PLUSH LUXURIES

THE HOTEL DU CAP EDEN ROC - ANTIBES, FRANCE - THE ULTIMATE RESORT DESTINATION

As Winter approaches day by day, many are planning that much needed Holiday escape.   I want to encourage you to think of one luxury accessory that can be a super chic addition to a well packed suitcase.   The beach towel.  While a designer handbag can sometimes feel like you are trying too hard in a resort setting, a beautiful and plush beach towel is at home in Costa Careyes, St. Barts, or any destination that includes a swimsuit. 

Made from the finest cotton in the world and spun by master textile makes, designer beach towels are as valid an investment as any RTW Jacket or leather handbag.  A well cared for towel can last for years and years!   While many fashion brands have been quick to jump on the bandwagon of adding handbags and shoes, a beach towel is still a sign of a more refined collection.  In the same way that silk FERRAGAMO RESORT 2011/12 - THE DUKE MANSION, NYCscreened scarves separate the men from the boys of fashion brands, so too does the production of a luxury beach towel.    Let's be clear: All towels are not created equally.   The towels we are discussing here are those made in Italy, France, Portugal, or Turkey - all countries that have a long history of making fine textiles and craftspeople specializing in embroidery. (You will find some from the U.K)  Expect to pay from $475-$600.

The towels are in fact very much like a silk scarf.   Designed for the refined fashion customer, and influenced by the signature collection seen on the runway.   Most are shown with Cruise or Resort collections for obvious reasons.   Let's look at three towels to covet.

FERRAGAMO

To say that the house of FerragamoEXOTIC ANIMAL PRINTS AWASH IN BLUE - FERRAGAMO has had a big year is an understatement.  Since being named creative director of the entire brand, designer Massimiliano Giornetti has seen his RTW become the it collection of the music world.  Madonna, Beyonce, & Katy Perry have all chosen Ferragamo for cover shoots, movie premieres, and hot editorials. LADY GAGA IN FERRAGAMO In fact magazines can't seem to feature enough in issue after issue.  Then there is Lady Gaga.  Gaga went GAGA herself for the fall collection and had her piano papered to match the Ferragamo Houndstooth dress she wore to perform on The View.  

Last Spring, tapping into the ultra luxe roots of Salvatore Ferragamo himself,  the house staged it's first ever full scale Resort Runway show.  The site of the show was the famed James B. Duke Mansion on New York's Upper East Side.   The show featured Great Gatsby like glamour with a navy and pale blue silk palette that was iced with diamonds, diamonds, and more diamonds.   The seasonal beach towel is the ultimate combo of animal prints bordered in navy- oh so chic.

CHANEL 

There are few items not coveted from this magical house of French fashion.  Coco Chanel was a cornerstone for the entire fashion industry, and Karl Lagerfeld took her legacy into the stratosphere! CHANEL BLACK & WHITE TERRYCLOTH BEACH TOWEL & MATCHING TOTE  This seasons towel was influenced by the over the top show staged at the Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes, France.   The ultimate resort destination for the rich and famous, it is one of the most, if not the most expensive hotel in the world. KRISTEN McMENAMY - CHANEL CRUISE 2011/12 - HOTEL DU CAP  The breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and ultimate privacy create an uber chic combination.   Of course Karl being Karl, he rented out the entire hotel for days for this stunning show.   One of the highlights was the return of supermodel Kristen McMenamy to the runway, looking as stunning at 45 as she did at 25.   The black and white robes, bustiers, suits, and jackets made the terrycloth towels the perfect accessory. (Click CC to play with some beautiful accessories).

HERMES  - Of course of all the HERMES SIGNATURE TERRYCLOTH TOWEL - $530.00fashion houses, Hermes is the one that has the most developed collection of beach towels.   This famed French house of leather goods are the masters of crafting every accessory from riding gear to gun caddies,  and of course - handbags.  At Hermes, there are always beach towels to be had.   Best known are those featuring animals - think polar bears or fish, but there are also those that take their design from runway inspiration.  HERMES FALL 2011 - EXOTIC TRAVELER This Fall, designer Christophe Lemaire's first collection for the house focussed on exotic travel and eccentric sportsman activities such as falconry and archery.   Also in the mix were graphic printed tunics and swing coats that evoked a sense of mystery.  Who is this wealthy traveler, and where is she going? 

Surprising any loved one that loves fashion with one of the designer towels featured here will guarantee you a happy holiday season!   Be sure to visit a boutique near you and ask about beach towels.   If you local boutique doesn't have them, they can bring one in for you.  Of course this is a great item to have shipped as a gift.   **Boyfriends out there take note:  If you wrap two airline tickets in a designer beach towel and put it under the tree for your sweetheart.... your status as boyfriend of the year will be hard to top!**   CLICK IMAGES TO EXPLORE

THE CURE - NOW & AGAIN

ADELE - 2180's band The Cure is back in a big way.  ROBERT SMITH - THE CUREThe band that had millions of fans swaying and dancing to their melancholy alternative tunes is as relevant today as it was in 1985!  Amazingly, The Cure music and references to the band are all over the music scene at the moment.  Click CURED to read how Adele, Rihanna, & Chanel have resurrected a legend.

BONJOUR DIOR BEVERLY HILLS

FASHION SPY IN DIORMy trip last week to sunny California for Dior was a dream come true for this pale and grumpy New Yorker.  From the moment the plane landed, I was in LA LA land.  (Incidentally I sat next to Andy Cohen from Bravo on my flight -very nice.  I'm sure he cherished the down time away from the ladies of the Real Housewives!).   There is something about L.A. that is unlike any other place.   Of course it's the sunshine, the palm trees, and the Hollywood effect.  The movie industry has the whole city in a permanent trance.  If you turn heads in other places, you get stares in Los Angeles.   People in L.A. do a unique double take to everyone they pass on the street.   You get that extra moment of glance and you can almost hear the thoughts "who is that?", "is he famous?"   VIA RODEO  For this reason alone - how can you not like spending a few days in L.A?

Then, for a die hard New Yorker like myself to have the chance to drive a brand new rental car ( trying to get the most gas efficient model available!) gives me flashbacks to high school.   Those first months when you could drive by yourself and have total control of your destination.   Of course this doesn't last long in L.A. as after 10 minutes of euphoria I am in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405!   But still happy - as I have 45 minutes all to myself to listen to every new top 40 song I didn't know existed!   Hi Eminem, hi Usher - I remember you guys!

RODEO DRIVE -SUNDAY MORNINGRodeo drive continues to dazzle and captivate tourists from every corner of the globe.   The level of quality craftsmanship that you see from boutique to boutique is staggering.   There truly is no other place on earth that has such opulent and luxurious fashion one shop after another.    There are also more exotic sports cars than you have ever seen in a 5 block radius!

Dior has an impressive location on Rodeo.  All product categories from Fine Jewelry to Accessories, to RTW, to Shoes are all here.  The Dior Fall collection - beautiful.   Really, John Galliano is on a level that few can ever reach.   The vision and story he is able to bring to one of the most prestigious fashion ateliers in the world is amazing.   Keep in Mind that Dior and Chanel are the only two major fashion houses with Couture roots.   Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, & Hermes are all beautiful, but do not originate from a couture collection.   This gives a quality and savoir-faire to collections like Dior and Chanel that cannot be duplicated.   

MISS DIOR FLOATS ON A CLOUDThe really great news is that designer houses have become very considerate of the fact that women are thinking twice about price points when they invest in these RTW pieces. DIOR WOOL KNIT W/ HAND LACED RIBBON - $2,600.00  Also keep in mind that designer handbag prices have increased steadily for the last 10 years.   That means if you are buying designer handbags today, you can afford designer RTW.  Case in point at Dior.   There are amazing knitwear and classically tailored jackets shown on the runway that retail in the $2,600.00 - $3,000.00 range.  Galliano's vision of Miss Dior for Fall is full of equestrian detailing of the classics and romantic shapes for those Libertines at heart! 

CLASSIC DIOR JACKET - $3,000.00Of course, these pieces are very expensive.  However, for a designer garment hand crafted in France or Italy - there is great value in those price points.   These pieces are made from the finest raw materials on Earth and manufactured by skilled Artisans who have the finest working conditions and labor regulations in the world.   There is no finer product outside of true French Couture.  In addition, these items will be relevant for life.

Preview the Dior Fall collection now!  Click - Dior for Sure.

LEGACY THE "NEW" LUXURY

LOUIS VUITTON - ARTISAN ADNo industry  loves to promote a trend or a catch phrase like the fashion industry.   Season after season marketing campaigns tell us what is the "new" black or the latest silhouette that Women must have on their back and or in the closet.  During the eight years of the Bush administration, consumers were drunk on credit.  Click Luxury to read on..