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Freja Beha Erichsen for Valentino Valentina Fragrance
The fashion house of Valentino launches its new fragrance in September 2011. Destined to younger women, it is named Valentina. The fragrance, inspired by Rome and Italian flavors, is developed in collaboration with Puig and perfumers Alberto Morillas and Olivier Cresp.
Freja Beha Erichsen stars in the fragrance’s ad, shot by David Sims, shot by Johan Renck. The eau de parfum has notes of Calabrian bergamot, white Alba truffles, jasmine, Amalfi orange blossom, tuberose, wild strawberries, cedar, and amber. Valentino Valentina will be available in 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum with additional body lotion, body oil, shower gel and deodorant.
Valentino is pleased to present you to Valentina, the versatile protagonist of a hypnotic and bewitching story, full of references and allusions to legendary figures of Italian fashion and cinema. Valentina comes to life in the advertising campaign for the perfume shot by David Sims and the TV film directed by Johan Renck along the dark and secret streets of a sumptuously deserted, nocturnal Rome. Valentina is beautiful and radiant with charms belonging to a modern heiress. She creates her own style.
Bear Trap Heart Earrings by Domonic Jones
Valentine’s Day is that very special time of the year when you get real close to your partner in every sense. Gifts at this time are the most incorporated ones. If you want to order something, you’re gonna have to have it overnighted. I am more excited about these earrings than any other Valentine’s Day gift I have seen this year, so if you’re reading this, Valentine, hint hint, yes these would be perfect.
These Domonic Jones earrings has a refined, but edgy aesthetic. The 22 carat rose gold is warm and eye-catching, and frankly, rose gold is all the rage right now. I love the simple, ironic bear trap heart design. It says, “I have a heart that clamps on to something and never lets go.” A little scary? Maybe, but so cool. These earrings are definitely for a youngish, hippish Valentine. In other words, I wouldn’t really buy them for, say, your mother, or your child’s preschool teacher. They would be perfect nestled in a box of dark chocolate wasabi truffles.
First hotel concession by Harrods
Guest of the Corinthia Hotel gets a very warm welcome once they land at the five-star hotel. The luxury department store, Harrods has launched their first concession in the lavish environment of the hotel. Harrods’ boutique is situated in the lobby caters to both the hotel guests as well as the people at large. The collaboration between Corinthia Hotel and Harrods will allow customers pressed for time easy access to all the delightful array of their products.
The store interiors are festooned with modern blue and white chandeliers, and white marble floors. Harrods’ own products such as their world-famous teas, chocolate truffles, shortbread cookies, and their line of bath and body products can easily be spotted in the entire environment. Mont Blanc, Dunhill and a collection of fine English China from Wedgewood, Spode and Vera Wang cater to all the masculine needs.
London’s luxury hotels cash in on Royal Wedding buzz
The big wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, luxury hotels in London are trying to make the most out of the royal wedding buzz. With a flood of visitors expected to the city, London’s luxury hotels are offering royal wedding packages that will let the affluent have a royal stay. A recent survey has stated that some of the hotels in London are doubling their prices for the period of the royal wedding. The survey by Santander Credit Cards further said that one hotel in London is increasing its rates by as much as 113 percent.
- Hyatt Regency London
From Thursday, April 28 to Monday, May 2, 2011, the Hyatt Regency London is offering six guests an exclusive Royal Wedding Package in the Royal Suite. The Royal Suite has three double bedrooms with en-suite marble bathrooms, a large drawing room, a dining room, a kitchen, a study and a private gymnasium. Special amenities include Prestat’s limited edition Royal Wedding Truffles, flower arrangements by Moyse Stevens and bathroom amenities from Floris. Once the guest arrives in London, a chauffeur takes him to the hotel in a luxurious six-seater Daimler DS420, similar to those used in the Royal fleet. Moreover, the package also includes personal butler, a former Royal butler.
- Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is offering a special royal wedding package, which includes an exclusive access to a roof terrace where guests can enjoy unrestricted views of the royal wedding parade. The six-day package includes a tour of Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill’s family home in Kent since 1924, a tour of Spencer House, a visit to The British Museum and a special visit to Westminster Abbey, the place where the couple will tie the nuptial knot.
- Swissotel The Howard
The five-star Swissotel The Howard luxury hotel is offering a special package called “Pretty little Princess,” which will let girls aged between three and eight experience the full princess experience, including a trip in a horse-drawn carriage to Westminster Abbey and a dress with matching fur cape, handbag, glitter shoes and a silver tiara.
The Ultimate Sinfully Sweet Treat
The chocolate used to make this has been sourced specially from Pisa and this very chocolate was awarded the “Golden Bean’ by the Academy of chocolate. It also includes handmade champagne truffles flaked with 24 karat gold. Plus in a box encrusted with Swarovski crystals, it is pure chocolaty luxury with each bite.
For those of you who don’t know, gold was considered to be an ingredient for immortality and though we are pretty sure that isn’t true, you can actually have edible chocolate for kicks as it is approved both in US and EU. Simply called, The Chocolate, this piece of confection really is the ultimate sinfully sweet treat. The chocolate have been minutely ground to 15 microns.
Sweet hotel deals for this Valentine’s Day
North American chain Omni Hotels will launch a year-long romance offer February 10, which offers rates from $199 and includes a bottle of sparking wine and truffles. It also includes a breakfast for two and a “Valentini” cocktail (Hennessy Cognac, DeKuyper Strawberry Liqueur and Grand Marnier with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a Chandon Brut sparkling wine topper), available through January 14, 2012.
Suite Novotel is offering free breakfast and a “5 senses” gift box for everybody who books its $109 ($149) Valentine’s Day rate, which includes items for a night of “undiscovered sensations”. Luxury hotel chain Trump is offering deals across its portfolio, including a $29,000 indulgence package at the Trump SoHo New York, although far more modest romance packages are available from $219 at the Trump Las Vegas, $575 at the Trump Chicago and $700 at the Trump International Hotel and Tower New York.
Waldorf Astoria Orlando’s Chocolate, Wine and Romance Weekends
The Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Florida is offering weekend packages featuring chocolate, wine and romance that provide the perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to celebrate Valentine’s Day by escaping the cold winter weather.
These inaugural “Waldorf Astoria Chocolate, Wine & Romance Weekends,” will be offered exclusively for overnight guests at the Orlando resort, during the weekends before and after Valentine’s Day, including February 12-13 and February 19-20, 2011. During these weekends, where luscious chocolate and spicy wines take center stage, accommodations are available at rates starting at $289 on Feb. 12-13 and $309 on Feb. 19-20.
Guests who visit during the ‘Chocolate, Wine & Romance Weekends’ will enjoy several surprises and decadent diversions including:
- Bar du Chocolat: A Chocolate Extravaganza in which guests enjoy a nightly opportunity to experience nearly 30 a la carte chocolate treats from Waldorf Astoria’s display of decadence. Peacock Alley will be transformed into a chocolate boudoir, offering an evening of self indulgence. Guests can choose from a selection of chocolate treats from the hotel’s talented pastry team, including handmade chocolate truffles, exotic chocolate cakes, pillows of chocolate mousse, and bowls of beautiful bon-bons. Desserts will be priced by the piece.
- Art and Chocolate: A Walking Tour which is an opportunity to learn more about the commissioned artwork collection of Waldorf Astoria Orlando, and sample chocolates that have paired to add inspiration to each painting (complementary).
- Smooth Jazz: The Joseph Billups Duo will perform jazz music in Peacock Alley nightly.
- The Marriage of Chocolate and Wine: This seminar involves a wine tasting paired with chocolates. Learn what wines pair the best with chocolate.
- For the Love of Wine: A Tasting Experience. This casual wine tasting experience features the best new wines available this year including the Waldorf’s ten favorite new wines. This class is not chocolate related.
- Sinful chocolate choices at the Waldorf’s restaurants including a special chocolate feature at Bull and Bear Steakhouse, and chocolate inclusions at the popular Oscar’s breakfast buffet.
- Chocolate perks at Spa by Guerlain. Spa treatments will be paired with chocolate treats and complimentary champagne all weekend at Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain.
The Waldorf Astoria Orlando is nestled in a peaceful 482-acre nature preserve and is conveniently accessed from inside the Walt Disney World property.
Anyone want to try a $2,380 pizza?
Pizza is one of the staples of the Western countries especially among the young and lower class. It is generally regarded as a cheap and convenient meal. So when we heard about this $ 2,380 pizza being sold in Malta, a Southern-European country it was a real surprise.
A gourmet pizzeria has made a pizza with white truffles, a 24-karat gold leaf and buffalo mozzarella over a thin, traditional crust, which is the reason for the high price of the pizza. Claude Camilleri, owner of Margo’s Pizzeria, said the idea came about last winter when, together with pizzaiolo Giovanni Staiano, he was handling truffle at Mistra’s Palazzo Santa Rosa, which Camilleri also runs.
“We were nosing the truffle and enjoying its smell, and said, wouldn’t it be nice if we had this on a pizza, and bring out the amazing flavour of truffle “” and if we really want to be vulgar, put gold leaf on it?” The chef says 50-100 grams of white truffle are placed on the pizza, so the experience can be shared by as many diners as possible.
“We’re trying to draw attention to the quality of the food. Having truffles on a pizza which is not the best pizza possible would be a travesty, a sin. And to put truffles on a Margo’s pizza, you need to be confident that what you are creating is an exceptional masterpiece,” Mr Camilleri said.
Millions splurged for some of the best opulent buys of 2010
And as another year comes to a close shortly, let us leap back 12 months to check out the top five most luxurious items purchased in 2010. Art and jewellery marked its presence and luxurious real estate also sneaked into the list. What is quite unbelievable is that age-old truffles and a couple of incense burners also took the glory! Hong Kong based super rich casino owner Stanley Ho is placed at number five for paying $330,000 for two white truffles from Italy which experts defined as “” “over-mature, split open and with decomposed parts’. Apparently amongst the super rich “truffle’ connoisseurs it is tradition to pass over these “antique’ specimens to younger generations.
Casino mogul Stanley Ho buys a pair of white truffles for $330,000 in an auction
If you thought, that a $161,000 truffle was expensive, you need a reality check! At a Chinese enclave charity auction, Casino mogul Stanley Ho successfully bid for a pair of white truffles. A pair of these included a huge truffle found in central Tuscany which weighed as much as two pounds, and the other found in Molise that weighed as much as 14 ounces .
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