GARRARD - Blue Sapphire

GARRARD

The World's Oldest Jewellers

Established London 1735

Bespoke Jewellery

Harvey Nickhols Knightsbridge
109-125 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7RJ
UK

Tom Ford - Style Icon

Why He’s A Style Icon

Born in Texas with style in his blood -- his mother was a southern belle who believed strongly in dressing to the nines -- Tom Ford has become one of today’s most influential fashion designers; hence, he’s one of our style icons. Though he graduated from Parsons School of Design with a degree in interior architecture, Tom Ford’s studies provided him with a sense of proportion and a fondness for simplicity and clean lines that would later form his style when he entered the fashion world. After racking up some much needed fashion experience with a brief stint at Perry Ellis, Tom Ford made a bold move to Gucci, and a style icon was born. When Tom Ford signed on at Gucci, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. The young designer saw an opportunity, however, and used it to propel his vision of style, quickly taking on other lines, including menswear. In a few short years, Tom Ford had resurrected the dying fashion house and single-handedly brought sexy back to the fashion world at large. His glamorous clothing, along with his sexually provocative fragrance campaigns, revolutionised the way brands marketed themselves. Never one to march to the beat of another’s drum, the marketing genius dramatically left Gucci in 2004, launching his own line, Tom Ford, in 2005 and winning the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2008. As a testament to his status as a style icon, Tom Ford was commissioned to create Daniel Craig's wardrobe for Quantum of Solace, the latest addition to the James Bond franchise.

Dress The Ford Way

Finding Tom Ford products is getting progressively easier; in addition to the Tom Ford boutiques in NewYork,Toronto and Zurich, these coveted threads can now also be found in outlets in Milan, Moscow, San Paolo, Puerto Banus, and Osaka. Even if you have easy access to these clothes, it’s fair to say that prices at the Tom Ford boutique may be a tad out of the range of many men. Nevertheless, you can still pick up some valuable tips from this style master. First, the Tom Ford man is suave and sophisticated, yet he exudes a raw and masculine sex appeal. One surefire way to look smoking hot the Tom Ford way is to find a perfect-fitting dark suit, preferably bespoke if you can afford it, with strong shoulders, a tapered waist, lean legs, and a jacket that covers your butt.

Even more important than your suit, however, is that you project an air of assured confidence, meaning you need to feel comfortable in what you‘re wearing. The Tom Ford man is also a sensual being who prefers touchable fabrics that make getting dressed a pleasurable experience. The urban man whom Ford designs for is also not afraid to make a bold statement: leaving an extra button open on his dress shirt when suiting up for example, or throwing together patterns with a certain amount of irreverence. Last, but not least, to get the Tom Ford look, keep your accessories to a minimum. Wear only one or two simple, chic pieces at a time.

SHANGRI-LA'S VILLINGILI RESORT & SPA - Maldives

Hotel de Sers - Paris Hotel

Le Royal Monceau Hotel - Paris - Hotel

Paris loves to show off. The recently re-opened Le Royal Monceau is by far the showiest hotel in which the P4L team has ever stayed. This is a storied hotel and a location with a fantastic, historical past, but the latest incarnation is reimagined by Philippe Starck.

 We are not huge fans of Starck as we tend to consider him one of the somewhat “gimmicky” designers — together with Karim Rashid or Marcel Wanders — whose creations sometimes transcend time and become classics, yet at others appear like a flash-in-a-pan that you only want to see once. This kind of design is fun and quirky, but we get tired of it very quickly.

 In Le Royal Monceau, Philippe Starck has created a classic. Two years after possibly the wildest ‘demolition party’ in history, Paris’ newest palace hotel is THE place to stay.
The location itself is a winner: Five minutes’ walk from Arc De Triomphe and Champs-Elysées.

 The entry to Le Royal Monceau is super-grand, from the six doormen to the first glimpse of the foyer — it feels like you’ve walked onto the movie set of Eyes Wide Shut. The luxe-chic interiors are the grandest we’ve seen but it’s somehow magically NOT over the top. It works in Paris; it really works wonderfully.

 The hotel’s point of difference is a serious commitment to art. It has its own gallery, Art District, with the inaugural Basquiat show, of works selected from Enrico Navarra’s collection. There’s also an art bookshop and a dedicated blog Artforbreakfast.

There’s also a whiff of rock’n'roll, with each room featuring its own guitar, with a portable recording studio available to guests. Trailblazing fashion multibrand, L’Eclaireur, will also host a show room in the hotel. Plus there’s a Clarins spa, Pierre Hermé desserts, a cigar smoking room, a cinema, an extensive garden.

The rooms are fantastic, and for 800 Euro a night, you’d want them to be.

We were upgraded to the hotel’s best suite on the top floor with an attic-style roof. We entered a room to find a service of croissants, macaroons, coffee, water, grapes and oranges presented in a way fit for a president. The room has a small lounge with a large mirror leaning against the wall like a painting. The mirror miraculously becomes a TV with a switch of the remote control.

 While the bed with its Italian crisp linen is divine, the bathroom is a real eye-opener. It’s like ‘Studio 54 meets a Puff Daddy video’ or like bathing on the face of a Chanel diamond wrist watch. All mirrors on every wall. You either love it or hate it.

 Le Royal Monceau has it all, including all the beautiful people. The in-crowd has found it and the breakfast room was buzzing with film directors, actors models, advertising gurus, fashion types ; everyone dressed immaculately looking like a tear-sheet from Paris Vogue.

Power meetings were happening over lunch and at dinner/drinks. The place was buzzing with the most flamboyant characters we’ve seen in a while and literally every night was busy. We can only imagine the vibe of this place when Paris Fashion Week comes along! - Eric J.R. Engelen

La Pâtisserie des Reves - Paris Pâtisserie

Whatever Parisian pastry chef extraordinaire, Philippe Conticini, does gets noticed. His talent for creating desserts that are art in all meanings of the word has found yet another expression this September when he unveiled his latest creation, La Pâtisserie des Rêves (the patisserie of dreams), in the chic 7th arrondissement in Paris. Nothing in the design of the sleek 29 square-meter boutique is reminiscent of a traditional European konditorei. Most strikingly, the stars of the space — the desserts, cakes and pastries — are displayed on a round platform in the center. Each of the 15 culinary masterpieces is presented under its own temperature-controlled glass bell suspended from the ceiling.

Customers order their selection from the staff, after which each order appears directly from the kitchen. Both ideas evoke the feel of a meticulous laboratory where precious specimens are handled. Conticini has been in the culinary limelight for more than two decades with his own TV show, several books, restaurants and awards. - Eric J.R. Engelen

Le Matignon - Paris Restaurants - Bars

It is not easy to impress in Paris. To create a restaurant, bar, hotel or retail establishment that stands out, surprises the locals and the jetsetting international visitors, and creates positive buzz that lasts more than a night, is a serious challenge.

The collective talents and star power of the team behind Le Restaurant Matignon are significant enough to suggest that a new, permanent player may have arrived on the scene.

Opened March 2010, at 3 Avenue Matignon, just a few steps off Champs‐Elysées, Matignon promotes itself as “restaurant and playground” but  in plain terms it is a restaurant, bar and lounge that has already hosted several lavish private parties for high-end brands and media.

Matignon was founded by Paris-born international promoter and artistic director Cyril Péret (Paglinghi) and Gilbert Costes, one of the Parisian Costes hospitality triumvirate (brothers Jean-Louis and Gilbert and Gilbert’s son, Thierry) that seems to have its hands in half the new restaurant and cafe concepts in Paris.

Péret has entertained and cooperated with celebrities throughout his career in Miami and Paris, while the Costes brothers are no strangers either to working with celebrities and top-level designers and architects.

To create the physical environment, Costes and Péret retained the formidable and prolific French architect and designer Jacques Garcia, whose rich and luxurious signature touch can be witnessed in hotels and restaurants around the globe. Garcia’s work includes Hôtel Métropole in Monte Carlo, the Spice Market restaurant in New York, Hôtel Costes in Paris and dozens of others around the world owned by sultans and sheiks, royalty and even Garcia himself.

Several years ago, Garcia was quoted as saying that 50 million people ate at his restaurants and five million people slept at his hotels. These numbers have only grown since.

At Matignon, Garcia has created a luxurious mix of eclectic and opulent, subdued and bold, elegant and funky. Matignon has no online presence at this time, so the only way to get to know it is to go in person. Eric. J.R. Engelen
Matignon is located at 3, Avenue Matignon 75008 Paris, telephone : 01 42 89 64 72.

Santorini - Balconies

Oia

Louis Vuitton - Vintage Part 1

Louis Vuitton

Vintage Collection

Oceanco Yacht

As one of the world’s finest yacht builders, Oceanco's yachts are technically accomplished and aesthetically distinctive; built to standards that no other shipyard exceeds. Unsurpassed Dutch engineering by the most talented craftsmen, allied to the highest specifications and the most sophisticated equipment: Oceanco continues to push the boundaries of the superyacht concept with the 85.60m / 280.84ft, Igor Lebanov designed Y708.  

Oceanco has recently been acquired by Mohammed Al Barwani, a private investor, who is based in the Sultanate of Oman. Barwani has interests in oil, gas, manufacturing, and minerals in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific through MB Holding Company LLC as well as investments in various other diversified assets. Barwani has a deep love of the sea and has owned a variety of motoryachts. Extremely enthusiastic about his new aquasition, he says, “I see Oceanco as a great brand. The company offers an outstanding growth opportunity as the world economy recovers."

"Oceanco’s order book is healthy and the business shows a strong balance sheet” states Barwani, who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University of Ohio and a Masters degree in Petroleum engineering from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, with a firm grasp of projects and systems. Barwani goes on to say, “Oceanco will not only continue to construct outstanding yachts, but it is my intention to take the Oceanco brand to the next level.“ 

Marcel Onkenhout, former Deputy Managing Director of Oceanco, who has been with the company for 16 years, was recently appointed as the new CEO, replacing Eel Kant. The management and engineering teams remain unchanged. Project Director Arie van Andel, who has been with Oceanco from inception, is continuing to push the limits of invention with every build. And Dirk de Jong, who previously worked with Oceanco, has returned as the R&D design project manager. This team, along with marketing managers Michele Flandin and Paris Baloumis will ensure a seamless transition as the business moves forward under new ownership.  

Oceanco has been building award-winning megayachts since 1990. In 2000, the yard launched the 95-meter Indian Empress (ex Al Mirqab), its largest build to date. In 2002, under the leadership of its former owner, Oceanco escalated its market plan and started building stylish, futuristic yachts over 80 meters in length. Oceanco has the distinction of having built the largest yachts in Holland, but they are mostly known for their quality and technology.    

Oceanco’s design offices are in Monaco and the shipyard is in Alblasserdam, Holland. The company works with a wide range of top international designers and naval architects. The latest yachts from the shipyard are the 85.5-meter "Vibrant Curiosity", launched in 2009 and the 85.5-meter "Sunrays", launched in 2010. There are several more "Y-series" boats in build, on the drawing board or berthed in glass sheds as near life-size models. There are currently three extraordinary yachts over 80-meters under construction at Oceanco with a fourth in the planning phases. Plans are also underway for the construction of a new shed that can accommodate yachts up to 110-meters in length

Oceanco’s design offices are in Monaco and the shipyard is in Alblasserdam, Holland. The company works with a wide range of top international designers and naval architects. The latest yachts from the shipyard are the 85.5-meter "Vibrant Curiosity", launched in 2009 and the 85.5-meter "Sunrays", launched in 2010. There are several more "Y-series" boats in build, on the drawing board or berthed in glass sheds as near life-size models. There are currently three extraordinary yachts over 80-meters under construction at Oceanco with a fourth in the planning phases. Plans are also underway for the construction of a new shed that can accommodate yachts up to 110-meters in length.  

On Y708, each deck will have its own balcony allowing guests to enjoy themselves in complete privacy. The owner of Y708 will have two private decks offering breathtaking panoramic views both aft and forward. In addition to a private sun deck with a whirlpool and a sunbathing area, the owner’s deck comprises a suite, salon, study and an aft open deck.  

Y708's beveled, angular aluminum superstructure offers up to 12 guests unprecedented comfort and luxury. The welded steel hull accommodates a spacious, two-level engine room which houses two MTU 20V 4000 M73L main engines generating 3,600kW each – sufficient to power Y708 along at up to 20 knots.  

  

Y708 will feature a separate beach club with a guest sea terrace and entrance platform. The 6.4-meter x 3.6-meter swimming pool converts into a helicopter platform, much like the system found on the previously launched "Alfa Nero".  

Specifications:

Builder: Oceanco
Naval Architect: Oceanco / Azure
Exterior Designer: Igor Lobanov
Interior Designer: Alberto Pino
Length Overall: 85.60m / 280.84ft
Beam Overall: 14.20m / 46.59ft
Draft Full Load: 4.00m / 13.12ft
Hull Construction: Steel
Superstructure Construction: Aluminum
Gross Tonnage: Approximately 2,600
Classification: Lloyds Register, Notation 100A1 SSC Yacht Mono
G6+ LMC UMS SCM EP / Administration MCA (LY2)
Maximum Speed: Approximately 20 knots at half load conditions
and MCR Range Approximately 6,900 nautical miles at 14 knots
Fuel Capacity: Approximately 280,000 liters / 73,968 US gallons
Engine Type: 2 x MTU 20V 4000 M73L, 20 cylinder turbo charged diesel, 3,600kW / 4,828 bhp at 2,050 rpm
Generator: 2 x MTU 8V2000 M50A diesel generators (332kW) and 1 x MTU 12V2000 M50A diesel generator (498kW)
Stabilizers: Rolls-Royce retractable zero-speed stabilization
Bow thruster: Frequency controlled electrical driven transverse thruster (400kW)
Stern thruster: Frequency controlled electrical driven retractable and rotatable stern thruster (286kW)

Yard                                                              

Zuiderstek 40
2952 AZ Alblasserdam
P.O. Box 20 - 2950 AA Alblasserdam
The Netherlands
T: +31 78 699 5399
F: +31 78 699 5398
info@oceanco.nl

Monaco

Gildo Pastor Center
7, rue du Gabian
MC 98000 Monaco
T +377 93 10 0281
F +377 92 05 6599
info@oceanco.mc