The W Paris

 The latest outpost of W Hotels, the long-awaited W Paris, has thrown open its doors in the French capital as Paris Fashion Week gets underway.
The W Paris offers 91 guest rooms going from €340 per night and overlooking the grandiose Opéra Garnier — Paris’s distinctly more traditional landmark opera house.
The interior of the building has clearly been designed to put a contemporary touch on the hotel’s historic buildings, with a sweeping, wrought-iron lined staircase, chandeliers in the bedrooms and antique-inspired furniture that has been brought up-to-date with new covers and designs.

Inside Arola, the hotel’s signature restaurant overseen by Spanish Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola, Spanish specialities will be served in a room seemingly inspired by a traditional dining room, albeit with some contemporary touches of scarlet.
Source

The Fang shoe by Iris van Herpen

The Fang shoe from Iris van Herpen and United Nude is perhaps the fiercest piece of footwear ever created. This ferocious wedge was created for Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris. Each shoe features 10 fangs apiece and comes in several different colors and styles.
Creating the Fang shoe is not as simple as throwing a set of extremely long teeth onto a pair of wedges and calling it a day. Creating the fangs is a lengthy process, with each fang made using carbon fiber and fiber glass mixed together in a slow molding process. These shoes wowed the audience at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, but there was no confirmation as to whether or not they would ever make it to market.
Source

Jean-Paul Gaultier Spring 2012 Haute Couture

Inspired by the much-admired Amy Winehouse, Jean-Paul Gaultier couture show for Spring 2012, artfully married her pinup edge with his design mastery. Year after year the Gaultier look remains as a stunnning example of a timeless design signature. 

Source

Cast Shoe in bronze and brass

Cast Shoe is set to debut at the Home Furnishing expo in Paris. This eagerly anticipated exhibit features classic shoes encrusted in bronze and brass.
Each polished piece of the Cast Shoe collection features phenomenal detailing such as worn in lines and creases. The collection is centered on the brogue shoe, which is a classic English shoe, and a staple of most professionals’ wardrobes. The shoes give off an unprecedented shine, and are very enticing to onlookers. Regardless of how impossible it would be to wear these shoes, they would make a great staple as a sculpture in any footwear-lovers living room.
Source

Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp

Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp collection will debut soon. The Greek designer Mary Katrantzou, whose highly anticipated collection for Topshop will hit stores in February, has designed a series of fun and vibrant pieces for Longchamp.
The Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp collection will be available on Jan. 23 and will feature Katrantzou’s interpretation of the theme ‘when East meets West.’ One look at the collection and you can see that her interpretation is whimsical and fresh. It features poetic prints and patterns of florals—and fun lanterns that look like hot air balloons—in a palette that is bold, vibrant and chromatic.
Source

Cire Trudon Store

The Cire Trudon shop in Paris, located at 78 rue de Seine is the world’s oldest candle maker was founded in 1643. Past customers have included Marie Antoinette and Napoleon. Current customers include Kenzo, Guerlain, Hermes and Dior.
Few brands have 367 years of heritage and know-how behind them, and few are lucky enough to have the skills of a talented marketer, patron of the arts and designer to support them. Cire Trudon literally gave light to the people (and royalty) and produced such high quality candles that it has survived, even flourished, in an electric world.

Cire Trudon's staying power is partially due to the quality of their wax, which is made from rice, soy and copra (coconut kernal). It burns cleanly, doesn't drip, lasts a long time, is biodegradable and is particularly well suited to carrying pigment and scent.
Ramdane Touhani has led the company since 2006, and in a few short years has created a wide range of products, a cult following, a store in Paris and a second store in the heart of NYC's Nolita neighborhood.
Prices range from $20-$375.
Source

Christian Louboutin Store for men in New York

Christian Louboutin, is to open his first US boutique for men in New York next spring.

News of the 1,035-sqf shop in the Meatpacking District comes after the brand opened his first boutique dedicated to men’s shoes last September in Paris.

“The men’s shoes only represent a small portion of the business at present but we think it has huge potential for the future,” Alexis Mourot, CEO for the brand, said.

Louboutin’s current line of footwear for men includes a two-tone satin “John John” derby for $895 and a black leather sneaker-like boot for $995 that features corset-like laces running all the way down to the toebox.

Source

Emirates to introduce Wifi on A380

Middle Eastern airline Emirates has announced the launch of wireless internet access on board its fleet of flagship super-jumbo A380 aircraft.
Customers flying the massive planes, which operate between Dubai and destinations such as Paris and London, will now be able to use wifi-enabled devices on selected routes, Emirates confirmed December 12.
Eleven of the airline’s 19 planes have now been kitted out with the technology, with the remainder of the fleet following suit in the coming months.
Emirates, which has a total of 71 A380 aircraft on order, says that from next summer, the planes will be delivered with the technology as standard.
Prices start from $7.50 for mobile devices, which will be sufficient to keep a Blackberry user connected all the way between Paris and Dubai, and $15 for laptops.
Source

Ladurée’s cosmetic range for 2012

French luxury macaron brand Ladurée has announced the launch of a color cosmetics range called Les Merveilleuses de Laduree.
Created by Albion Cosmetics, the collection will include 20 different blush colors in the form of cameos as well as liquid foundation and lip color.
The range will launch in Japan this February before reaching Europe in fall 2012, followed by the US and elsewhere in Asia.
Ladurée’s decision to enter the cosmetics industry follows the launch in 2007 of a beauty line comprising items such as face and body cream using almonds to moisturize the skin, as well as selling home fragrances and candles.
Source

Maude & Tilda Tote Bags

Paris-based Maude & Tilda offer a collection of clever slogan totes that come with the added benefit of being eco-friendly. On this page “Will F*ck For Chanel” (file under, yes, female economics still exist sad yet true), on the next, “This Bag Contains A Whip, Handcuffs And Little Black Lace Panties,” “I’m Still Saving For My Birkin Bag,” “I Am The Sh*t,” and “Louis Vuitton Just Doesn’t Look Good On Me.” And yep, the company ships internationally.
Source

Michelin starred meals on Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has hired 110 international chefs, some of whom have worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, to cook in its Diamond First Class cabins.
They are already working on flights to London, Sydney, Melbourne and Paris and will be introduced across all other First-class destinations by early next year.
The chefs work from a pantry, stocked with prime cuts of meat, sauces, par-cooked items, spices and freshly chopped vegetables along with specialized tools such as a a whisk and foamer.
They will work from a new first-class menu which includes between four and six meat or seafood dishes, four sauces and four side options, all prepared to order.
The chefs, who have a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in 5-star restaurants and hotels, can also create custom dishes to suit individual tastes.
Source

The world’s largest shop for luxury watches in Paris in 2013

Luxury Swiss retail giant Richemont, owner of such brands as Cartier, Piaget and Jaeger-LeCoultre, is to open the world’s largest shop for luxury watches in Paris.
Business Montres quoted an internal memo saying a three-storey 2,200 square metre (24,000 square foot) shop would open early 2013.
The shop would take over the premises of the landmark Old England shop near the Place Vendome, famous for its luxury watch shops and hugely popular with Middle Eastern and Asian tourists, in particular Chinese.
France’s La Tribune daily said Richemont would pay 70 million euros ($94 million) for the site.
Swiss luxury watch distributor Bucherer would run the new shop, with Richemont stumping up the cash.
“Watch-lovers will find a top-level selection of famous and prestigious watches, in an exclusive atmosphere,” Bucherer’s management was quoted as saying in the memo dated November 30.
Cartier boss Bernard Fornas told Les Echos financial daily that the new site would make it easier to receive coachloads of tourists.
Business Montres said that the Paris watch market would undergo major changes, with the rise of big shops forcing the closure of many small retailers.
Source

Chanel Paris- Bombay Pre Autumn Collection 2012

Chanel previewed their Paris-Bombay pre-autumn/winter 2012-13 collection at the Grand Palais in Paris. Taking inspiration from clothes designed by Coco Chanel in the Fifties and Sixties, Karl Lagerfeld's latest collection heavily references traditional Indian menswear. 

Lagerfeld explained his approach to WWD: "It's all about refinement. It's the Paris version of the idea of India. She [Coco Chanel] designed several Indian-inspired outfits — and that was enough. Most of the inspiration is from Indian men's clothes rather than women's clothes."

Source

The Noisezero O+ Eco headphone at Colette

The Noisezero O+ Eco headphone edition is for those looking for great sound quality in an eco-friendly packaging.
Like the EOps Noisezero 1+ Earbuds, these headphones are made out of cornstarch bioplastics and reused aluminum, which makes them recyclable. Yet, unlike the earbud edition, this Noisezero O+ Eco headphone edition generates a more powerful sound and super strong bass. By using the bioplastics, a natural feeling, mid-tone is also achieved.
Designed by Michael Young for EOPS and online store Collette, the Noisezero O+ Eco headphone edition is available in gray anthracite or gold finish.
Source

Pierre Hermé, the Picasso of Pastry

Pierre Hermé is known as “the Picasso of Pastry” by world-renowned publication Vogue surely gives Hermé more than mere brownie points. With fame dripping from his very name in France, Japan and the United States, Pierre is looked up to by world-class chefs and bakeries.

When you take a trip to the Pierre Hermé stores in Paris or Tokyo, be warned, your taste buds won’t even know what hit them, and neither will your peepers. Be prepared for some extremely savory and heart-melting pastries, cakes, creamed snacks and many more. 

Source

L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels will make history in February 2012 by opening its first jewelry school, where students from across the globe can gain unique insight into the world of creating world-class adornments.
L’Ecole offers a unique opportunity to discover and learn for those who are passionate about jewelry, lovers of beauty or simply curious and anyone who wishes to acquire inside knowledge of this fascinating world.
Situated in Paris’s elegant Place Vendôme, where Van Cleef & Arpels opened its very first boutique, the courses will cover subjects such as interpreting gemstones, Symbol and Power of Jewels and Accessing Van Cleef & Arpels Creations.
Classes are available in French and English, and students can sign up to as many classes as they like depending on where their interests rest.
Enrolment for the 2012 sessions is open from November 15 and registration can be done via the website, where there is more information about fees and course dates.
Source

HD3 Slyde Touchscreen Watch

Designed by Jorg Hysek, the Slyde HD3 is a luxury watch with a high-definition touch-screen that moves vertically and horizontally.
By simply sliding across the watch screen, the user can generate an unlimited variety of timepieces on the wrist – corresponding to any event, desire, or particular moment.
Creating a range of different watches within a single timepiece, is made possible by a range of top-quality virtual modules, all linked exclusively to the concept of time.
Each year, in cooperation with leading watchmakers, HD3 will develop new virtual mechanical movements that will be downloadable in limited series.

SLYDE watches are available with cases in black or grey titanium or in pink gold. Straps are in printed alligator leather or rubber.
Every component of a SLYDE watch, complete with sapphire glass and water-resistant to a depth of 30m, derives from luxury watchmaking.
The HD3 Slyde Watch is now available from colette for 5230 Euros.
Source

En-K de caviar

Luxury Parisian caviar purveyor Kaviari has launched small, portable tins of the delicacy for the traveling gourmand for whom caviar is an everyday, “dainty” snack.

En-K de caviar is a collection of six, 15 g Osetra caviar tins that come in different colors and a small serving spoon.

Osetra is one of the most expensive caviars on the market and comes from the Osetra sturgeon. It’s second only to the Beluga caviar as the most prized.

The En-K de caviar has been showcased in one of Paris’s oldest department stores Le Bon Marché and luxury five-star hotel Le Royal Monceau-Raffles. Price: €35.

Source

Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight In Paris

Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight In Paris fragrance for men was created by perfumers Domitille Bertier and Olivier Polge who gave it a floral scent evoking the scene of a starry night in Paris. The fragrance has notes of lily of the valley, luminous lemon as well as tonka beans and incense. The fragrance comes in a blue bottle depicting the stars seen above Paris at night.
Source

Matthew Williamson for Ladurée

Laduree have undergone a makeover with the help of British fashion designer Matthew Williamson.

The macarons boxes – designed in his signature kaleidoscopic, graphic style — will be available during London Fashion Week starting Sept, 16 before moving across the channel to the pastry shop’s home to coincide with Paris Fashion Week Sept, 27.

A box of eight macarons — light airy cookies made with egg whites, sugar, ground almond powder and ganache filling — costs €15. 60.

Source