canvas.
The Gucci Flora print was originally created in 1966 for Princess Grace of Monaco, on the occasion of her visit to the Via Montenapoleone boutique in 1966.
This year’s limited edition Singapore Flora bags are resolutely summery, with its bouquet of seasonal blossoms set off against the rich leather detailing. Available from November 2012 at the Marina Bay Sands boutique.
Once upon a time, while the town was being decorated for Christmas with ornaments a small miracle took place in the atelier of Karl Lagerfeld’s castle.“mon shu girl” escaped from his sketchbook – a “dessin” come to life! spreading colorful times and holiday sparkle to girls around the world. mon shu girl dons Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic look and awakens the sleeping beauty that lies deep within. this holiday season, shu uemura and Karl Lagerfeld send a miracle of color and beauty that is a gift for every girl.
The Chanel creative director is well accustomed to the brand, having used Shu Uemura cosmetics to hand-color his fashion sketches for over two decades.
Dubbed Mon Shu Uemura or My Darling Shu Uemura, this limited edition collection include lipsticks, nail polishes, eyeshadow palettes, make-up tools and cleansing oils, and the luxurious Ruby Eyelashes.
This stunning false eyelashes (pictured above) with real ruby, the combination of the Japanese pop of Shu Uemura with Karl’s Parisian chic will cost you around $1,500.
Penelope Cruz has signed a three-year deal to front Madrid-based fashion house Loewe’s upcoming campaigns and will make her first appearance in the house’s spring/summer 2013 ads, which have been shot by famed duo Mert and Marcus.
“Loewe is an international brand proud of its Spanish roots with a rich history behind,” said Cruz. “Its collections are made by Spanish master artisans and I have always admired their work. I feel fortunate to be a part of this project.”
The brand’s creative director, British designer Stuart Vevers, said Cruz’s “strong, sensual beauty” has long been an inspiration and a constant reference for his “ideal of Spanish womanhood”.
In January, Penelope Cruz will become the ambassador of the leather goods brand, led by creative director Stuart Vevers.
Located at the foot of the green hills of Forte Dei Marmi, enjoying both the reflection of the Mediterranean Sea and the peace of Apuanian Alps, Il Bottaccio Relais & Chateaux is an elegant hotel and a superb restaurant created around a seventeenth century water-powered olive mill transformed into an oasis of refinement and serenity.
Part luxury resort, part country house, Il Bottaccio di Montignoso is one of Tuscany’s finest 5 star hotels ever: offering awesome accommodation, incredible cuisine and superb spa facilities, all within minutes of the sea and the beaches of Versilia.
Il Bottaccio is an aristocratic Relais with few exclusive suites tastefully furnished in every detail and created in the spirit of offering even the most demanding gourmet traveller hospitality which rivals the level of the cuisine. Each suite is different in its ambience and mood. The prestigious Italian designs are carefully blended with precious antique pieces from the 17th century. The owners, Elio and Laura D’Anna synthesized their formula as: “the hospitality of a refined Tuscan villa where the pleasures of the table are harmonized with the savouring of comfort and calm”.
The Hospitality provided by the Bottaccio to its gourmand travellers matches the quality of its cuisine. The freedom of the guests and the respect for their habits and privacy is paramount. Large spaces with open views on the greenery complement the very large private suites, whose name is different for each one of them, as well as different is the character of the atmosphere.
The 18th century pieces dotted in the suites sensually blend with prestigious contemporary furnishing. Il Bottaccio successfully blends the charm of a country mansion with the pleasure of refined catering and the luxury of absolute peace.
In order to provide Clients with an experience of total wellness and relaxation, Il Bottaccio guarantees 24 hour room and bar service, free Wi-Fi connection everywhere in the building, a wake-up call service, security boxes and the convenience of an inside parking lot.
THE COOKING SCHOOL
For the fondest Taste Explorers, small classes with a maximum of eight participants, ensures you have a hands-on learning experience with personal instructions. At Il Bottaccio you will have the chance to participate in a working kitchen, giving you the behind-the-scenes experience of a top Italian restaurant.
Each day, the school focuses on a few different aspects of cooking and Italian cuisine. Menus and lessons are tailored to seasonal produce and specialties, ensuring only for the freshest and highest quality ingredients to be used.
Daily classes typically take place in the morning, leaving the remainder of the day to explore the surrounding area through planned activities or on your own. For those wanting a more personalized experience, individual courses can be designed to uniquely fit your interests. Although this being a five day program, you are free to choose to select individual classes. The cooking School runs throughout the entire year.
The group’s consolidated revenue for the nine months ended 30 September totalled €2,440 million, a rise of 22.7% at current exchange rates (and of 15.5% % at constant exchange rates).
In the third quarter, sales grew by 24.2% at current exchange rates and by 15.7% at constant exchange rates. Sales growth for the group’s own stores remained extremely robust (up 16.8% at constant exchange rates), despite a high basis of comparison.
Sales for the first nine months by sector and region
Sales expanded across all regions in the nine months to 30 September 2012:
– Non-Japan Asia (+24%, driven by China, Singapore and Hong Kong) and Japan (+4%);
– France (+13%) and the Rest of Europe (+18%);
– The Americas (+11%), in spite of an exceptionally high basis of comparison in 2011 (+30%).
All sectors delivered a handsome performance owing to the new creations and excellence of craftsmanship:
– Leather Goods and Saddlery (+11%), where the group continues to invest in expanding production capacity to meet steadily rising demand;
– Ready-to-wear and Accessories (+21%), underpinned by the creativity of the latest ready-to-wear and fashion accessories collections;
– Silk and Textiles (+14%), propelled by the success of new materials and new formats ;
– Perfumes (+13%), owing to the success of the great classic Terre d’Hermès and to the launch of Voyage d’Hermès perfume;
– Watches (+16%), reflecting the success of the strategy to expand into mechanical and manufacture calibre watches;
– Other Hermès sectors, with an exceptional rise of 52% owing to the uniqueness of Hermès jewellery and the development of the Art of Living collections.
Significant events during the third quarter
Hermès International did not buy back any of its own shares during the third quarter. At 30 September, it held 1 456 362 shares for a total of €310 million, excluding shares traded under the liquidity contract.
Outlook
If the current trend persists, the target for consolidated annual sales growth at constant exchange rates could exceed 13%. The current operating margin is expected to be between the 2010 level and the record high achieved in 2011.
During the fourth quarter, Hermès will continue to follow its strategy based on expanding its distribution network, strengthening its production capacity and safeguarding its sources of supply.
The theme for 2012, “The Gift of Time”, highlights the excellence, passion and quality of the craftsman. Without time, nothing lasting or beautiful could be brought into being.
Lugano lies in a bay on the northern side of Lake Lugano, surrounded by numerous mountains offering splendid viewpoints. The traffic-free historic town centre, the numerous buildings in Italianate Lombardy style, the exclusive museums, the mountains, lake and a packed calendar of events all invite visitors to see the sights, soak up the atmosphere – and enjoy “dolce far niente”. The town centre with its Mediterranean-style squares and arcades, and numerous parks with sub-tropical plants such as the Parco Civico on the shores of the lake invite you to laze around, enjoying the atmosphere.
In Lugano there are all kinds of shops and department stores in which you can find almost anything.
Via Nassa is one of Lugano’s historical streets – its particular and sophisticated shops will accompany you in your shopping. Under the 270 meter long, ancient city porticoes on the lakeshore, there are many different kinds of shops: jewellery, clothing, gastronomy and antique shops are just some of the many, without forgetting a few department stores as well. Via Nassa, Lugano’s number one shopping destination, accompanies you during your shopping outings with its elegant and sophisticated atmosphere.
Via Nassa offers a fantastic range of shops from famous fashion designers’ boutiques to delicatessens and bakeries. Some of the luxury brands you can find here are Hermes, Versace, Gucci, Issey Miyake, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bulgari.
For Luxury Watches and Jewelry, the most important are Bucherer and Les Ambassadeurs.
It prides itself on its unique choice of some of the most exclusive watch and jewellery brands from around the world combined with a high level of expertise among their employees.
Here is a selection of the featured brands at LES AMBASSADEURS: Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Blancpain, Breitling, Cartier, Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, IWC, Urwerk, Ulysee Nardin and Jaeger LeCoultre.
Shopping at Bucherer with it’s famous Rolex collection is as logical an extension of any stroll through the city’s shady lanes as is sipping a cappuccino in a small sidewalk café.
Carl-Friedrich Bucherer opened his first watch store in 1888 in Lucerne and laid the foundation for a successful family business which has extended to a 3rd generation. Today, Bucherer is one of the leading watch and jewellery retailers in Switzerland with over 1100 employees.
As watch and jewellery specialists, Bucherer stocks exclusive world-class brand names such as Rolex, Carl F. Bucherer, Chopard, Piaget, IWC, Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Baume & Mercier, Longines, Rado, Hublot and Gucci
French celebrity chef Raymond Blanc unveiled the new menu he has devised for Eurostar, with dishes inspired by the rail network’s French, British and Belgian destinations.
Poached pollock in an English white wine sauce and an apple, celeriac and Belgian pas de bleu cheese salad are among the courses available from Wednesday to passengers travelling in business premier class.
“Food on trains has got a bad reputation, so my role here is to bring the quality up,” said Chef Blanc, whose television shows have made him one of Britain’s best-known cooks.
The self-taught chef, whose restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in southern England holds two Michelin stars, has developed a menu based on seasonal ingredients from the three countries connected by Eurostar.
Passengers departing from Paris will find mainly French food on their trays, such as salmon pate with horseradish and cauliflower — while those leaving London will be served mainly British fare, including English camembert cheese.
On journeys from Brussels, dishes will feature Belgian ingredients including the pas de bleu cheese.
“The food is going to be prepared in advance and the main course is going to be reheated — it’s quite challenging. I’m removing all the delicate food to concentrate on stronger food with a lot of personality, like cheese, sardines and apples,” said the Frenchman, who has lived in Britain since the 1970s.”
“I want simple food,” he added. “You have less chance of messing it up.”
The meals will be prepared in Eurostar’s three kitchens, in Burgundy in eastern France, Sussex in southeast England, and Brussels.
Blanc acknowledged there were considerable challenges in attempting to serve high-quality food on a mass scale.
“I cannot compete with restaurants, of course I can’t,” he said. “But I will compete with business class and first class airlines.”
He insisted: “I’m not afraid to be criticised by my peers, because I do it with my heart, with my intelligence and with my ethics.”
Blanc said he hoped his collaboration with Eurostar would make him better known in his homeland, where he is considering opening a restaurant.
LVMH opened a managerial training centre in Singapore, its first outside of Europe.
The LVMH Asia Pacific Talent Development Centre will focus on developing management talent in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The facility covers around 6,000 square feet and houses numerous training rooms, including glass displays of goods from most of LVMH’s labels.
The centre aims to train managers from various levels from Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
It will host mentoring programs, case study sessions as well as collaborate with the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University on researching luxury brand management.
Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH’s Group Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Synergies, stated that the centre would also be involved in helping high-level management transfers within the “LVMH eco-system”.
The centre’s location, in an office tower on Orchard Road and Singapore’s main shopping location, is a sign of the importance of the Asian market.
Sales in the region, excluding Japan, account for about 30% of the group’s revenue last year.
LVMH hired 7,300 people in Asia-Pacific last year and it is currently looking to hire more, Gaemperle said.
VIP LUXURY SERVICE CLUB 