Laurela Fashion Guide

The Geneva-based Goldvish? has created officially (according the Guiness Books of Records) the world’s most expensive phone. It? is made of solid 18-karat solid gold, available in rose, yellow or white gold, and diamonds, all of D-E color and none less than VVS-1 clarity grade, as certified in the accompanying diamond grading reports, according to the designer Emmanuel Gueit.? Technology-wise, the cell phone is equipped with the quad-band for effortless worldwide reception, a camera and MP3 player, along with other features.The phone was recently sold to a Russian Business man in Cannes, South of France.

If $1 million is out of your price range. the Geneva-based Goldvish also offer several other diamond-encrusted 18k gold models in your choice of rose, yellow, or white, starting at a much more reasonable $25,600.

Tags: "Le Million" Phone, gold and diamond phone, Goldvish, most expensive phone

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? The ingredients?? 5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla and covered in 23K edible gold leaf. The sundae is drizzled with the world’s most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porceleana, and covered with chunks of rare Chuao chocolate, which is from cocoa beans harvested by the Caribbean Sea on Venezuela’s coast.

The masterpiece is suffused with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragets, truffles and Marzipan Cherries. It is topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, an exclusive dessert caviar, made of salt-free American Golden caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It’s sweetened and infused with fresh passion fruit, orange and Armagnac. The sundae is served in a Baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon to partake in the indulgenceserved with a petite mother of pearl spoon and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel.

Tags: gold caviar ice cream, most expensive ice cream, New York's Serendipity restaurant, Serendipity restaurant, The Grand Opulence Sundae

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And yes, it is? officially (according to the Guinness World Records) the world’s most expensive perfume – No1 by Clive Christian. The No1 for Women Pure Perfume in a 30ml crystal bottle costs $2,350.00

Only 1000 bottles each of men and women’s fragrance are released every year.

Top Notes: lime and white peach;
Middle Notes  rose, jasmine, ylang ylang and green orchid;
Base Notes  Tahitian vanilla and ancient Indian sandalwood.

Clive Christian at Saks Fifth Avenue, Dec 8, 2007 (above)

And this is not just it, Clive Christian also produced 10 the? most expensive bottles of the most expensive perfume on earth – “No. 1 Imperial Majesty“. Valued at over $215,000.00,? each of the 10 bottles is? made of Baccarat Crystal and inset with a white diamond on the neck.

Clive Christian claims that they? have “produced the best possible perfume that was known to mankind, and they were to ignore all costs and buy whatever they considered would produce the best results, even taking into account that it might not be sustainable. In other words, next year, we may not be able to do it. Nobody has ever done that. No. 1 does change, year by year,??? said Clive? Christian, according to whome the? two ingredients in particular that made the perfume expensive were natural aged sandalwood from India and Tahitian vanilla.

???The by-product of that is that it became ridiculously expensive to actually produce that. We didn??™t expect it to be as well-received as it has been, which goes to show that if you produce something so well, the world will respond well to it.???

Tags: Clive Christian, most expensive perfume, No1 Clive Christian, No1 Imperial Majesty, No1 Perfume

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Tags: Luca Carati, Luca Carati diamonds

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If one of your new year resolutons is going to be to finally organize that mess of your makeup, then this is the best present you can treat yourself to – Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Copper Diamond Accessories Collection.



The set includes:
1. Copper Diamond Mini Brush Set ($55.00 each)
2. Copper Diamond Beauty Kit ($95.00 each)
3. Copper Diamond Small Beauty Trunk ($150.00 each)
4. Copper Diamond Cosmetics Bag with Brushes ($65.00 each)

Tags: Accessories, Bobbi Brown, Bobbi Brown maekup trunk, Bobbi Brown makeup case, Copper Diamond

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If you have not yet discovered Robin’s Jeans, it’s time to do so. I am absolutely in love with his dark denim Dia Jeans adorned with silver wings embroidery and Swarovski crystals.

The first pair of Robin??™s Jean was created in January of 2005 by designer Robin Chretien, born in 1957 in Grenoble, France.? The son of a pilot and a designer, he was fascinated by his country??™s haute couture movement??”but more so with images from America beaming into his life in the French Alps. ???As a kid I must have watched The Wild One and Easy Rider hundreds of times,??? says Chretien. ???For me, growing up was always about motorcycles, denim jeans and leather jackets.???

It makes sense, then, that with the combined influences of his creative mother, the prevailing fashions in France and, of course, the tr??s cool denim-branded Americanism showing up in his cinematic favorites, Chretien??™s first job would be in the fashion industry??”and that his focus would immediately be on denim.

???I started in the business at sixteen years old,??? says Chretien, currently one of the leading denim designers in the United States and the head of Robin??™s Jean Company, his own fledgling line of popular designer jeans that are selling out at the hottest boutiques in the country. ???A couple of years later, I was opening fourteen stores for a large company, involved with the merchandising, staffing, buying and sales.???

But Chretien had always wanted to do more than handle the business side of clothing. Fascinated with the designs of the world??™s best denim companies in the 1970s, he started designing his own denim brand in his twenties, and he knew immediately that he had found his passion. His jeans were carried in the fourteen stores he worked for, but he wanted more.

???It was during my first visit to Los Angeles in 1981 that I fell in love with the United States,??? he says. ???I promised myself that I would return to start my own denim brand there, and build a new life.???

But it was another 15 years before Chretien made the move across the Atlantic, just in time to be a part of the birth of the designer denim movement that has been sweeping the nation for the past several years. The Los Angeles-based Chretien started his American career at denim giant Blue Cult as a designer and head of product development.

In 2002, Chretien parted with Blue Cult and helped start a new line: Hudson Jeans. As the only designer in the company, as well as the manager of all product development, he was the brains behind the brand that quickly became a celebrity favorite. His 170 SD style, with their signature back pocket flap, became a huge success. Later, Chretien gave the jean a longer inseam and dubbed it the Super Model, and sales went through the roof.

It was during this time that the designer denim craze was at its height, and Hudson was one of the leaders in the crowded industry. Jeans had begun regularly selling for between $170 and $350.

???People want novelty,??? Chretien explains. ???The market demands a level of quality, and the cost of giving people what they want and producing in the United States drives the price to these levels. Also, producing a new collection every three months and bringing it to the people is no simple task.???

Chretien soon realized that he would never reach his full potential with Hudson, a company that wasn??™t his. So he left to start his own.

???You live and learn and have to move on,??? he says. ???So, rather than waste time, I started Robin??™s Jean Company.??? That was in late 2004.

By January 2005, Chretien had completely reinvented his take on denim and had released the first pair of jeans from his new line. They were an immediate hit with the many store owners who had been familiar with Chretien??™s work at Hudson.

Today, Robin??™s Jean is produced from start to finish in Los Angeles. The fit of Robin??™s Jean is what differentiates the brand from the others. Robin??™s experience in the denim industry has allowed him to perfect his proportions and the placement of each detail. Robin??™s Jean are flattering on all body types. They are made mostly of stretch fabrics, which are comfortable and help the denim to hold its shape. In the back of the jean, the rise is a little higher, which helps to minimize the gapping problem. With their signature embroidered wings logo (stitched either prominently across the back of the jeans, or more subtly on the back pockets or pocket flaps), slim silhouette, universally flattering fit and unique wash techniques, Robin??™s Jeans have gathered steam at unprecedented rates.

Chretien says that he can??™t give away the secret of how his jeans manage to flatter virtually any body shape. But he says it??™s all about paying attention to the intricacies of the human form.

???It??™s about proportion and the placement of each detail, and understanding how the body moves,??? he says. ???I??™m always happy to hear that people love the jeans I make, but it always comes down to the fit. It doesn??™t matter how much you embellish a pair of jeans. Th ey have to be flattering and sexy.

???Of course I pay attention to trends, but not to just chase them,??? he continues. ???I am always thinking about new styles and looks. Sometimes I have to stop my car to sketch a new silhouette or detail. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to draw an idea that I was just dreaming about.???

The collection currently features three outstanding styles for Women and Men, available in multiple washes with the signature logo on the back pockets:

Skinny Leg Jean: Narrow cut denim with a late 70??™s, early 80??™s Rock-n-Roll appeal. Very fitted and body conscious, tapered at ankle.
Straight-Leg: In between wide and narrow hem, with the original shape bock pocket and embroidered wings on rear. Cut to appeal to a more classic and couture sensibility for denim.

Tags: Robin's Dia Jeans, Robin's Jeans, Swarovski crystals jeans, wings jeans

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What could be more festive looking than a great crimson-red patent leather designer bag? Hmm… maybe only gold leather designer bag or Swarovski crystal embellished designer bag… One thing you have to admit is that red patent leather bag is great for all seasons. It can both compliment you favorite cashmere coat and those red leather gloves that you like to wear in December, or just be in tune with those blue and white striped Tory Burch sailor pants and white tank.

Prada Medium Red Patent Leather Bowler Handbag (above)

Miu Miu Red Patent Leather Tote (above)

Dooney & Bourkey Red Patent Leather Medium Chiara Bag (above)

Tags: Dooney & Bourkey Red Patent Chiara Bag, Dooney & Bourkey Red Patent Leather Bag, Miu Miu Red Patent Leather Tote, Prada Medium Red Patent Leather Bowler, Red Patent Leather Bag

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Now that we have accumulated a great number of brand name luxurious handbags in our closets, it’s time to think of proper care and maintenance of these bags, because you have to admit that luxurious and expensive handbags are a long term investment.

Most of these brand names handbags are made of leather, a material that is prone to damage from spills, stains, and even the weather. However, leather is the only kind of material that could last longer than any other type, if it’s properly maintained.

Store your handbag in a dust bag, which most of them come with, especially if we are talking luxurious hand bags. The dust bags are usually made of soft? 100% cotton flannel. But before putting your bad? in a dust bag, I’d fill it with a crumpled tissue paper to preserve the shape.

The most important factor could damage your leather handbag is weather conditions. Both humidity and dryness are great natural enemies of leather. Apart from avoiding to? keeping your handbag exposed to these danger conditions, you have to use oil or leather conditioners to maintain the proper level of moisture in leather. Without these conditioners, leather? can dry out? and crack even though it is kept? in neutral temperature. The proper frequency of using conditioner is probably once a week, but it is also depends on the common whether in your area. Applying conditioner? too often provides no harm to leather surface, so you may apply it more frequently, but once a week is really enough. One thing that you have to be careful is that do not leave your handbag start to distress and you start to use conditioner, because it could be too late.

Also, when you buy a bag from a particular brand, make sure to find out about their own leather care products. For example, I own a number of Coach leather bags and for them specifically I use Coach Leather Care Products: Coach Cleaner ($10) and Coach Moisturizer ($10).

Coach Cleaner – $10 (above)? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Coach Moisturizer – $10 (above)

Water is another thing that may be harmful to your handbag. Even though leather already has great ability to resist from wet but it’s not recommended to expose leather to water to often and for too long. But if your handbag becomes wet, or if you feel you need to clean it with water in a traditional way, I’d use a hair dryer to dry it as quickly as possible. Choose the lowest temperature setting of hair dryer, otherwise the high degree of heat may destroy the leather structure. Do not let the bag dry without using hair dryer, because it could take longer and this will make damp accumulate on the leather skin then moan will finally appear. Keep the bag away from heat sources and be sure that it is stuffed with tissues. Condition the handbag once while it is still damp and again after it is completely dry. After you can make sure that the bag is completely dry, remove all stuff from the bag and stuff it with small amount of tissue paper to maintain its shape and dry it again in the well-ventilated room for about 10 minutes.

In fact, stains probably the thing that easiest to clean but it could be also harmful to your handbag if you clean it in the wrong way. The regular dust and stain usually can be cleaned by damp soft cloth or soft sponge. However, the stain is much and quite difficult to clean, you may use a lightweight scouring pad, but you have to do it with extreme caution to avoid scratching the leather.

Tags: Coach Cleaner, Coach Leather Cleaner, Coach Leather Moisturiser, Coach Moisturiser, dust bag

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The legend begins with the founding father, Rowland Hussey Macy. Born in 1822, Macy??™s followed the steps of his seafaring father, working as a sailor on board of a whaling ship.? 

Rowland Hussey Macy (above)

An entrepreneurial spirit? then drove him to try himself in the printing business, gold speculation, and several retail businesses. On a crysp October day, in? 1857, Rowland Macy opened a small “fancy dry goods” store in New York City on the corner of 6th Avenue and 14th Street and so? began his biggest business venture which brought him all his wealth and fame. He racked up sales that day of $11.06, and two years later his sales totalled $85,000 for the year.

Original R. H. Macy and Co. Store Sign (above)

R. H. Macy & Co. Store on the 6th Avenue and 14th Street, New York (above)

The driving force and leadership behind the Macy organization, the founder? of? R. H. Macy and Co.? implemented? innovative business practices that modernized the retailing industry. Macy invented? such business procedures (that we cannot now even? imagine the retail industry to exist without)? as the one-price system, in which the same item was sold to every customer at one price, and quoting specific prices for goods in newspaper advertising.? Macy was the first retailer who took advertising seriously and used the printed media to differentiate his store from the competitors.?  In terms of quantity and quality, he outnumbered his larger compatitors, such as Lord and Taylow, by producing more newspaper advertisements.? As a merchant,? Macy was very creative by being? the first to introduce such products as the tea bag, the Idaho baked potato and colored bath towels.? 

He also captured the hearts and joy of children everywhere with the introduction of the first in-store Santa Claus and elaborate, illuminated holiday displays.? 

R. H. Macy and Co. Store, 1870s (above)

Macy’s Holiday Window Display 1870s (above)

Finally, Macy’s was the first retailer to promote a woman, Margaret Getchell, to an executive position, making business history.? 

At some point between 1858 and 1878, the year of Rowland Macy??™s death, the little fancy dry goods store on Sixth Avenue became a department store.?  Under one roof, Macy??™s drew together an enormous assortment of quality merchandise.?  By offering customers a choice of furs, china, toys, jewelry, books, stationary, candy, silks and much more, Macy had created a new kind of institution, but one that would change the face of retailing.? ? Today, Macy’s name and legacy live on in the store which bears his name, Macy??™s: America??™s Department Store. a person who transformed the world of retailing. New York shop became the model for the modern department store and a powerful icon of business success.? 

Tags: Macy's 150, Macy's Anniversary, Rowland Hussey Macy

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Looking for the perfect fur vest to go over that perfect chiffon dress or that sweater dress that everyone is craving this season? “Liu Jo”, an Italian brand, has it all.

Fancy designs and a frenzy for mixing and matching – these are the keywords for LIU JO’s new Fall-Winter 2008 Collection.? Innovative styles that mix Street Style with couture suggestions, sportswear with thirties-inspired light dresses as well as all-glamorous combinations for the night.

I especially like the fur vest worn? over the animal-print chiffon dress, or solo. Different textures, fine chiffon, luscious fur and cozy knits work well together to create a perfect fall look.

The entire Fall-Winter 2008? collection stands out for its fine details, innovative lines and shapes, and unusual color palette. The underlying theme of the collection is a patchwork of fabrics and patterns, which reccur in all variations.

The tops are made of broadcloth and sized nylon, colored waxed fabrics and? practically looking double? cottons. The pants are ultra slim with gaiters, skinny or short and low-rise. Other interesting styles are New York palazzo, the new urban style. Grey is the new black in all its nuances,? plus the unusual black and? creamy white.

The knit-wear collection takes inspiration from thirties, fifties and seventies vintage styles. In order to create the fine and chunky textures, a combination of cashmere, merino wool, cashmere silk, mohair, alpaca and lurex were used.

The sweater dress (above) has a vintage look of seventies in its mix of colors and shapes; it’s both very feminine and simple. The? main color is dark grey with specs of warm hues, such as rust brown.

Tags: 2008 Collection, Fall-Winter 2008, fur vest, Italia, knitwear, LIU JO

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