Filed under: Wheels, Men’s Style

Aston Martin is offering the ultimate accessory for owners of the awesome DBS, its 6.0-litre V12 powered race-bred two-seater favored by James Bond. The bespoke leather saddle case is designed to fit over the car’s rear center console and draws inspiration from equestrian craftsmanship. It features flapped pockets for a variety of gentleman’s accessories including holders for two leather flasks or bottles of wine. Each piece is individually handmade by master saddler Robin Coleman who has over four decades of experience at his workshop in Warwickshire, UK, and each one takes 28 hours to complete. Coleman uses an array of tools and techniques that have remained unchanged over the last 500 years in crafting the incredibly rich, supple piece. No word on the price but obviously if you’ve already got a DBS you can afford it.

[via LuxuryLaunches]

Aston Martin DBS Leather Saddle Case originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Shoes, Men’s Style

Hungarian bespoke shoemaker Ildikó Gál, which handcrafts exquisite footwear from exotic skins, makes its American debut this month. The brand has opened a new showroom in New York at 501 Fifth Avenue showcasing its first collection of men’s handmade dress shoes, all constructed by third generation Hungarian cobblers. Ildikó Gál combines modern technology with Old World craftsmanship to produce luxurious products of unsurpassed quality. Constructing the perfect shoe starts with a state-of-the-art scanner that measures each foot from all angles. The foot scan data is instantly transmitted to the last makers, who create lasts that reflect a customer’s unique feet.

From small towns and villages in rural Hungary where shaping leather into shoes is an art form handed down through generations, the shoemakers produce stunning, handcrafted footwear. Each shoe design is executed completely by hand using traditional methods and the finest skins, and takes about six weeks to complete. Each finished pair is stamped with the artisan’s signature and delivered in a custom fitted wooden box with custom made shoe trees, silk shoe bags and special polishes. Prices start at about $2,500 per pair and exotic skins on offer include stingray (above), sharkskin, alligator, crocodile and ostrich.

Ildikó Gál Bespoke Exotic Leather Shoes from Hungary originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Apparel, Cigars, Wheels, Writing Instruments, Men’s Style, 10 Luxuries

The Fine English Company is a recently launched line of luxurious furniture, luggage and lifestyle accessories reminiscent of Britain’s colonial past with a contemporary flair, founded by former financial consultant Benedict Wormald. The company was born out of a desire to trade in his City lifestyle in London and turn a lifelong passion for classic British design and antiquities into a business. The Fine English Company’s products combine traditional craftsmanship with detailing of exotic animal skins, rare and native woods and veneers to create a range of collectible and desirable objects betokening the best of bespoke British luxury. “I am a great devotee of simplicity and pared down restraint in luxuries,” Wormald tells Luxist, “simple items that are executed very well. Luxury to me is not necessarily about adornment or precious materials for vastly inflated prices. I demand a very tactile and aesthetic element from the things I deem to be ‘above par’. There is a very definite trend for this that we are seeing in bespoke commissions where people are making much more considered purchases and investing in the construction and execution of the item and not just materials.”

Wormald is very passionate about exquisitely made goods and those that are true to the term bespoke, which is increasingly taken in vain. “If you choose to go bespoke from an early age, the lifetime cost is more than borne out in comparison to a larger number of machine made and mass produced brand led products,” he notes. “I only wish someone had told me that aged 18! I have Savile Row suits that are as good now at 15 years old as they were new and a good pair of bespoke shoes, a made-to-measure shirt and a bespoke suit will feel more comfortable than any other choice all day and every day - suits only irritate if they don’t fit properly and a good suit and shoes will help your posture and the way you comport yourself.” Wormald points out that “bespoke need not necessarily be expensive. The power is coming back to the customer to demand something different, something unique to treasure for generations.” In the gallery are images of his essential luxuries; continued below you’ll find his fulsome explanations about what makes them a must.

Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Fine English Company Founder Benedict Wormald’s Ten Essential Luxuries

EXCLUSIVE: Fine English Company Founder Benedict Wormald’s Ten Essential Luxuries originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Apparel, Men’s Style

London luxury goods firm Dunhill has just announced the opening of the new bespoke and custom tailoring floor of its Madison Avenue flagship store in New York (above), the first of its kind in the U.S. Overseen by Bruno Cosentino, Dunhill’s resident master tailor who personally hand makes every bespoke item, the space is entirely dedicated to the brand’s exceptional tailoring service. Working one-on-one with each client to create the ultimate in tailoring indulgence, Cosentino first guides clients through thousands of luxurious fabrics, from the finest ’super grade’ wools to Mongolian cashmeres and lightweight linens. The master tailor then suggests appropriate fits and styling to complement the client’s lifestyle and ways to personalize each sartorial investment. Once the design of the pattern is complete, it then becomes part of the Alfred Dunhill archives, kept in reserve for returning clients seeking additional bespoke services. Dunhill’s custom tailoring tradition includes a tuxedo made for Truman Capote to wear at his infamous Black & White Ball in the 1960s as well as bespoke suits made for Frank Sinatra.

Dunhill Opens 1st U.S. Bespoke Tailoring Floor in NYC originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Timepieces, Men’s Style

Need suitably stylish storage for those luxe timepieces Ariel Adams is always writing about? Check out this beautiful new watch box from luxury Italian clothing label Brioni, made of the world’s finest genuine crocodile skin. Lined with suede and glove-soft leather, the box is priced at $5,000 and comes in classic brown, black and red. Featuring gold-plated hardware it holds six watches in removable compartments, along with a separate slim portfolio to hold additional watch straps. Famed for its hand-sewn custom tailored suits starting out at $4,000 and running as high as $47,000, Brioni provided 007’s evening wear for several of the James Bond films and has also outfitted the likes of Al Pacino, Eric Clapton, Donald Trump and Prince Andrew.

[via JustLuxe]

Brioni Crocodile Skin Watch Box originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cigars, Journeys, Men’s Style

In 1925 Louis Vuitton created a special trunk in its iconic monogram canvas to house a portable set of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica for the traveling scholar. A later owner adapted the rare item to a more practical purpose, turning it into the world’s most stylish portable humidor. The trunk was professionally refitted to house 500 cigars in removable boxes lined with seasoned Spanish cedar along with a removable humidor in burled American walnut. The lid of the trunk has been lined in Spanish cedar as well and inset with decorative burled walnut panels. London’s Pullman Gallery is now offering the one-of-a-kind piece for $27,800.

[via Luxury Launches]

Bespoke Vuitton Humidor Trunk for $27,800 originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cigars, Men’s Style

A stunning bespoke sterling silver traveling cigar set in a leather carrying case made in 1885 for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, if being offered for sale by London’s Pullman Gallery for $85,000. The leather case contains four matching sterling silver cigar boxes, a giant matchbox holder and a set of 10 monogrammed cigar holders. Each piece features an applied gold and red-enameled ‘W’ with the Royal Prussian crown on the lid, and the cover of each box is also engraved inside with the signature “Victoria”, for Wilhelm’s mother Princess Victoria (1840-1901), wife of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm, later Emperor Friedrich III. The fitted purple grained leather felt-lined traveling case features an applied gilded bronze Royal Prussian crown and is marked J. Wagner und Sohn, Berlin.

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Silver Cigar Set for $85,000 originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handbags, Men’s Style

A work bag is essential. I’ve tried countless times to try and go without one. To minimize what I take to work in hopes of virtually bringing nothing with me when I arrive to the office. But that hasn’t fared so well. There are just too many items that I need or want to have with me during the work day. So, I’ve become obsessed with work bags that are uber-functional and aesthetically pleasing to the eye without being flashy. A bag that is classic and long lasting in style.

I think I’ve found the perfect work bag in the Philanthropist Briefcase by CC Filson. Although it’s being marketed as a men’s work bag, this could also be worn by a woman. It has a sleek silhouette with minimal leather and gold accents throughout, while it’s dark hues and sturdy canvas material - which can easily be cleaned - allow for daily use without looking worn out in a few months. I especially love the tiny little red stitch in the center - it’s so nondescript and unexpected. The Philanthropist also features a detachable and padded leather shoulder strap, two interior pockets and four exterior pockets for organization. Dimensions: 16″W x 12.5″H x 4″D. Price: $365.

CC Filson Philanthropist Briefcase originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Men’s Style

For Spring / Summer 2010 London luxury goods firm Dunhill is debuting a new line of gentleman’s heirloom luggage dubbed the Bladon Leather collection. With a nod to Dunhill’s history of creating beautifully crafted and durable leather luggage for almost 120 years, the collection is made of tanned leather with a natural grained appearance crafted into timelessly elegant but always functional forms. Honouring the brand’s esteemed British heritage, Bladon takes its name from the English town where Sir Winston Churchill is buried - a British icon who was a faithful customer of Dunhill. Each of the four styles in the Bladon collection are destined to become heirlooms, with the designs respecting every demand of the modern luxury traveller. The resilient vegetable tanned cowhide leather ensures each piece is individual, with every cut of hide presenting variations in marks and shades which will darken with age, taking on a soft and rich patina over the years.

Dunhill Bladon Leather Collection originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Shoes, Men’s Style

At an astonishing price of $10,000 per pair, Louis Vuitton is offering what are perhaps the world’s most expensive pair of men’s dress shoes for Spring / Summer 2010. The Manhattan Richelieu wingtips are finished in waxed genuine alligator skin. Designed to embody the famed French firm’s tradition of luxury and craftsmanship with a bit of vintage flair, the handmade footwear features intricate stitching and a subtle pattern of perforations. They are crafted using Blake construction, a shoe-making technique designed to impart immediate suppleness and comfort. The thread is embedded in the outsole, making it less vulnerable to wear and tear. The stylish shoes have a glove-soft leather lining, a Ruthenium-finish metal LV monogram cube embedded in the leather heel and a hand-painted leather sole.

[via JustLuxe]

Louis Vuitton Offers $10,000 Alligator Wingtips originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels, Shoes, Men’s Style, Celebrity Design

Value isn’t a term typically bantered about by collectors. Value for such enthusiasts exists on a different plain. If something’s a must-have, then they must have it, and that’s the value. Take, for example, these special edition Nike Hyperdunk basketball shoes. Nike’s only making 500 pair, and they’re already trading for as much as $700.

So what makes these so special? Not the shoes themselves, but the feat they supposedly represent. A couple of years ago NBA all-star Kobe Bryant appeared in a video for Nike in which he appeared to have jumped over an Aston Martin roadster that was speeding right at him. In the middle of the playoffs, no less. Bryant looked to have cleared the car, and people went nuts. Of course it was all camera tricks, even if he actually is capable of theoretically pulling it off.

That’s what these shoes celebrate. They’ve got Kobe’s signature embossed on the inside of the tongue, and Aston Martin’s winged logo on the outside. Are they worth seven bills? Well, that depends… to who?

Kobe Bryant’s Aston Martin Edition Nike Hyperdunks originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels, Men’s Style

At the Geneva Motor Show Bentley just unveiled a new line of limited edition sunglasses created in collaboration with Austrian eyewear manufacturer Estede. Working with the famed British marque’s design teams in Crewe, England, the Estede for Bentley collection features precious metals - silver palladium, 18 carat gold and, most exclusive of all, platinum, which Estede claims has never before been used in eyewear - and innovative surface treatments mirroring Bentley’s quilted leather upholstery. Available in two different sizes, the aviator-style shades will be offered in a presentation box containing interchangeable lenses for varying activities. Each pair will be individually numbered and can also be engraved with owner’s name and / or Bentley model number. Prices will range from about $1,900 for the silver palladium version and $5,500 for the 18 carat gold all the way up to $15,000 for the platinum model.

The $15,000 Platinum Bentley Sunglasses originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping, Men’s Style

As we reported earlier this month, Johnny Depp was recently named the most stylish man in the world by GQ. He’s not some louche designer’s life-sized Ken Doll, but rather an “icon of eccentric cool” as the mag notes thanks to an offbeat and idiosyncratic wardrobe that’s unique in the Hollywood hierarchy. The secret of his sartorial success? Kakkoii Mono, a vintage emporium in Bozeman, Montana that supplies the star with genuine vintage threads in mint condition which no one else is likely to turn up wearing at the same red carpet soirée. Of course much of the credit is due to his skillful stylist Samantha McMillen who is notified the minute KM founder Ellen Flanz turns up anything worthy of Depp’s attention on one of her extensive buying sorties.

“Sourcing quality vintage is both labor-intensive and a labor of love,” Flanz notes,” and finding exceptional menswear is a challenge that I adore.” Kakkoii Mono, which means “cool things” in Japanese, has just launched a new website so ordinary folk can get a bit of Depp’s sprezzatura right from home, and now boasts the best collection of men’s vintage clothing and accessories available anywhere online. The well-curated selection of men’s suits is particularly impressive; Leonard Cohen, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Dempsey are also big fans. Of course, KM stocks women’s items as well, including many highly collectible pieces. Check it all out at kakkoiimono.com.

Johnny Depp’s Secret Weapon of Style originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Decor, Spirits, Men’s Style

Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda-Line bar accessories have been around since the 1960s and the latest incarnation of the design is courtesy of iconic British designer Paul Smith, who has turned the classic set into “a gorgeous fantasy in black.” Titled simply ‘Statement,’ Smith gave the steel a black titanium finish and accented it with his own personal statements, engraved so the letters shine through the titanium in contrasting steel script, that say inspirational things like “take pleasure seriously” and “start something new.” The Statement bar set is available in limited edition and includes a cocktail mixer and spoon, shaker, ice bucket with tongs, a two-liter pitcher with strainer, small glass coasters and a serving tray.

Via Acquire

Paul Smith Makes ‘Statement’ Bar Set for Stelton originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Men’s Style

Brad Pitt was just spotted sporting a pair of the exclusive new Dolce & Gabbana Gold Edition sunglasses we wrote about in December while strolling the streets of Venice with Angelina Jolie. The couple and their six children are moving to the storied Italian city for three months while Jolie films her new movie The Tourist. Adding the perfect dash of movie star chic, the Gold Edition aviator-style shades are plated in pure 18-carat gold. Priced at $580 per pair and made in Italy, the sunglasses feature polarized glass and each pair is presented in its own jewelry case featuring a plaque with the words “Dolce &Gabbana Gold Edition” and two tiny side drawers to hold a cleaning cloth and certificate of authenticity. Inside there is a semi-rigid glasses case in black leather, decorated with a tiny plaque and logo. The Gold Edition models are available at ILORI Luxury Sunglass boutiques.

Brad Pitt Spotted in Dolce & Gabbana Gold Edition Sunglasses originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Journeys, Men’s Style

We’ve written before about the aesthetic pleasures of vintage luggage. Now a London antiques dealer is offering one of the most beautiful examples of classic Louis Vuitton we’ve ever come across. Dating back to 1890, less than 40 years after Louis Vuitton was founded in Paris, the Vuitton Damier cabin trunk comes from an era when well-heeled travelers had a large retinue to cart along their every need even on the most exotic excursions. The Pullman Gallery in London is offering the trunk, featuring the rare Damier checkerboard pattern, brass handles and hardware, and wood and leather trim, for $11,000 to serious collectors. Restored to original condition, the beautiful trunk is most likely the only one of its kind.

[via Luxury Launches]

120 Year Old Vuitton Damier Trunk for $11,000 originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cigars, Spirits, Sports, Men’s Style

Shooting grouse at one’s country estate in England is a time-honored tradition, and every sporting gentleman worthy of the name owns a pair of fine bespoke shotguns from Purdey or Holland & Holland. Of course it’s thirsty work, and so Viscount David Linley has come up with the perfect accessory to put in the back of the Range Rover when setting off for a day’s sport. The Linley Shooting Companion (above), priced at about $5,600, is a traveling case constructed of oiled walnut with saddle leather handles and an inlaid engravable, hallmarked sterling silver plaque. The case contains two lead crystal decanters with sterling silver plaques laid onto square rosewood stoppers, a cigar cutter and a walnut box to hold eight Corona No. 5’s. A removable walnut rack walnut holds eight pewter tumblers, numbered 1 to 8 to reference the shooting pegs given to sportsmen denoting their gun positions.

[via Duncan Quinn]

The Ultimate Gentleman’s Shooting Companion from Viscount Linley originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Shoes, Men’s Style

Among the entrancing items on display at London luxury goods firm Dunhill’s new temporary installation space in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District is this pair of striking hiking boots finished in dark green genuine alligator skin. Perhaps not terribly practical for actual outdoor expeditions they’re nonetheless extremely dashing. Designed to evoke Bourdon House, the Dunhill flagship in London set in a historic mansion that was formerly the residence of the Duke of Westminster, the installation features key pieces from the Dunhill archives alongside new items from the Autumn / Winter 2010 collection. The collection was inspired by a gentleman adventurer from the 1920s with exceedingly good taste, dubbed the “Radical Englishman Abroad.” Just the sort of chap to sport a pair of green gator boots.

[via Style Salvage]

Dunhill Alligator Skin Hiking Boots originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Men’s Style

For a cool $50,0000 London luxury goods firm Dunhill will furnish the modern gentleman with an exquisite games set finished in exotic shagreen, made from the skin of male stingrays. The Shagreen Games Compendium is handmade by expert artisans exclusively for Alfred Dunhill and is inspired by pieces in the Dunhill archive. The games chest is formed using cedar wood and then covered in the very finest grey shagreen leather and elegantly trimmed with ebony with stainless steel hardware. The shagreen provides a protective element as it is remarkably durable. The Compendium contains shagreen-embellished chess, backgammon and noughts & crosses boards with all counters and pieces finished in sterling silver. A bottom tray houses two packs of Dunhill playing cards, poker dice, bridge score cards and Dunhill pencils.

[via JustLuxe]

The $50,000 Dunhill Gentleman’s Games Chest originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Apparel, Men’s Style

Timo Weiland had a beautiful Fall/Winter 2010 presentation on Monday. Some people think we put models on pedestals, but Timo Weiland did it literally.

The models entered the fourth floor warehouse space in Chelsea one at a time and stepped up onto cylindrical blocks (labeled with their names). More often than not, a crew member then lint rollered their shoes. Then, they just … stood there. We only stayed until they all came out, but we assume they stood there for the entirety of the presentation. They adjusted poses now and then, but casually, not in a choreographed way. One thing we noticed: for no apparent reason, they all looked scared, like they’d just been called on in class.

Scared or not, they definitely looked stylish. The look was British and clean cut — Mad Men meets Harvard University in London, with weekends in the Scottish Highlands and a dash of Gossip Girl wealth. We loved the colors, rich in blue tones like forest greens and plum purples, as well as shocks of red, and the classic shapes with modern details. Though the models were very thin, both the mens and womens pieces were crafted in thick, form-skimming fabrics in flattering cuts — highly wearable. This is just the second collection by design team Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein, who cite The Age of Innocence and Gangs of New York as inspiration.

Check out the gallery for some key looks from the Timo Weiland runwayless show. Also, visit the website, because it’s rather bewitching.

Timo Weiland - New York Fashion Rebel originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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