From Your Personal Shopper in Milano: Giorgio Armani Pays Tribute To Gianni Versace

Giorgio Armani has written the preface to a Gianni Versace biography. The retrospective, Gianni Versace: La Biografia, was first published in 2010, but has been reissued this year to commemorate the 15^th anniversary of the designer’s death – featuring the new addition from Armani.

“Fifteen years after his death, what I remember of Gianni Versace? His incredible exuberance, a sense of happiness that mixes everything – ideas, trends, memories, art – with a sort of nonchalant vitality,” he wrote. “He was a great creator.”

“To be honest, we didn’t know each other very well – being so absorbed in our work. Even if we would have never admitted that, we were curious about each other and at the end of each show we used to ask: ‘What did Versace do?’ and ‘What did Armani do?'” he wrote. “The Italian mentality feeds on contradictions: from (cyclists) Coppi/Bartali to (actresses) Gina Lollobrigida/Sophia Loren – Armani and Versace were perfect for this game.”

Gianni Versace: La Biografia, penned by journalist Tony de Corcia, lands in stores on Thursday November 22.

From Your Luxury Lifestyle Consultant in Paris: Designer Ora-Ïto opens Paris hotel

The desired symbiosis between nature and urbanism.

In the heart of the well-known Halles district, close to the Louvre and the Seine, discover Hotel O, designed by Ora-Ito and his team. Hotel O is a haven of peace where well-being and comfort reign. In keeping with Ora-Ito’s original style, the hotel is a harmonious blend of clean lines, smooth and relaxing curves, within a delicate and original style.

Its 29 rooms welcome you in an area protected from the outside and the stress of the city. You will make a fantastic discovery by staying at the “O”.

Hotel O aims to deliver an experience of joy and relaxation after a hectic day in Paris.

All in harmonious curves and sculpted reliefs. Light effects and natural shades fill the atypical structures with their futuristic lines and materials. A smooth transition from outer space to the bustling Parisian day life.

Created from a contemporary mode and supported by modern technologies, the bedrooms have been fitted out based on the Simplexity philosophy. Each room possesses a color declension from the dominating floor color, providing it with a pure and unique persona.

THE DESIGNER: ORA-ITO

ORA-ÏTO is the label and the name of a French designer, who created at the age of 19, the very first virtual brand. Born in 1977, this artist became known to the world at the end of the 90s, by converting products from the big-name brands, such as Vuitton, Apple, Nike or Bic, into 3D… Following numerous publications in magazines, fiction became reality when customers looked to buy their products, these products being obsolete while orders were flooding in on the ORA-ÏTO website, the second highest ever achievement by the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain (FNAC).

In 2005, the curator of the 1st European contemporary art centre, Marie-Laure Jousset offered them the chance to organize their first large topical exhibition at Le Centre Culturel  Français de Milan, that they ironically named MUSEORA-ÏTO. Their new vision around brands propelled them very quickly to the forefront of the international scene, with an impressive catalogue of clients, such as Adidas, the AIR group, Thierry Mugler, Toyota, Biotherm, Levi’s, Davidoff, Nike, Danone, Kenzo, LG electronics, Guerlain, Ballantine’s, l’Oréal Professionnel, Sagem, Habitat and Christofle… After having thought up a bathroom for Supergriff, and a fully-equipped kitchen for Gorenje, ORA-ÏTO continues to make products for our future, at the service of the most prestigious furniture and lighting brands, such as Zanotta, Cappellini, Artemide, B&B Italia, Frighetto, the brand, derived from a young artist, has become a true design brand, because of who they have worked with, and because of their awards. Amongst their projects, there is notably the nightclub “Cab”, on the place du Palais Royal, Nike’s French showroom (2003), a “bright star” point of sale for Mugler Parfums (2005), Toyota’s European flagship on the Champs-Elysées (2007), the new architectural charter of showrooms and dealers of the Japanese manufacturer in Europe.

From Your Personal Shopper in Milano: Gucci Stunning Shoulder Handbags

In Soft stirrup black brocade leather shoulder bag or nubuck leather or python…. GUCCI, SIMPLY GUCCI!

From Your Personal Shopper in Paris: Chaumet Bee My Love Collection

Chaumet celebrates the expression of love through an irresistible collection of Bee my love rings. The bee has been a Chaumet icon since the days of the Empire, a symbol of power and immortality, and has now inspired a new collection of romantic jewellery: Bee my love. There are nine ring designs, each displaying the perfect geometry of the honeycomb, which can be worn alone or in infinite combinations.

To satisfy every taste, the Bee my love rings are available in white, yellow or pink gold and in three styles: plain gold, semi or fully diamond-paved.

The bee, the symbol of Napoleon I

The bee was the symbol of Napoleon I, which was then adopted by his personal jeweller. Through the Attrape-moi si… tu m’aimes collection, the bee has become a Chaumet icon. It embodies the game of love, shared feelings and the power of the hive, a solid, everlasting home.

As a tribute to this winged muse, Chaumet has now redesigned the honeycomb, the perfect hexagonal shape that structures the hive, with superb jewellery and luxury jewellery designs on which the bee comes to rest: tiaras, necklaces, watch straps, earrings, rings and brooches.

9 rings, 5 million combinations

From Your Personal Shopper in Paris: The DIORISSIMO Handbag, limited edition

The Diorissimo. Dior’s latest “it” bag!  Only a certain number of stores  will receive The Diorissimo and those stores will only receive a limited amount. Why, you ask? For exclusivity, but of course.

Haute craftsmanship with exceptional attention to detail, the Diorissimo bag features luxurious lambskin lining in a contrasting colour, and leather piping to accentuate its clean lines and minimalist silhouette.

The name says it is the most quintessential Dior of all, borrowing the Italian superlative to best convey its full splendour. This name meant a lot to Christian Dior, who used it for his lucky perfume. The Diorissimo handbag was designed in a spirit of heritage and modernity, to echo Christian Dior’s vision.

The Diorissimo is for the discerning client and with a price point of 4K+.  I mean, when you pay up for a fabulous handbag, would you then want to see every other woman walking down the street with your bag? No thanks. I mean, let’s face it – even the infamous Hermes Birkin bag is becoming sort of a dime a dozen these days, no? So Dior cleverly delivered The Diorissimo with a soft launch for it’s elite clientele in-store- and by invite-only the first few weeks leading to the official launch and now limits the number of bags produced.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

From Your Luxury Lifestyle Consultant in Cannes: Grand-Hôtel, A better way to Cannes in glittery Cap-Ferrat

Amongst the removed villas of Paul Allen (where Brad and Angelina are holed-up this May) and Russian oligarchs, Cap-Ferrat is a secluded land of billionaires and aristocratic blue bloods far removed from the brashness of St. Tropez and hustle of Monte Carlo. The hotel is also a glittery alternative to the chaos of Cannes while still being close enough to drive-in for the evening action.

The Grand Hotel rises out of a sea of pine trees and camera-encrusted gates, within a residential neighborhood just beyond the main town of Saint Jean Cap du Ferrat. The hotel opened in 1908, attracting much of the Russian imperial family, Pablo Picasso and various British titles for long-weeks on the Mediterranean amongst the property’s 17-lush acres of manicured gardens and pine forests. A shaded driveway leads to the main entrance of the hotel; cameras are everywhere as well as the hurried security detail that insists that only guests are allowed to roam the property. The lobby is a stylish balance of old and new, ornate gilded walls and white paneling are offset by fashionable furnishing conducive to formal social mingling and summer conversations. The in-house Le Cap restaurant is presided over by Didier Aniés, a one-star Michelin chef.

Standing proudly in 7 hectares (17 acres) of grounds between Nice and Monaco, the magnificent white building of the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat has always welcomed its guests in the utmost luxury and sophistication. Learn more about the history of this Palace hotel on the French Riviera, from the turn of the 20th century until today.

The Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat’s lush and fragrant gardens were designed by renowned landscape gardener Jean Mus and stretch from the hotel entrance all the way to the cliff tops.

Enjoy the pastel colors and delicate fragrance of thousands of flowers as you explore the terraced gardens and their series of gently cascading pools.

The Grand-Hotel is home to 44 rooms and 9 suites varying between pine forest and wide-open ocean views. Entry-level superior rooms are located at the front of the building, on each floor, lined in parquet flooring with antique rugs and Tiffany-blue silk drapery.

From Your Luxury Lifestyle Consultant in St Tropez: Nikki Beach, The world’s hottest beach club

In 1998, Nikki Beach introduced the world to the ultimate beach club concept by combining the elements of dining, music, fashion, art and entertainment into one. Called the “Sexiest Place on Earth,” by the London Observer and recently earning the coveted #1 spot on the Travel Channel’s World’s Sexiest Beach Bars list, Nikki Beach continues to make its mark in the hottest addresses and trendsetting locales worldwide.

Today, the Nikki Beach concept has transcended its international venues and grown into a global, multifaceted luxury brand comprising of a Beach Club Division; a Nikki Beach Lifestyle Division (including an exclusive branding & clothing line, a music label and a VIP membership card program); a Global Sponsorships & Special Events Division and a Hotel, Resort & Spa Division.

Nikki Beach can now be experienced in ten cities, in eight different countries with more locations to come in the near future: Miami Beach, Florida, USA; St. Tropez, France; St. Barth, French West Indies; Marbella, Spain; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Marrakech, Morocco; Koh Samui, Thailand; Mallorca, Spain and pop-up locations in Cannes, France during the Cannes International Film Festival and in Canada during the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Hotel, Resort & Spa division has a current location in Koh Samui, Thailand and over the next few years will be opening Nikki Beach Hotels, Resorts & Spas in Europe (Croatia, Cyprus and Greece) and in the Middle East & Africa (Qatar and Cape Verde).

From Your Personal Shopper in Paris: The legendary Ritz Paris has closed its doors to embark on a two-year restoration program

The legendary Ritz Paris has closed its doors to embark on a two-year restoration program.

Rooms, suites, restaurants and bars, the spa and the famous Ritz Escoffier cooking school will all be carefully restored and recreated under the direction of the internationally renowned interior designer Thierry W. Despont.

We will ensure that the charm and personality of the Ritz Paris is kept alive and that we continue to satisfy even the most discerning travelers.

We certainly hope that you will follow our progress on www.ritzparis.com or through our social media channels.

From Your Personal Shopper in London: Jimmy Choo unveils new collection designed by contemporary artist Rob Pruitt

Jimmy Choo’s latest project…  a capsule collection created by contemporary artist Rob Pruitt. After making a name for himself on the New York art scene in the 1980s with his own signature brand of humorous, brightly coloured artworks, he’s lent his hand to design with this new collection for Jimmy Choo.

Famous for his glittery panda paintings and dégradé canvases, his work for Jimmy Choo encompasses two-tone clutch bags in lace print as well as rainbow coloured courts with zebra print heels. His love of glitter, zebras, pandas and dégradé colours all make an appearance in the collection, which features 19 styles of shoes, bags and accessories.

The artist created a unique duo of angel and devil pandas symbolising the dual personalities of the Jimmy Choo woman, and these feature heavily in the line of 19 styles of shoes, bags and accessories.

“The panda is a recurring image seen throughout the body of my artwork. It’s a symbol that reminds us both to tread lightly and to appreciate the adorable. They represent the harmony of yin and yang,” said the artist.

The new collection will hit stores in November.

From Your Personal Shopper in Cannes: LVMH Opens Hotel in Saint-Tropez, White 1921

LVMH inagurated last week its brand new hotel WHITE 1921 in Saint Tropez, which will be operated by LVMH Hotel Management.

Located in the heart of Saint-Tropez, on the well-known Place des Lices, the White 1921 opens its doors in the former Maison Blanche.

Designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the bar set in the mansion’s garden invites you to a festive break. Eight rooms and suites decorated in a chic and modern style offer each a distinctive personality.

Decorated in the spirit of the former mansion, the eight rooms and suites offer a contemporary and elegant design. An eclectic selection of design pieces and selected touches of color give each room its distinctive character.

Exclusive parties will be organized throughout the season to celebrate the city’s key events and showcase the unique know-how of the most prestigious brands.