Naeem Khan Spring 2012

            

Naeem Khan has done a great deal of connecting in his illustrious career. Now in his eighteenth season, his identifiable gowns are in stores and on women all over the world. His calling card is his special sense of how to fuse Indian textiles and techniques with Western glamor. In his Fall 2012 collection, that matchless fingerprint was on display for most of the show but their were two uncharacteristic elements that muddied the waters.

The collection for the most part was pure Naeem Khan, brilliant embroidery and bead work in metallics and jewel tones played off of dark backgrounds. The silhouette was primarily long and tight which, although it has emerged as the look of the season, has been Mr. Khan’s preference since he began. His focus this season was, as it always is, on the heavy and intricate ornamentation that he uses with great flair all over his work.

 Incredible prints that resembled tile mosaics were softened by their use on a delicate felt, which helped them achieve a luxurious easy elegance. Black, gold, silver, and pearl were in abundance, often done in very transparent looks which added a strong feel of sexuality, which is often lacking in glamorous evening wear in general. Naeem Khan doesn’t mind getting the heart racing a bit, and it’s a nice jolt when he does it. The odd deviation in the middle of the collection into high-volume bottom dot print dresses and skirts was a jolt of a different sort.

 

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By Kristina Mitrovic

The Leela Palace Udaipur India

When traveling to India there are only few properties that capture the essence of India combined with an ultimate luxury hospitality.

The Leela Palace in Udaipur overlooking the hills of  Aravalis on the banks of lake Pichola will indulge you in romantic atmosphere , beautiful landscape and high-end services. With only 80 rooms this boutique property offers complete privacy and calmness to travelers visiting it. All the rooms are spacious from 580 to 3552 square feet of the Maharaja suite in modern style combined with traditional elements.

You will find everything for perfect relaxation within the property a pool, ESPA spa, private gym and if you cannot be without contact with your business, all modern facilities as meeting rooms, business center etc are there.

Personal butler on every floor will make sure that nothing is missing during your stay.

 

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Bentley & St. Regis announce a global partnership

Bentley Motors is delighted to announce a global partnership with St Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The partnership underpins the heritage and world-class excellence of both brands, creating signature experiences for guests, residents and customers with driving programmes, special events, brand initiatives and house fleets at flagship hotels around the world.

 

Starwood’s luxury brands continue to grow globally and so does the global nature of our guests, said Paul James, Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. We are committed to providing experiences that far surpass their expectations, and this partnership with Bentley enables our discerning guests to explore must-see destinations in unparalleled style.

 

Bentley Continental Flying Spur models have been chosen as the house fleet for a new generation of luxury travellers at St. Regis hotels and resorts around the world, from The St. Regis Singapore and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi to the brand’s flagship in New York. In October 2011, St. Regis hosted a bespoke Italian driving tour for Bentley model owners and guests of The St. Regis Rome and the newly opened St. Regis Florence.

 Bentley Continental Flyng Spur outside The St Regis Singapore

 

The Continental Flying Spur combines the exquisite design and peerless craftsmanship for which Bentley is renowned with the dynamics and power of the Continental GT to provide a luxurious and potent motoring experience that has attracted a new breed of discerning customers to the marque.

The ability to undertake long journeys in great comfort has been the hallmark of every Bentley, and never has that been better demonstrated than in the iconic R-Type Continental from 1952 and its four-door descendant, the Continental Flying Spur.

  Continental Flying Spur

The model has continued the Bentley bloodline of sporting Grand Tourers derived from the original elegant yet powerful 1957 Continental Flying Spur. Similarly inspired by the most desirable coupé of its day, it delivers awesome performance as well as extraordinary comfort and elegance. Both attributes harmonise with the expectations of discerning Starwood guests.

At Bentley, we are committed to maintaining our position as the definitive British luxury car company said Joe Ashworth, head of customer relations at Bentley Motors. It is therefore important that we partner with a pinnacle brand that underpins our own values of craftsmanship, style and sophistication. Our current and prospective customers recognise the heritage of both brands, and with Starwood’s Luxury Brands we aim to broaden the appeal and experience of Bentley.

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a portfolio of 80 hotels and resorts in over 35 countries, offers unparalleled engagement with some of the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Through this partnership, Bentley staged its global media drive of the Continental Flying Spur in 2005 at the Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Venice. In February this year, Bentley unveiled its newest Continental GT and GTC V8 models at the award-winning Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Ilciego, Spain.

This month, The Luxury Collection and Bentley extend their partnership to Austria with an inaugural drive. The scenic Springtime Bentley Grand Tour from Vienna to Salzburg will last two days and offers guests an incomparable way to experience the country. The journey will showcase four iconic Luxury Collection Hotels including the Hotel Imperial in Vienna and the Schloss Fuschl in Salzburg. The participants of the exclusive drive will have two astonishing options to explore the route through Austria. Both the Continental W12 and the Continental V8 impress with their very own distinctive drive characteristics.

Through signature programmes such as St. Regis Aficionado, Journeys by The Luxury Collection and SPG Moments, Starwood will continue to create opportunities for its guests to experience exhilarating driving programmes around the world with Bentley and offer insider access to once-in-a-lifetime St. Regis and Luxury Collection experiences.

Adastra - Super yacht

By Shuttleworth Yacht Design

Hotel Majestic Barrière in Cannes

 Ideally located on La Croisette Boulevard facing the Mediterranean and the Palais des Festivals

Modern House in Spain by A-cero

For this awesome project, A-cero wanted to remain faithful to their easily recognizable style, by creating a harmonious dialogue between curved lines and cubic forms. For all its projects, the Spanish architecture studio frequently draws its inspiration from the creations of renowned contemporary artists. “Art and Architecture have gone hand in hand in this and all our projects”.

The beautiful residence is located in Somosaguas, a residential area in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain and boasts 18,300 square feet of living spaces. Its architecture is characterized by sculptural volumes and is dominated by horizontal lines. The volumes are superimposed in layers and they seem to naturally “grow” from the ground. The main purpose when building this home was to create a modern residence with “risky stylized forms” without compromising convenience and comfort.

Realizing a natural, seamless connection between the building and the environment was also an important goal. To this end, A-cero designed a charming Japanese-inspired garden, beautifully landscaped with large bonsais and other ornamental plants. All the rooms on ground floor and basement level have direct access to the garden, to ensure a special connectivity between the inside and outside areas.

The basement is where the health and leisure areas are located: a game room, a massage room, a gym, a wine cellar, locker rooms for the outdoor infinity edge pool, a theater, a storage area and a service and facilities area. On the first floor is where the main lobby can be found, together with the open public spaces like the living room and the dining room, the kitchen and the indoor pool. Also here the master bedroom suite and the office are set. On the second floor there is a spacious painting studio with plenty of natural light and beautiful views of the surroundings.

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