For the man who has everything, this is the car that does everything: at least, it did for Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me. The 1976 Lotus Esprit that Bond drove underwater in the 1977 film is up for auction December 1 in London. In fact, two versions of the vehicle were used in Spy – and, unfortunately, the aquatic [...]
Whether you wear a crown or not, this little piece of property will add a regal flourish to your stature. In the lush Dordogne region of France, this 15th century chateau was built around a 12th century well – with 2200² divided into apartments that have been updated to cater to 21st century cravings for comfort: [...]
Buckingham Palace would be a pretty tough customer for most furniture designers, especially a (gasp) American. But New York-born Charles Rohlfs had enough style to receive an invitation not only from Britain’s Royal Society of the Arts in 1902, but a request from the Royal Family soon after to provide furniture for their London residence. [...]
James Bond is a British institution – as is Turnbull & Asser. The secret agent currently wowing audiences onscreen in the latest 007 installment Quantum of Solace has long been a fan of the legendary tailor: Bond creator Ian Fleming stipulated that his famous spy wore Turnbull & Asser in the very first Bond novels. The London tailors shop [...]
Ecologically sound and elegantly stylish best describe Hetty Rose, the line of sharp shoes created by English designer Henrietta Rose Samuels. The mad cobbler makes each pair by hand, using silk from vintage kimonos she buys personally in Japan. The enviro-conscious fashion plate will be thrilled to know that the shoes also made of non-toxic, [...]
It’s hard to believe that Rolex has been the standard-bearer for quality watches for a mere 100 years, but this year marks the centenary of the Swiss watch brand. Founded by Bavarian Hans Wilsdorf in 1908 in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the company’s name is one of mystery: some thought Wilsdorf created it to evoke Rolls Royce, [...]
Parisian leather goods maker La Malle Bernard has been doing elegantly, handcrafted luggage since 1846 – so they know a thing or two about making a statement when it comes to baggage. The above Royal Palace treasure chest is one of our favourite finds, surely as precious as anything it can contain. Collaborations with Moët [...]
Although known today for its sumptuous resorts, exquisite fragrances and chic fashion accessories, the house started by Sotirios Boulgaris first gained acclaimed for its gorgeous jewellery. Although the Greek name has since had an Italian makeover, being dubbed Bulgari, the craftsmanship and hgh quality of the gems remain. Next year, Bulgari celebrates its 125th anniversary of [...]
Millennia before St. Tropez, Palm Beach or Beverly Hills even existed, Baia was the very definition of luxury: Cicero, Caligula and Nero all had holiday homes here, and Cleopatra herself was a guest of Julius Caesar, one of the town’s most prominent homeowners, on the Ides of March. On the Bay of Pozzuoli west of Naples, this hotspot of [...]
Sex in fashion is nothing new: just take a look at décolletages, corsets, bustles, tight breeches and codpieces of yore that emphasized both feminine and masculine forms. Next month, New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology explores fashion’s love affair with sex in “Seduction”, an exhibition that reaches from the mid-eighteenth century to today to show the [...]